Microsoft has taken significant steps to address a series of issues stemming from the Windows KB5043145 preview update, which had been causing reboot loops, system freezes, and malfunctions in USB and Bluetooth devices. The company confirmed on Friday that users experiencing these problems found their systems either loading the Automatic Repair tool—intended to rectify boot issues—or entering BitLocker recovery mode after repeated reboots.
On the following Monday, Microsoft elaborated on the situation, noting that the same problematic optional update was responsible for failures in Bluetooth and USB device connectivity. “This issue also causes USB and Bluetooth connections to fail in some devices,” the company stated in an update to its Windows release health page. “Hardware connected via USB and Bluetooth, such as keyboards, memory sticks, printers, and wireless mice, no longer work after installing the update. In these cases, the USB Host Controller under the Device Manager displays a yellow exclamation mark.”
Fixed via Known Issue Rollback
To remedy these complications, Microsoft has implemented a Known Issue Rollback (KIR)—a feature designed to reverse flawed non-security updates distributed through Windows Update. The company is now working diligently to integrate this fix into an upcoming Windows update.
For administrators managing impacted Windows enterprise devices, the resolution involves installing and configuring the Windows 11 22H2 KB5043145 240904_041021 Known Issue Rollback Group Policy. Once installed, this Group Policy can be located under Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates.
To deploy the Known Issue Rollback, administrators should navigate to either the Local Computer Policy or the Domain policy on the domain controller using the Group Policy Editor to select the appropriate Windows version for targeting. A system restart will be necessary to apply the group policy setting effectively.
For further assistance on deploying and configuring KIR Group Policies, Microsoft has made additional guidance available on its support website.
This is not the first time Microsoft has addressed significant issues with its updates. In August, the company resolved a known issue that caused boot problems and freezes on Windows Server 2019 systems. Similarly, a bug in the July 2024 Windows security updates had led some devices to boot into BitLocker recovery. Additionally, another issue linked to the June 2024 KB5039302 preview update resulted in restart loops and taskbar problems on Windows 11 systems, all of which underscore the company’s commitment to maintaining system reliability and user satisfaction.
