Overview
- Microsoft began rolling out emergency cumulative update KB5070773 on October 20, stating it resolves the Windows Recovery Environment USB input bug.
- The failure stemmed from the October 14 security update KB5066835, which left users unable to navigate WinRE even though input worked in normal Windows.
- Impacted platforms include Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 as well as Windows Server 2025, according to Microsoft's release health note.
- Microsoft advises installing the latest updates, noting KB5070773 and subsequent releases include the fix while preserving the October security patches.
- For devices that cannot apply the update normally, Microsoft lists temporary options such as using a touchscreen or PS/2 peripherals, booting from a USB recovery drive, or enterprise deployments via PXE/Configuration Manager or Windows ADK/WinPE.