A mandatory Windows 11 security update is wreaking havoc on some systems, and Microsoft is working on a hotfix to reverse the damage. Several Windows- and tech-focused websites report issues with Windows 11 KB5066835. The sites report that the update can disable mice and keyboards in recovery mode, disable network connections for locally hosted apps and cause issues with previewing files in Windows Explorer.
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The update, for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 as well as Windows Server 2025, was automatically installed on some systems and could render PCs unusable.
A representative for Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Temporary solutions
The website Windows Latest said it’s been communicating with Microsoft about the update bugs and that a hotfix could take several days. The original update was issued on Oct. 14.
“Microsoft told me that affected users should check for updates and reboot their PC, even if they do not see any newer updates listed,” Mayank Parmar wrote in a Windows Latest post.
That process, Parmar wrote, allows Windows to roll back its code once that fix is available. The website also offered a modification to Windows Registry that could temporarily address the ability for local apps to use networking and other workarounds and fixes for the issues the update has caused.
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