Microsoft has quickly responded to a critical issue in Windows 11 by releasing an out-of-band (OOB) update that restores the functionality of USB mice and keyboards in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). The problem, which appeared after the regular October 14 patch, affected the current versions of the OS — 24H2 and 25H2 — effectively leaving users unable to recover their systems after serious crashes.

The Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) is a vital tool for diagnosing, troubleshooting, and restoring the system to a previous state. The inability of key input devices — USB keyboards and mice — to function in this environment posed a serious threat to system recovery after critical failures.

To resolve this issue, Microsoft released an emergency update identified as KB5070773. According to The Verge, the company developed and distributed the fix in under a week. This update has fully restored the operation of USB devices in WinRE.

Releasing out-of-band updates is an uncommon step for Microsoft, reserved only for cases that require immediate intervention to resolve critical problems. For Windows 11 users, this means that the functionality of a crucial recovery tool is now ensured. If you are using Windows 11 version 24H2 or 25H2, make sure that update KB5070773 is installed to avoid potential issues during system recovery.

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