ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Microsoft’s new update patches a nasty audio problem.
- The update also fixes other recent bugs.
- Some bugs came with the Sept Patch Tuesday update.
Microsoft has released an out-of-band patch to squash an annoying audio bug in Windows 11.
Also: The latest Windows 11 update can mess with your device’s audio – here’s the solution
The patch launches Monday for Windows 11 26H2, 25H2, and 24H2, and resolves a bug that prevented audio from playing on certain headsets, speakers, and other USB-connected devices. Specifically, the problem affected USB Audio Class 1.0 devices that use an older, legacy audio driver introduced back in Windows 98.
Windows 11 users affected by the bug may encounter one of the following issues:
- No audio output.
- Sound settings are unresponsive or unavailable.
- Volume controls do not respond or remain at zero.
- The device shows an error in Device Manager: “This device cannot start (code 10).”
Until the new patch, the only way to switch your audio device from 8-channel or 3D audio was to standard stereo mode.
The glitch didn’t just pop up out of the blue. Instead, the problem came with Microsoft’s September 8 security update. While these monthly updates are supposed to fix security bugs and other issues, they can create new problems.
Also: The latest Windows 11 update restores your taskbar control, patches 995 security flaws
The only saving grace this time was that only older devices were affected. Today’s audio devices usually connect to a PC using a more modern standard known as USB Audio Class 2.0, either via a regular audio jack or wirelessly via Bluetooth.
Still, the bug was severe enough to prompt Microsoft to issue an out-of-band patch, which it only does if it can’t wait for the next regular round of Windows updates. In addition to the audio problem, the patch also addresses several security flaws and other issues.
Also: Microsoft’s latest Windows update breaks cursors, wallpapers and more – what to do if you’re affected
A security vulnerability labeled CVE-2026-62721 could allow a remote attacker to gain system-level privileges on an unpatched computer. Another issue, known as CVE-2026-85921, could allow someone to locally elevate their privileges to access files and personal data that would otherwise be secure and protected.
A third error involves Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Services. Another bug added with the September 8 Patch Tuesday rollout, this glitch can cause RDS to become unstable, leading to login errors or back-end server unresponsiveness.
Also: Microsoft fixes 421 bugs and a Windows zero-day in August’s Patch Tuesday – Update ASAP
The other bug affects Microsoft’s Hyper-V virtual machine platform. In this case, applications using HCS-managed virtual machines (VMs) ran into problems when sharing the hosts folder with Linux VMs running Bell Labs’ open-source Plan 9 operating system.
To access the update, go to Settings and select Windows Update. In Windows 11 26H2, look for an update labeled “2026-09 Security Update (KB5129195).” In Windows 11 25H2 or 24H2, look for one called “2026-09 Security Update (KB5129194).”
When you see the update, click the button to download and install it. If not, click the button to check for updates, and the correct update for your version of Windows should appear.
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