Microsoft's Windows 11 Update Kills Audio on Some PCs

Microsoft has confirmed that its latest Windows 11 update, KB5124008, is causing problems with audio devices on some PCs. The bug can make it impossible for audio to work at all, or cause microphones and multichannel audio to malfunction.

The issue is tied to USB Audio Class 1.0 devices, but not limited to speakers or basic audio playback. Microsoft recommends switching the affected device to 2-channel mode as a temporary workaround, or using different audio hardware if that doesn't help.

Other problems with KB5124008 include Explorer.exe crashes, broken File History backups, and issues with Remote Desktop. Microsoft has acknowledged these issues but hasn't provided a permanent fix yet.