It did not take long for Microsoft to confirm the first few issues after the official release of this year’s feature update, Windows 11 version 25H2.
The latest issue affects the Windows Recovery Environment. It is an essential recovery option of Windows that includes features such as repairing startup, resetting the PC, or uninstalling updates.
The confirmed bug renders USB mice and keyboards inoperable. Means, if the input devices are connected via USB, they won’t function in the Windows Recovery Environment.
For some, it can mean that no selection can be made, unless a non-USB mouse or keyboard is connected to the PC.
The issue affects the following platforms:
- Windows 11, version 25H2
- Windows 11, version 24H2
- Windows Server 2025
Microsoft writes:
After installing the Windows security update released on October 14, 2025 (KB5066835), USB devices, such as keyboards and mice, do not function in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). This issue prevents navigation of any of the recovery options within WinRE.
Microsoft notes that the issue does not impact normal operations. In Windows itself, USB mice and keyboards continue to work.
The company revealed that it plans to release a fix for the issue in the coming days. This was on October 17th, which suggests that a fix should be released very soon.
Until then, you better cross fingers that you won’t need the Recovery Environment or have a non-USB keyboard or mouse ready for accessing it even with the bug present.
The second issue that Microsoft confirmed affected IIS websites. They would fail to load if affected. Microsoft admitted that it fixed the issue using a Known Issues Rollback. This rollback restores previous functionality to resolve bugs.
Note that it is necessary on managed PCs to configure special policies to allow the rollback to take place, as explained here.
I often create a system image which I can use to restore the machine to the date I created it on. It’s the simplest form of recovery and has always proven to be reliable in the past.
Microsoft tries to persuade you to use the recovery option instead and a search for “system image” results in “nothing found”. However, it is still present in Windows Control Panel –> File History with the link to it in the bottom left hand corner. I have a 500GB Samsung Portable SSD to save system images to and can create one without having to resort to using the Cloud. They’re quite cheap these days and the one I bought only cost me €39,00.
My Z790 Mobo only has usb ports.
My keyboard is old Microsoft Natural Elite with a PS/2 connector (which is freaking awsome, from time to time I take it apart, pull out the electronics and, wash the rest in the dishwasher) but I had to use the USB adapter when we built the new pc’s.
My last Mobo from 2013 has the PS/2 connector which I preferred for the very reason you mention, reliable preboot functionality.
Oh-o…. Here’s a tale of woe I read about this morning whereby a user lost access to 3TB of personal data after opting to perform a fresh install via the Windows recovery environment to fix a problem: https://www.bangkokpost.com/life/tech/3124208/bitlocker-lockouts-cost-user-3tb-of-data-in-windows-11-shock