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Microsoft: September updates break audio on some Windows PCs

Recorded: Sept. 14, 2026, 9:09 a.m.

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Microsoft: September updates break audio on some Windows PCs

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HomeNewsMicrosoftMicrosoft: September updates break audio on some Windows PCs

Microsoft: September updates break audio on some Windows PCs

By Sergiu Gatlan

September 14, 2026
04:08 AM
0

Microsoft has confirmed that USB audio devices may fail on some Windows systems after installing the KB5124008and KB5124012 September 2026 security updates.
This known issue affects only devices running Windows 11, version 24H2 or later, and is limited to USB Audio Class 1.0 devices.
"After installing the September 8, 2026, Windows security update [..], some USB Audio Class 1.0 devices might fail to start or produce audio," Microsoft said in a Friday update to the release health dashboard.
Affected users reported seeing "This device cannot start (Code 10)." errors in Device Manager, no audio output, and unresponsive volume controls and sound settings.
Others said the impacted USB audio speakers fail only when using multichannel audio features, including 3D audio or 8-channel modes.
While Microsoft has not yet provided an official workaround, some users have been able to restore audio on affected Windows PCs by switching to 2-channel mode.
Microsoft addressed a similar issue in January 2025, triggered by the KB5050094 optional preview cumulative update, which caused audio playback issues and Code 10 errors on Windows 11 24H2 systems with USB audio device drivers.
In September, it also lifted a safeguard hold that prevented Windows 11 24H2 upgrades on systems with Dirac audio improvement software because of compatibility issues causing Bluetooth headsets and speakers to malfunction.
Two years ago, Microsoft blocked Windows 24H2 upgrades on systems with incompatible Intel Smart Sound Technology (SST) audio drivers because of blue screen of death (BSOD) issues and confirmed an issue that caused game audio to unexpectedly increase to full volume when using USB DAC sound systems.
With the September 2026 cumulative updates, Microsoft fixed known issues that wiped Windows desktop and mouse settings, as well as a bug that prevented Teams and Outlook from launching on ARM-based Windows devices.

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Related Articles:
Microsoft fixes Teams, Outlook launch failures on ARM Windows PCsMicrosoft fixes bug that wiped Windows desktop settingsMicrosoft says KB5120998 Windows update resets desktop settingsWindows 11 cumulative updates KB5124008 & KB5122880 releasedMicrosoft: KB5120998 mouse reset bug affects only non-English PCs

Audio
KB5124008
KB5124012
Known Issue
Microsoft
Sound
USB
Windows
Windows 11

Sergiu Gatlan
Sergiu is a news reporter who has covered the latest cybersecurity and technology developments for over a decade. Email or Twitter DMs for tips.

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Microsoft confirmed that specific September 2026 security updates, namely KB5124008 and KB5124012, introduce known issues affecting audio functionality on certain Windows systems. This problem is specifically limited to devices running Windows 11, version 24H2 or later, and impacts USB Audio Class 1.0 devices. Users experienced various symptoms following the installation of these updates, including USB audio devices failing to start or produce sound, reporting "This device cannot start (Code 10)" errors in Device Manager, and unresponsive volume controls and sound settings. Furthermore, some users noted that USB audio speakers would only fail when utilizing multichannel audio features, such as 3D audio or 8-channel modes. Although Microsoft has not yet issued an official workaround, some users found temporary relief by switching the affected systems to a two-channel audio mode.

The news item contextualizes this issue within Microsoft’s history of addressing compatibility and stability problems with Windows updates, particularly concerning audio drivers and system functionality. Previously, issues have arisen from updates such as KB5050094, which also caused audio playback problems and error codes on Windows 11 24H2 systems with USB audio device drivers. Microsoft has addressed similar compatibility concerns historically, such as when they lifted a safeguard hold preventing Windows 11 24H2 upgrades on systems running Dirac audio improvement software due to malfunctions with Bluetooth headsets and speakers. Moreover, in the past, Microsoft has resolved issues related to audio drivers and system stability, including addressing problems concerning Intel Smart Sound Technology drivers that caused Blue Screen of Death errors, and fixing bugs related to game audio unexpectedly increasing volume when using USB DAC sound systems. Beyond the audio disruption, these September updates also included fixes for known issues that cleared Windows desktop and mouse settings, as well as a bug that prevented applications like Teams and Outlook from launching on Windows devices running on ARM architecture.