Staying ahead of issues in a major Windows feature release is about tracking authoritative signals and acting quickly when Microsoft publishes mitigations or out-of-band fixes. This guide distills the current, confirmed items from Microsoft’s Release Health dashboard and support notes so you can plan rollouts and keep endpoints stable. Where relevant, you’ll also see exactly how Microsoft communicates status changes and how to verify that a fix is installed. (Sources are cited inline.)
Terminology note (variants you may see across Microsoft docs and search results): windows 11, version 24h2, windows 24h2, windows 11 version 24h2, windows 11 24h2
Current known issues (status and remediation)
USB input broken in Windows Recovery (WinRE) — resolved
A security update released on October 14, 2025 (KB5066835) caused USB keyboards and mice to stop working inside WinRE; normal desktop input was unaffected. Microsoft shipped an out-of-band update KB5070773 on October 20 to restore input. Verify the fix by checking for OS Build 26100.6901 after installing the update.
Smart card auth failures (CSP vs KSP) — resolved
Some certificate operations failed after the October security update hardened cryptographic behavior; remediation guidance and resolution are documented in Release Health.
Wallpaper/desktop customization apps — hold removed
Certain desktop/wallpaper applications could misbehave (missing icons, broken previews). Microsoft placed a compatibility hold, then lifted it on October 15, 2025; some devices may still show a warning and require confirmation to proceed.
IIS/HTTP.sys connectivity symptoms
Under specific conditions after late-September/October updates, IIS sites (including http://localhost/) may fail with connection reset errors; a Known Issue Rollback policy is available while Microsoft continues investigation.
WUSA installs from a network share
Installing .msu files from shares holding multiple packages can fail with ERROR_BAD_PATHNAME. Workarounds are documented; this affects enterprise scenarios more than home PCs.
Intel Smart Sound Technology (SST) driver BSOD — resolved external
Systems with specific Intel SST driver versions on 11th-gen CPUs were held from updating until newer audio drivers were installed. Guidance and the safeguard hold ID are listed in Release Health.
At-a-glance table
| Issue (scope) | Impact | Status | Fix / next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| WinRE USB input | No keyboard/mouse in recovery after Oct 14 update | Resolved | Install KB5070773 → OS Build 26100.6901. |
| Smart card auth | RSA smart cards using CSP fail | Resolved | Apply latest cumulative update; see Release Health notes. |
| Desktop/wallpaper apps | Launch/UX issues, update offer blocked | Hold removed Oct 15 | Update the app; proceed with warning/confirmation. |
Also Read: How to Fix USB Not Detected or Showing Up in Windows 11 & 10
How Microsoft communicates “known issues” and upgrade blocks
Windows release health is the canonical source. Each item lists scope, OS build, originating KB, open/resolved timestamps, mitigations, and whether a safeguard hold or compatibility hold is active. When a hold is lifted, the page often notes that update offers can take up to 48 hours to propagate via Windows Update.
- Safeguard holds for Windows temporarily block feature offers to devices likely to hit a known issue; administrators should not try to bypass them on production machines.
- Microsoft posts update history and the specific cumulative update or servicing stack update (SSU) that contains a fix; KB5070773 is a recent example delivered out-of-band to address WinRE input.
Tip: If your device had a hold due to desktop customization software, Microsoft notes the hold was lifted on Oct 15, 2025, and some devices will show a compatibility warning that you must confirm before proceeding.
Verification and remediation workflow (practical)
- Check the Release Health entry first. Validate the item’s current status, dates, and any Group Policy for Known Issue Rollback provided by Microsoft.
- Confirm build and KB level. After installing a fix, confirm the OS Build 26100.6901 when addressing the WinRE input case (KB5070773). This confirms the fix is present.
- Respect safeguard holds. If a device is blocked, remediate the noted prerequisite (e.g., update a driver), then re-check for updates; Microsoft states it can take up to 48 hours for the offer to reappear after remediation.
- Enterprise: choose roll-forward or hold-back.
- Use Windows Update for Business/Intune feature update policies to hold at or move to a target version that’s still in support.
- For known regressions, deploy Microsoft’s Group Policy for Known Issue Rollback where available.
- Edge cases (offline or unbootable): Microsoft documents temporary workarounds (touchscreen input, PS/2 devices, or a USB recovery drive) if a machine cannot boot to install the fix.
Deployment guidance for administrators
- Pilot, then broad deployment. Start with representative hardware (audio stacks, storage controllers, VPN/smartcard usage, and common desktop utility suites). Validate WinRE behavior by booting to recovery and confirming input works post-update.
- Policy and rings. Use Intune feature update policy to lock to or advance from a supported version; pair with update rings to control cadence. WSUS remains an option where required.
- Document exceptions. Track devices affected by historical holds (e.g., Intel SST) and verify the exact driver versions that clear the block before scheduling the upgrade.
- Audit third-party desktop utilities. If you use wallpaper/desktop customization tools, update them first; expect an offer confirmation even after the hold was lifted.
Where to monitor notifications (day-to-day)
- Release Health dashboard for live issue status, timestamps, and mitigations.
- KB pages (like KB5070773) for build numbers and enterprise deployment notes (DISM, Update Catalog, MSU order).
- Admin centers: Windows Update for Business reports and Intune update status for tenant-wide visibility.
Conclusion
Microsoft’s Release Health entries for this version show a fast remediation cadence: the WinRE USB input regression tied to KB5066835 was resolved by KB5070773 within days, smart-card cryptography changes have been clarified and fixed, and the desktop customization app hold was lifted with a clear path forward. Treat the Release Health dashboard as your source of truth, honor holds until prerequisites are ready, and verify fixes by KB and OS build before expanding deployment. With that discipline, you can keep updates flowing while maintaining reliability.
FAQs
1) How do I quickly tell if my device is on the fixed build without digging through Settings?
Run winver and check the OS build; for scriptable checks, query HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion values ReleaseId and CurrentBuildNumber.
2) Can I use media/ISO to upgrade a device that previously had a compatibility hold?
You can, but it’s risky; fix the underlying driver/app issue first so the device is eligible via Windows Update rather than bypassing protections.
3) How do I track which machines received a Known Issue Rollback policy?
Use Intune or Group Policy reporting to confirm the KIR MSI/GPO is applied and audit the corresponding registry policy keys.
4) What’s the safest way to test IIS/HTTP.sys fixes in dev?
Apply the recommended updates, enable the KIR policy if provided, and use appcmd list sites plus synthetic probes to validate connection stability.
5) How long after Microsoft lifts a hold should I expect the feature offer to appear?
Microsoft notes it can take up to 48 hours after prerequisites are met for the offer to appear via Windows Update.
