Microsoft has confirmed that its September Windows 11 update can prevent some audio devices and microphones from working. The problem appears after users restart their computers and primarily affects multichannel USB audio equipment.
Microsoft has not released a permanent solution. However, switching affected devices to two-channel audio may restore functionality temporarily.
September Update Can Disable Audio
The Windows 11 audio issue emerged after Microsoft released its September Patch Tuesday update. Some users found that their computers could no longer play sound after restarting.
Microsoft said affected devices may fail to start or produce audio. In some cases, the computer becomes completely silent despite recognising the connected equipment.
The problem mainly affects USB Audio Class 1.0 devices. Windows typically supports this equipment automatically, so users do not need to install separate manufacturer drivers.
However, the company has not revealed how many computers the bug affects. It also remains unclear whether the problem targets specific PC models or hardware configurations.
Microphones Can Also Stop Working
The fault does not affect audio output alone. Microphones connected to vulnerable systems may also stop working after the update.
Consequently, the problem can disrupt video conferences, online calls, recordings and other tasks that require microphone access.
Windows Device Manager may display the affected device with a Code 10 error. This message indicates that Windows cannot start the device or its driver.
Removing or disabling the affected hardware may not resolve the problem. Since the Windows update causes the underlying failure, reinstalling the device can leave users with the same error.
Multichannel Audio Appears Most Affected
Microsoft’s investigation indicates that the problem involves multichannel audio configurations. Devices operating with more than two channels face the greatest risk.
The company has not provided a permanent fix yet. Nevertheless, users may be able to restore sound by switching their device to two-channel stereo mode.
This workaround will reduce the number of available audio channels. Therefore, it may not provide the full functionality required by professional recording equipment or surround-sound systems.
Users should also check the Windows release health dashboard for new information. Microsoft will likely publish additional guidance or a corrective update after completing its investigation.
Patch Tuesday Causes Several Other Problems
The Windows 11 audio issue adds to a growing list of problems linked to the September update. Microsoft originally released the package to address several operating system bugs.
The update included fixes for File Explorer crashes, black screens and broken File History backups. It also targeted Remote Desktop errors and problems affecting some Linux-based virtual machine applications.
However, users have since reported additional problems, including graphics and GPU-related glitches. Earlier in September, another Windows 11 bug incorrectly warned some users that antivirus protection had stopped working.
Microsoft later confirmed that security protection remained active despite the false notification. Meanwhile, the company continues investigating the latest audio and microphone failures.
Users who depend on multichannel USB audio should test their equipment after installing the update. If problems appear, switching to two-channel mode may offer temporary relief until Microsoft releases a permanent fix.
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