Microsoft has confirmed that the recent KB5124008 Windows 11 September security update is causing audio output issues on some PCs, specifically affecting USB Audio Class 1.0 devices. Users are reporting that their USB audio devices fail to function properly, with symptoms including "This device cannot start (Code 10)" errors in the device manager, unresponsive volume controls, no audio output, and complete lack of device detection. In some cases, switching to standard stereo or 2-channel audio mode may temporarily restore functionality, though this workaround does not resolve the underlying issue. The problem appears to occur when multichannel audio features such as 8-channel or 3D audio modes are enabled. Microsoft is reportedly working on a resolution.

This is not the first time Microsoft has encountered issues with peripheral devices following Windows updates. The Windows 11 August update previously caused custom cursor settings to reset to oversized defaults, with color and size preferences failing to persist. Additionally, that update led to gameplay disruptions including forced crashes, random freezing, errors, and unexpected device restarts related to RGB peripherals.

A recent poll conducted by TechPowerUp gathered nearly 33,000 responses, with the majority of participants expressing concern that Windows 11 quality is declining despite Microsoft's ongoing promises to improve the operating system.