Microsoft has confirmed WindowsLatest’s findings from yesterday. This month’s update renders WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment) useless because a bug blocks the mouse or keyboard from working. This means you cannot navigate WinRE. It’s one of the issues that originates from Windows 11 KB5066835, which also breaks localhost.
WinRE stands for Windows Recovery Environment and is one of the most important features of the OS. You can use WinRE when Windows refuses to boot and recover the operating system. In fact, WinRE automatically shows up when Windows hits a BSOD (Blue/Black screen of Death error).
There are also other use cases of WinRE. For example, WinRE lets you configure how Windows boots when there are multiple installations of the OS across partitions or USB drives.
You can enter WinRE when Windows hits a snag or from Settings > System > Recovery, and select “Restart now” under Advanced startup.
However, this month’s cumulative update for Windows isn’t looking pretty if you often use WinRE for one reason or another. I installed Windows 11 KB5066835 because it’s a mandatory security update, and noticed that I can no longer select options or navigate between pages in WinRE.
Microsoft has confirmed that it’s aware of the reports and is investigating the root cause of the problem.
“After installing the Windows security update released on October 14, 2025 (KB5066835), USB devices, such as keyboards and mice, do not function in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE),” Microsoft noted in an update to its support documentation first spotted by Windows Latest.
Microsoft warns that the issue makes it impossible to navigate between different options within WinRE. For example, if you’re on WinRE and want to troubleshoot the OS or reset Windows, you can’t do that because the cursor will not work, and keyboard buttons will not respond.
“Note that the USB keyboard and mouse continue to work normally within the Windows operating system,” the company explained.
Microsoft plans to release an out-of-the-band update to address WinRE issues in Windows 11 24H2/25H2.
How to fix keyboard and mouse not working in WinRE after Windows 11 October 2025 Update?
If you really want to use WinRE without uninstalling Windows 11 KB5066835, you can revert the Windows Recovery Environment image (winre.wim) to an older, working version.
You’ll replace the current winre.wim with a known-good one from an older Windows 11 ISO.
Warning: This touches system files. A mistake can make Windows unstable or stop it from booting. Do it carefully and at your own risk.
- First, download and save a copy of Windows 11 ISO. Make sure the build of the ISO is 10.0.26100.5059 or older.
- From that ISO, extract winre.wim. Copy and save the file.
- Open Command Prompt (Admin) and reagentc /disable. This will disable WinRE and allow us to make changes to the file on the system
- Open File Explorer, enable Hidden items and go to C:\Windows\System32\Recovery
- You’ll now see winre.wim file. It’ll not show up when WinRE is enabled, so make sure you turn it off.
- You can now back up this WinRE.wim as we’re going to delete it in the next step.
- Delete winre.wim from C:\Windows\System32\Recovery and then copy the older, working winre.wim (from the ISO) into this same folder.
- Close File Explorer.
- In Command Prompt (Admin), run: reagentc /enable
If you follow the steps correctly, WinRE will now work again.
You can also wait while Microsoft figures out a fix and rolls it out. Another solution is to remove Windows 11 KB5066835.
