The latest Windows 11 update may mess with your device’s audio – here’s the workaround

Microsoft's September Patch Tuesday update, KB5124008, has reportedly caused audio issues with certain USB devices, including speakers, headphones, and microphones. The glitch stems from the fact that the update may cause problems with USB Audio Class 1.0 devices, which utilize an older audio driver dating back to Windows 98. This driver, known as Usbaudio.sys, was innovative for its time due to its plug-and-play functionality, but it can now cause issues with modern Windows 11 systems.

The primary concern is that this bug is limited to USB Audio Class 1.0 devices, which rely on the aforementioned legacy driver. In contrast, newer audio devices, like modern speakers and headsets, typically use USB Audio Class 2.0, Bluetooth, or the traditional audio jack for connectivity. Despite the widespread use of USB devices, this glitch could impact a significant number of Windows 11 users who still rely on older hardware.

At the moment, there is no official fix available. However, Microsoft has suggested a workaround for users affected by the issue. Affected devices may struggle to operate in multichannel audio modes, such as 8-channel or 3D audio, but they function correctly in standard stereo mode. To attempt this solution, users can follow these steps:

1. Access the Control Panel and open the Sound applet.

2. Navigate to the Playback tab and select the affected USB audio device.

3. Click the Configure button and choose stereo audio channels instead of one of the multichannel options.

4. Click Next to complete the process, then use the Test button to confirm that audio is now functioning correctly.

By switching to stereo mode, Windows 11 users dealing with the audio glitch from the September Patch Tuesday update may be able to restore sound to their USB audio devices.