● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportMedium impact1 negative
Microsoft September Updates Cause USB Audio Device Failures on Windows 11 24H2
Key points
- September 2026 updates KB5124008 and KB5124012 cause USB audio issues.
- Affects Windows 11, version 24H2 and USB Audio Class 1.0 devices.
- Users report "Code 10" errors and no audio output.
- No official fix yet; some users found a workaround using 2-channel mode.
USB Audio Devices Fail After September Updates
Microsoft has acknowledged that the September 2026 security updates, specifically KB5124008 and KB5124012, are causing problems with USB audio devices on certain Windows systems. The issue primarily affects devices running Windows 11, version 24H2 or later, and is limited to USB Audio Class 1.0 devices.
Reported Symptoms and Error Codes
Affected users have reported that their USB audio devices fail to start or produce audio after installing the updates. Common symptoms include "This device cannot start (Code 10)" errors in Device Manager, a complete lack of audio output, and unresponsive volume controls and sound settings. Some users noted that the problem specifically occurs when using multichannel audio features like 3D audio or 8-channel modes.
Previous Incidents and Workarounds
While Microsoft has not yet provided an official solution, some users have temporarily resolved the issue by switching their audio output to 2-channel mode. This is not the first time Microsoft has faced audio-related problems with updates; a similar issue occurred in January 2025 with the KB5050094 update, also affecting Windows 11 24H2 systems with USB audio device drivers. Microsoft has also previously addressed compatibility issues with Dirac audio software and Intel Smart Sound Technology (SST) drivers that caused audio malfunctions and system instability.
Other Fixes in September Updates
Alongside the audio issues, the September 2026 cumulative updates also included fixes for other known problems. These resolved issues that wiped Windows desktop and mouse settings, and a bug that prevented Teams and Outlook from launching on ARM-based Windows devices.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
The daily brief
One email each morning: the day's tech stories, clustered across outlets and summarized. No account needed.
One email a day. Unsubscribe in one click, any time.
Today's brief
Spend a few minutes, get the whole day. Every topic's top stories in one hands-free rundown — listen, watch, or read the transcript.
▶ Play today's brief
New every morning, and the back catalogue is archived by date.
Reporting from
Microsoft confirmed that the September 2026 security updates, KB5124008 and KB5124012, are causing USB Audio Class 1.0 devices to fail on Windows 11, version 24H2 systems. This issue prevents audio output and displays "Code 10" errors, impacting users who rely on these specific USB audio devices.