Since the September 8, 2026 Windows security update, some USB headsets, microphones, DACs or sound cards no longer produce any sound, or show a Code 10 error in Device Manager. Microsoft has acknowledged this issue. It affects some USB Audio Class 1.0 devices, on Windows 11 as well as Windows 10. To date it is only partially fixed. This guide helps you confirm it is this bug, then apply what currently works.
Problem
- The USB audio device shows "This device cannot start. (Code 10)" in Device Manager.
- No sound comes out, even though the device appears connected.
- Volume controls do not respond or stay stuck at zero.
- Sound settings do not respond or are unavailable.
- Sound works in stereo, but no longer in 7.1, 8-channel or 3D audio mode.
What to know first
- Update involved: the September 8, 2026 security update, i.e. KB5124008 for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 and KB5122878 for Windows 10 21H2 and 22H2 (devices enrolled in Extended Security Updates). Microsoft's dashboard also lists the issue on Windows 11 26H2.
- Only some USB Audio Class 1.0 devices are affected. A jack or Bluetooth headset, or sound going through the motherboard, is not affected by this bug.
- Partial fix: the out-of-band update KB5129195 of September 14, 2026 (Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2) fixes failures in 8-channel or 3D audio modes. For the other symptoms (Code 10, no sound), Microsoft says it is working on a fix, with no date announced so far.
- Your settings are kept: none of the steps below deletes files.
Step 1: confirm it is this bug
When to use it: first, so you do not look in the wrong place.
Suggested solution
- Right-click Start, then open Device Manager.
- Expand Sound, video and game controllers and Audio inputs and outputs.
- Open the Properties of the USB device and read the Device status.
- Then open Settings > Windows Update > Update history, and check the installation date of the latest quality update.
Expected result: the device shows Code 10 or no longer produces sound, and the problem started right after the September 2026 update or a later one was installed.
When to stop: if the problem appeared before September 2026 or affects a device that is not USB, this guide does not apply. See the other guides in the Sound and audio category instead.
Step 2: install the latest Windows updates
When to use it: sound no longer works in 7.1, 8-channel or 3D audio, or you have not installed any update since mid-September.
Suggested solution
- Open Settings > Windows Update.
- Click Check for updates and install what is offered, including the October 13, 2026 security update (KB5127648 on Windows 11 24H2, 25H2 and 26H2), which includes the previous fixes.
- Restart the PC.
- Unplug and plug the USB device back in, preferably directly into a port on the PC rather than a hub.
What it does: these cumulative updates contain the partial fix Microsoft released on September 14, 2026.
Expected result: sound comes back in 8-channel or 3D audio modes.
Rollback: a recent update can be uninstalled from Update history > Uninstall updates. However, Microsoft recommends installing the latest security update, which contains important fixes: removing it exposes the PC to the vulnerabilities it fixes.
Step 3: switch the device back to stereo (2 channels)
When to use it: sound only works in stereo, or not at all, and the updates changed nothing.
Suggested solution
- Press Windows + R, type the command below, then confirm.
mmsys.cpl- In the Playback tab, select the USB device, then click Configure.
- Choose Stereo, then finish the wizard.
- If the headset manufacturer's software offers virtual surround or a 7.1 mode, turn it off.
- Test the sound.
What it does: Microsoft says some customers restored audio by switching to 2-channel mode.
Expected result: sound comes back, in stereo.
Rollback: once the final fix is released, repeat the same steps to turn 7.1 or surround back on.
Note: the Configure button only appears for devices that support several speaker configurations.
Special cases
- Still Code 10 after steps 2 and 3: this is the symptom Microsoft has not fixed yet. In the meantime, use another connection for the headset if possible (jack or adapter), and keep an eye on the Windows release health dashboard.
- Work PC: Microsoft asks IT administrators who need an immediate workaround to contact Microsoft Support for Business.
- Windows 10 without Extended Security Updates: a PC that no longer receives updates did not get the September 2026 update. The bug described here therefore does not apply to it.
Final check
- ☐ The affected device is USB, and the problem dates from the September 2026 update.
- ☐ The latest Windows updates are installed and the PC has restarted.
- ☐ The device is set to stereo if multichannel mode is the problem.
- ☐ Device Manager no longer shows Code 10, or you are following Microsoft's dashboard while waiting for the fix.
Sources
- Microsoft Learn: Windows 11, version 24H2 known issues and notifications
- Microsoft Learn: Windows 10, version 22H2 known issues and notifications
- Microsoft: KB5124008, September 8, 2026 security update (Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2)
- Microsoft: KB5129195, September 14, 2026 out-of-band update
- Microsoft: KB5127648, October 13, 2026 security update
- Microsoft: KB5122878, September 8, 2026 security update (Windows 10)
Still having the problem?
Reply with your Windows version (Windows + R, then winver), the USB device model, the message shown in Device Manager and what steps 2 and 3 changed. Do not post serial numbers or account information.