Microsoft has acknowledged a critical problem with the System Restore and Recovery functions following the rollout of its August 2025 updates—specifically KB5063875 for Windows 11 (23H2/22H2) and KB5063709 for Windows 10.
The company has confirmed the bug on its official Windows Health Dashboard and is preparing an Out-of-Band (OOB) update to address it. Fortunately, Windows 11 version 24H2 is not affected, according to Microsoft’s early assessments.
What Went Wrong?
After installing the latest patches, using options like “Reset this PC” or “Fix problems with Windows Update” can fail. Instead of completing, the process rolls back changes and leaves the system untouched.
This flaw impacts:
- Windows 11 23H2/22H2 (Build 22621.5768)
- Windows 10 22H2/21H2 and LTSC editions
Microsoft has marked the issue as “confirmed” and stated that a fix will be released in the coming days.
Is a Fix Coming?
Yes. An emergency patch is already in testing. Reports suggest that KB5066189 is being prepared for Windows 11 23H2, though it hasn’t yet appeared in the Microsoft Update Catalog or Windows Update. The company has outlined its plan for an OOB update in its official documentation.
What Should You Do?
- Avoid using “Reset this PC” or “Fix problems with Windows Update” on affected versions until the patch is released.
- If you urgently need to reinstall, use alternative tools such as an ISO image or the Media Creation Tool.
- If your hardware supports it, consider upgrading to Windows 11 24H2, which is unaffected by this bug.
Keep in mind:
- Windows 11 23H2 support ends on November 11, 2025.
- Windows 10 exits free support on October 14, 2025, with Extended Security Updates (ESU) available afterward.
Background and Context
This isn’t the first hiccup for Microsoft’s updates this month. Earlier in August, Windows 11 24H2 (KB5063878) triggered isolated reports of SSD performance issues, though those seem unrelated to the restore problem.
Microsoft’s misstep has disabled a core recovery feature in Windows 10 and 11, but the company has already confirmed both the issue and the upcoming fix. Until the patch arrives, avoid using built-in recovery options. If possible, move to Windows 11 24H2—a more stable release that hasn’t been affected by these August update troubles.
