A mandatory security update for Windows 11, identified as KB5066835, has been causing significant disruptions for users, prompting Microsoft to initiate a hotfix to address the complications. Reports from various tech-focused platforms indicate that this update has led to a series of malfunctions, including the disabling of mice and keyboards in recovery mode, interruptions in network connectivity for locally hosted applications, and difficulties with file previews in Windows Explorer.
This update affects Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, as well as Windows Server 2025, and was automatically deployed on numerous systems, potentially rendering some PCs inoperable. As of now, Microsoft has not provided an immediate response to inquiries regarding the situation.
Temporary solutions
According to Windows Latest, the publication has been in communication with Microsoft concerning the issues arising from the update, and it is anticipated that a hotfix may take several days to be released. The problematic update was rolled out on October 14. In a recent post, Mayank Parmar from Windows Latest shared that Microsoft advised affected users to check for updates and restart their PCs, even if no new updates appear in the list. This action may allow Windows to revert its code once the fix is made available.
Additionally, Windows Latest has provided a workaround involving a modification to the Windows Registry, which could temporarily restore networking capabilities for local applications. This, along with other suggested fixes, aims to alleviate some of the challenges posed by the recent update.
