Microsoft has rolled out an out-of-band update addressing issues stemming from its recent Windows 11 patch, which was released last Tuesday. The September 2026 update, while introducing a host of new features and remedying nearly 1,000 security vulnerabilities, has also been accompanied by some regrettable regressions.
New Features and Persistent Issues
The 25H2 update marks a nostalgic return of the movable taskbar, reminiscent of the functionality seen since Windows 95. Users can now opt for a more compact taskbar height, catering to those with smaller displays. Furthermore, the Start menu has undergone a transformation, offering multiple configurable layouts with the ability to toggle each main section on or off. Enhancements have also been made to Windows Search, which now allows users to filter results to display only local content. Additionally, File Explorer has received a useful update, now showcasing file sizes in KB, MB, and GB indicators.
However, not all feedback has been positive. Reports have surfaced of PCs equipped with AMD Radeon GPUs experiencing crashes, attributed to driver instability triggered by the update. Unfortunately, reinstalling the driver has not resolved the issue, affecting a wide range of contemporary AMD graphics cards. Notably, Microsoft did not specifically address AMD GPUs in its latest communication.
On a more positive note, the company has rectified an issue with Remote Desktop Services that had been causing instability, leading to connection and sign-in failures. Nevertheless, users are still encountering problems with audio output and microphone input, which have been reported to fail unexpectedly. Some audio devices are starting up with incorrect configurations, such as altered 3D audio settings or speaker setups. A temporary workaround involves reverting audio settings to a standard 2.0 configuration, although Microsoft has now included a fix for this in the emergency patch.
Lenovo users are also facing challenges, with reports of machines experiencing black screens or sudden shutdowns, seemingly linked to power management issues. As the situation unfolds, it remains unclear where the responsibility lies.
Despite these challenges, it is encouraging to see Microsoft accelerating its Windows development pace and actively responding to customer feedback. However, the emergence of bugs following a significant feature update continues to be a common occurrence.