Windows 11 26H2: USB audio devices might fail to start or produce no sound
Summary
Some USB Audio Class 1.0 devices might fail to start or produce no audio after installing Windows 11, version 26H2. Microsoft lists the same issue for other Windows client and server versions, where it originates from the September 8, 2026 security updates. For 26H2 the vendor status is Mitigated and a fix in a future Windows update is still being worked on.
Symptoms
- Device Manager shows "This device cannot start (Code 10)."
- No audio output.
- Volume controls are unresponsive or remain at zero.
- Sound settings are unresponsive or unavailable.
- Multichannel modes (8-channel or 3D audio) may fail while stereo works; this symptom is resolved by the out-of-band (OOB) update of September 14, 2026 on the versions where Microsoft documents it.
The issue is limited to USB Audio Class 1.0 devices.
Affected
- Windows 11, version 26H2 (no fix announced yet)
- Also listed: Windows 11 26H1, 25H2, 24H2, 23H2; Windows 10 22H2, 21H2, Enterprise LTSC 2019 and 2016
- Windows Server 2025, 2022, 2019, 2016, 2012 R2, 2012
- Originating updates (September 8, 2026): KB5124012 (26H1), KB5124008 (25H2/24H2), KB5122880 (23H2), KB5122878 (Windows 10 22H2), KB5122876 (Server 2019), KB5123099 (Server 2016), KB5122871 (Server 2025), KB5122882 (Server 2022)
Workaround
- IT administrators who need an immediate workaround for the symptoms not yet addressed by the OOB update should contact Microsoft Support for Business.
- Some customers restored audio in multichannel cases by switching to 2-channel mode.
Fix
Not fixed yet for 26H2. Microsoft is working on a fix in a future Windows update. On other versions the OOB updates of September 14, 2026 (KB5129194 for 26H1, KB5129195 for 25H2/24H2, KB5129242 for 23H2, KB5129236 for Windows 10 22H2, KB5129238 for Server 2019, KB5129239 for Server 2016, KB5129235 for Server 2025, KB5129237 for Server 2022) resolve only the multichannel symptoms. For Server 2022 the remaining symptoms are resolved by KB5126655 (October 13, 2026) and later updates.
Recommendation
Check whether USB audio devices (headsets, speakerphones, conference devices) are in use on 26H2 machines and test them before wide rollout. Keep the latest cumulative update installed and watch the Windows release health page for 26H2. If users are blocked, contact Microsoft Support for Business.
Reports from the community and trade media
Reports from forums, Q&A sites, Reddit and trade media – linked only, without the names of the authors; the vendor’s statement is authoritative.
- Resolved issues Windows Server 2025 Vendor · learn.microsoft.com, 14 Sep 2026
- September Windows Server updates break Remote Desktop Services News · bleepingcomputer.com, 11 Sep 2026
- September 2026 update breaks RDS: how to fix News · lazyadmin.nl, 15 Sep 2026
- September 2026 updates can freeze RDS News · lizardsystems.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Microsoft admits Windows 11's biggest September update is breaking multiple features News · windowslatest.com, 12 Sep 2026
- KB5124008 Windows 11 issues News · securityonline.info, 14 Sep 2026
- KB5124008 KB catalog News · ninjaone.com, 31 Oct 2026
- Windows 11 26H2 release health Vendor · learn.microsoft.com, 29 Sep 2026
Sources
- Windows release health: Windows 11, Version 26H2 Vendor · learn.microsoft.com
- Windows release health: Windows 11, Version 26H1 Vendor · learn.microsoft.com
- Windows release health: Windows 11, Version 25H2 Vendor · learn.microsoft.com
- Windows release health: Windows Server 2022 Vendor · learn.microsoft.com
- Windows release health: Windows Server 2025 Vendor · learn.microsoft.com
- USB Audio Class system driver (usbaudio.sys) Vendor · learn.microsoft.com
- Microsoft Support for Business Vendor · support.microsoft.com
- KB5126655 Vendor · support.microsoft.com
Compiled from the sources listed and translated with AI (Claude); status and dates come from the vendor. The vendor’s statements are authoritative. Updated 1 Nov 2026, 18:19.
Where the information comes from
We continuously read the vendors’ official sources, community reports and trade media and summarise them in our own words, with a link to the source:
- Microsoft: Windows release health (Windows 10/11, Server 2016 to 2025), Windows message center, known issues of Microsoft 365 Apps (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Edge, Intune, Autopilot, Windows 365 and Entra Connect, Microsoft KB articles with timelines, Exchange and Windows IT Pro blogs, optionally Microsoft 365 service health and message center
- other vendors: Veeam KB, Citrix (known issues), Ubuntu and Debian (regressions), Broadcom (VMware), Fortinet, Cisco, Mozilla, Let’s Encrypt
- community (title, short excerpt and link only, without the names of the authors): Microsoft Q&A, Microsoft Tech Community (discussions), Veeam R&D Forums, Eleven Forum
- targeted web research with AI (Claude), e.g. on the updates of the month – this also finds discussions on Reddit and in forums; such entries are labelled as community reports until the vendor confirms them
- early warning from trade media (title and link only): Born’s Tech and Windows World, BleepingComputer, AskWoody, Windows Latest, Windows Central, gHacks, The Windows Club, Deskmodder, Dr. Windows, WindowsArea, Frankys Web, heise online
Summary and translation with AI (Claude by Anthropic) – without any data of visitors.
Affected? We can help.
We check whether your systems are affected, apply workarounds properly and plan for dated changes in good time.