Microsoft's latest Windows 11 update breaks audio on some PCs, but there is a workaround

Switching to stereo mode can be a temporary workaround for this bug, which doesn't seem to affect wireless USB audio devices.

Microsoft has confirmed that its latest September security update for Windows 11 is causing some audio-related problems, specifically on USB audio devices. The KB5124008 update has been linked to unresponsive sound controls and an outright absence of sound.

According to Microsoft, this update is breaking audio output on USB devices, where in some instances they fail to produce sound altogether. Other symptoms include absent or unresponsive volume controls, as well as unavailable audio settings. This issue seems to appear right after installing the September update, but it’s not systematically affecting every updated machine.