Sunday, September 13th 2026
Windows 11 September Update Kills Audio Output on Some PCs
Windows 11 continues its streak of breaking things, as Microsoft has confirmed that there is an issue with the latest September security update. According to the updated support document, Microsoft confirmed that the KB5124008 Windows security update can break audio output on some PCs. Specifically, this security update introduces issues with USB audio devices, where users of these audio output devices can't get any output from them. Messages include "This device cannot start (Code 10)" in the device manager, which fails to recognize some devices, while other symptoms can include unresponsive volume controls, no volume at all, no audio output, unresponsive sound settings, or the complete lack of detection in the device manager.
Microsoft confirmed that this only affects USB Audio Class 1.0 devices, but the current workaround is quite strange. Some USB audio devices can continue to function in standard stereo configuration. However, when switching to multichannel audio features such as 8-channel or 3D audio mode, the device can fail. The company is stating that the mileage will vary depending on the device type and use case, as some users were able to restore audio functions by switching to 2-channel audio mode in cases like these. However, do note that it doesn't mean that the problem is solved, but that only a few devices can find a workaround until a temporary fix is in place. Microsoft is reportedly working on a resolution.
Interestingly, this is not the first case of strange bugs as Microsoft has already dealt with external devices that either break the OS or simply stop working after an OS update. Notably, a recent example is the Windows 11 August update, which reset custom cursors to an oversized default one. In some cases, the color and size settings don't stick, no matter how many times they are changed. This update has also caused gameplay issues, such as forced crashes, random freezing, errors, and unexpected device restarts due to RGB peripherals. We ran a poll of nearly 33,000 responses, with the majority of respondents stating that Windows 11 is degrading in quality of use, even after Microsoft's many promises. Hence, the streak of bad updates continues to this day.
Sources:
Microsoft, via Windows Latest
Microsoft confirmed that this only affects USB Audio Class 1.0 devices, but the current workaround is quite strange. Some USB audio devices can continue to function in standard stereo configuration. However, when switching to multichannel audio features such as 8-channel or 3D audio mode, the device can fail. The company is stating that the mileage will vary depending on the device type and use case, as some users were able to restore audio functions by switching to 2-channel audio mode in cases like these. However, do note that it doesn't mean that the problem is solved, but that only a few devices can find a workaround until a temporary fix is in place. Microsoft is reportedly working on a resolution.
63 Comments on Windows 11 September Update Kills Audio Output on Some PCs
www.windowslatest.com/2026/09/13/microsoft-confirms-windows-11s-update-kills-audio-on-some-pcs-and-the-bugs-keep-piling-up/
so let's give credit where credit is due.
Windows Latest and BleepingComputer are two sites I regularly read after Patch Tuesday to see what the latest update breaks.
Earlier from Windows Latest:
www.windowslatest.com/2026/09/12/microsoft-admits-windows-11s-biggest-september-update-is-breaking-multiple-features-days-after-it-warned-users-not-to-delay-updates/
I sure wish that Microsoft would spend a little more care and attention to their Patch Tuesday fixes before releasing them.
Fred.
I'm not some IT toiler or someone running a PC repair shop. I'm just an ordinary consumer trying to do the least amount of Windows system administration (including research) to provide protection for my gear. I have other things I'd rather to with my time and I'm not getting paid to figure out what engineers in Redmond had for breakfast.
I'm grateful to sites like Windows Latest and BleepingComputer to do the hours of research, reading and testing to provide a concise article that summarizes their discoveries. Yes, I could come up with the same conclusions myself.
However there's a difference that you don't seem to understand: they're getting paid for it and hopefully they like that sort of work. I don't get paid for it and don't like that sort of work.
We have been over this before. There are consumers like me who aren't hell bent on being Mr. Super Geeky Propellor-Head Nerdwad. We see this ALL THE TIME here. Someone asks "Which product should I buy to do _____?" and a frequent response is "Just fire up your soldering iron and make it yourself." Soooo detached from reality.
What is wrong with people on tech forums? It's really only on those sites. On a baking forum no one says "Just baking your own wedding cake (or for your sister) yourself." It's asinine.
:clap: :peace: :lovetpu:
I create one iso every 6 months with updates included and install it again fresh.
Windows Update on this iso is completely removed.
Otherwise;
Known issuesRegards,
Fred.I know you can bake things like your GPU (Cold solder joints). But that's not what the oven is primarily for.
Windows is an amalgamation of 30+ years of cruft and legacy code all tied together in horrible, undocumented ways by people that no longer work at MS. The temp contractors they have working on it have to untangle that mess, and any time you touch something, there is a fantastic chance of breaking something totally unrelated.
One of two commands where I personally recommend using sudo.
After you removed the french language pack, pick up the latest microsoft windows iso and start installing without backups. Pay attention, backups are for cowards. My hardware will never betray or fail me /sarcasm .. hole message
it has been standing like this since the publishing
People freak out over internet posts all the time. For 99% of users, none of these bugs ever occur.
Hell, if I could go back to running Windows 7 I would. Unfortunately all support for modern software was stopped for Windows 7.
So why is this funny Fred? pray tell
Regards
FoulOnWhite