Microsoft releases KB5070762 Windows 11 25H2, 24H2 emergency Recovery update

Earlier today, Microsoft released KB5070773, an emergency Windows 11 update on versions 25H2 and 24H2 to address a USB keyboard and mouse issue as they became unusable when trying to recover. The culprit was of course the Windows Recovery Envrironment (WinRE) update KB5067039 that was released alongside the October 2025 Patch Tuesday (KB5066835).

To fix the problem, a new WinRE update has also been released alongside the update. It is good to see Microsoft making this fix so quickly, and similarly to the main update, this WinRE (Safe OS dynamic update) is also an out of band (OOB) emergency update.

These Dynamic Update packages are meant to be applied to existing Windows images prior to their deployment. These packages include fixes to Setup.exe binaries, SafeOS updates for Windows Recovery Environment, and more. Dynamic Updates also help preserve Language Pack (LP) and Features on Demand (FODs) content during the upgrade process. VBScript, for example, is currently an FOD on Windows 11 24H2. Microsoft writes:

"KB5070762: Safe OS Dynamic out-of-band update for Windows 11, version 24H2 and 25H2, and Windows Server 2025: October 20, 2025

Summary

This out-of-band update makes improvements to the Windows recovery environment (WinRE) in Windows 11, version 24H2, Windows 11, version 25H2 and Windows Server 2025.

The following is a summary of the issue that this update addresses when you install this update. The bold text within the brackets indicates the item or area of the change we are documenting.

• [USB] Fixed: After installing the Windows security update released on October 14, 2025 (Windows 11, version 24H2 or 25H2, or Windows Server 25H2), USB devices, such as keyboards and mice, do not function in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). This issue prevents navigation of any of the recovery options within WinRE. Note that the USB devices continue to work normally within the Windows operating system."

Microsoft says that the update should be downloaded and installed automatically but you can also manually do so by visiting the Microsoft Update Catalog website at this link.

Source

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Posted Tuesday 21 October 2025 at 5:51 pm AEST (my time).

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