Microsoft has rolled out an emergency out-of-band update for Windows 11 to address problems caused by its record-breaking September Patch Tuesday release, which patched nearly 1,000 flaws — the largest single update the company has ever issued.
The September 2026 update, while historically large in scope, introduced several bugs affecting businesses, developers, and gamers. Specifically, it disrupted folder shares on Hyper-V-based Linux virtual machines, Remote Desktop Services sessions, and some USB audio devices.
Microsoft’s emergency fix, released the day before the article’s publication on September 15, 2026, covers Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H1. The company also released corrective updates for Windows Server 2025 and 2022, LTSC versions of Windows 10, and Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2.
Out-of-band updates — patches released outside Microsoft’s regular monthly schedule — were once uncommon, but have become increasingly frequent in 2026. In January, Microsoft issued four such updates after a buggy Windows 11 patch. In March, two emergency updates followed due to installation failures and Microsoft account sign-in problems. An additional out-of-band update was released in July to fix an Intel driver issue causing performance problems and battery drain.
The pattern suggests Microsoft’s accelerated patching pace may be contributing to quality control challenges. For users running affected versions of Windows — particularly those relying on virtual machines, remote desktop access, or USB audio hardware — applying the new emergency update may resolve the disruptions introduced by the September release.
Source: The Verge