The latest Windows 11 update may mess with your device’s audio – here’s the workaround
This month’s Patch Tuesday update is causing audio problems with certain USB devices. There’s no patch yet, but you may be able to resolve it by changing the audio mode to stereo.
Microsoft's monthly Windows updates often introduce new issues alongside bug and vulnerability fixes. The latest September Patch Tuesday update, launched on September 8, 2021, is reportedly causing audio problems on certain older USB devices, such as speakers, headphones, and microphones. Microsoft disclosed this in its "Windows 11, version 25H2 known issues and notifications" page.
The KB5124008 Windows security update is said to mess up the sound on some USB Audio Class 1.0 devices. This type of device uses an older, legacy audio driver called Usbaudio.sys, which was introduced in Windows 98. Usbaudio.sys was revolutionary as it allowed devices to connect to a PC through Microsoft's plug-and-play method without requiring specific drivers from each manufacturer.
These USB Audio Class 1.0 devices, including older speakers, headsets, and microphones, rely on the Usbaudio.sys driver. Unlike modern USB Audio Class 2.0 devices that typically use the PC's audio jack or Bluetooth for connection, these legacy devices fall under the scope of this glitch.
There is no permanent fix yet, but Microsoft is actively working on resolving the issue. Until then, users can try a workaround: switching the audio output to 2-channel stereo mode. To do this, navigate to the Control Panel's Sound applet. Under the Playback tab, select the affected USB audio device, click the Configure button, and change the Audio channels to stereo. Test the audio to ensure it's working correctly.
Written by urgent.news from ZDNet's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
