Table of Contents
Is There a Simple Fix When Your Keyboard Fails in Windows Advanced Startup?
A recent Windows update may cause problems with your computer’s repair functions. Your USB keyboard or mouse might stop working, but only on the special blue repair screen. This issue does not affect their use when Windows is running normally.
Understanding the Problem
The Windows Recovery Environment, or WinRE, is a special mode used to fix problems with your computer. You can access it through the “Advanced startup” option in your settings. After installing the security updates from October 14, 2025, you may find that you cannot use your USB-connected mouse or keyboard within this repair mode. This makes it impossible to select any of the recovery options.
What You Might Experience
- On a desktop computer, your USB keyboard and mouse may not respond at all in WinRE.
- On a laptop, the built-in keyboard and trackpad might still work correctly. However, any external USB mouse or keyboard you plug in will not.
- The problem only occurs on the blue “Advanced Options” screen. Your devices will work as expected once you are back in your regular Windows environment.
Who Is Affected?
Microsoft has confirmed this issue impacts specific versions of its operating systems. This problem is known to affect users after installing update KB5066835 or other updates released on the same day.
The officially affected systems are:
- Windows 11, versions 24H2 and 25H2
- Windows Server 2025
While Microsoft has not officially confirmed it, some users report experiencing the same issue on Windows 10.
Current Status and Solution
Microsoft is aware of this problem. They have officially acknowledged it and are actively working on a solution. A future update will be released to fix this bug. At this time, there is no specific date for the fix. The best course of action is to wait for Microsoft to release the corrective update.