After installing the October 2025 Windows 11 update (KB5066835), Microsoft has confirmed users may encounter serious issues: USB keyboards and mice no longer function in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). This means, if you need to repair Windows or reset your PC, you can’t select any recovery options using the keyboard or mouse. However, input devices still work normally within Windows 11 itself.
The bug affects all current client and server versions, including Windows 11 24H2/25H2 and Windows Server 2025. Since most modern PCs rely on USB devices and older PS/2 ports are rare (Bluetooth usually doesn’t work in recovery mode), this is a major inconvenience.
Microsoft is aware of the problem and is working on a fix, expected soon. So far, already provided updates (KB5067039 and KB5067019) do not resolve the issue.
What should you do?
- If you’ve already installed KB5066835, avoid using recovery mode until a fix is released.
- If you haven’t updated yet, consider waiting for Microsoft’s patch before installing.
- If your PC works fine, no immediate action is needed—but be aware if you ever need recovery mode.
For those considering alternatives, check out switching from Windows to Linux or moving to Chromebooks.
Read the full article: Windows 11’s October update breaks keyboard and mice, Microsoft warns | PCWorld
Source: Viviane Osswald, PCWorld