Windows 11 Users Hit by USB Audio Failures After September Update

The Windows 11 September update is causing problems for some USB Audio Class 1.0 devices, with Microsoft confirming that affected hardware can completely lose audio output.

Microsoft has confirmed another problem linked to the latest Windows 11 Patch Tuesday update.

The issue affects Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H1. Microsoft says Windows Server installations are not affected.

USB audio devices can fail with Code 10

Affected USB Audio Class 1.0 devices may stop working entirely after installing the September update.

In Device Manager, Windows can report a Code 10 error for the affected audio hardware. Users may also lose all audio output, while Windows volume controls can become unresponsive.

The problem can also interfere with multichannel and 3D audio features, making the regression particularly disruptive for users relying on USB headsets and other external audio hardware.

Switching to 2-channel audio may help

Microsoft has not released an official workaround yet, but some users report that switching from a multichannel configuration to standard 2-channel audio can restore sound.

Affected users can also try another headset or audio device while waiting for Microsoft to address the problem.

These remain community-reported workarounds, so they may not work with every affected USB audio device.

Microsoft is investigating a permanent fix

Microsoft says it is investigating the USB audio problem and will provide additional information through the Windows release health dashboard.

The company has not announced when a permanent fix will arrive.

Uninstalling the September Patch Tuesday update may not be the best option. The update includes 966 security fixes, so removing it could leave Windows systems exposed to vulnerabilities addressed this month.

This is also not the only problem associated with the latest Windows update. Windows 11 KB5124008 also breaks shared folders in Hyper-V Linux VMs, preventing some virtual machines from accessing Windows host folders.