Windows 11 just got an emergency fix after a record security patch—install it now

Published Sep 16, 2026, 3:43 PM EDT Jon is a seasoned journalist who has written definitive coverage of consumer tech at publications like Engadget, Android Authority, and BetaKit. He's an expert on making tech accessible ranging from mobile and PCs to emerging platforms like wearables. When he's not writing, he's going on adventures with ihis family and is an avid photographer. Sign in to your How-To Geek account Microsoft is addressing more security flaws than ever before thanks to AI, but that might come at the expense of reliability. The company has released an emergency fix for Windows 11 after a record-setting "Patch Tuesday" broke multiple features. The out-of-band update (KB5129194) mends issues with Remote Desktop Services (RDS) stability and broken support for some USB audio devices. It also fixes support for apps that rely on Linux virtual machines using Hyper-V, including Claude Cowork. There are new security fixes as well. Some USB Audio Class 1.0 devices are still having problems, Microsoft says, but another fix is coming to resolve what's left. The solution comes days after Microsoft's monthly Patch Tuesday addressed an unprecedented 974 security holes. The previous record was set in July, when the tech giant patched 570 potential attacks in one month. The September patch eclipses what Microsoft previously managed in entire years. The bugs resulting from the initial patch are significant, particularly if you rely heavily on AI or remote connections for work. You'll want to install the emergency fix now, even if another one is coming in short order. AI is a blessing and a curse for security More detected flaws can lead to more bugs The spike in detected security flaws isn't unique to Microsoft and stems from the use of AI. Large language models (LLMs) focused on security, such as Anthropic's Mythos, are increasingly better at catching attack vectors that humans might miss. There's a race to release patches as hackers are also using AI to find zero-day exploits. The concern, of course, is that the sheer volume of fixes could make it harder to test for bugs elsewhere. While a major security patch isn't guaranteed to cause hiccups, the complexity doesn't help. Microsoft can't test every configuration, and the potential conflicts are only likely to grow as LLMs become more powerful. This doesn't mean that you have to rush to install security patches. While the fixes are important, bugs can sometimes break must-have functionality. If you aren't immediately worried about hacking attempts, it's worth waiting a few days (or longer) to install a security update in case there are substantial glitches. It's not certain if emergency fixes will become commonplace. However, the rise of AI-fueled patching makes it all the more important to check for updates, even if you sometimes hold off.