Microsoft Launches Windows 11 KB5066189 (23H2) and Windows 10 KB5066188 Update with Recovery Improvements

In a timely response to a significant issue, Microsoft has rolled out two critical emergency updates today: Windows 11 KB5066189 for version 23H2 and Windows 10 KB5066188. These updates are designed to resolve problems associated with the “Reset this PC”feature, particularly cases where the recovery process fails to complete successfully.

Earlier today, the tech giant confirmed that an error originating from the August 2025 Update (KB5063875 for Windows 11 23H2 and KB5063709 for Windows 10) was causing the built-in recovery functionalities to malfunction. Users attempting to utilize methods like “Reset this PC” or the “Fix problems when using Windows Update” had experiences where the system would abruptly fail and reverse any changes made during the process.

Our tests with the problematic cumulative update installed on a virtual machine running Windows 11 23H2 demonstrated this issue firsthand. Upon executing a full system reset via the Settings menu, the process initially seemed to proceed without any apparent issues, prompting a choice between keeping personal files or removing everything.

Windows 11 Reset and Recovery features broken

However, upon rebooting to finalize the reset, the system encountered a failure, ultimately restoring all previous settings without any data loss. While my personal files remained intact and I was brought back to the desktop, this incident illustrates the significant shortcomings present in the “Reset this PC” and “Fix problems when using Windows Update” features within Windows 11 23H2.

The same predicament also affected Windows 10 users due to the same August 2025 Update. It’s important to note that Windows 11 version 24H2 is not impacted by this specific issue; however, it does encounter other installation-related problems that were rectified through a server-side update.

Restoration of “Reset this PC”Functionality with New Updates

To tackle the previously mentioned issues, Microsoft has released two significant updates:

Windows 11 23H2 KB5066189 (OS Builds 22621.5771 and 22631.5771) – Out-of-band update
Windows 10 KB5066188 (OS Builds 19044.6218 and 19045.6218) – Out-of-band update

Post-installation of these updates has confirmed that the “Reset this PC”function is now operational once again. Microsoft has also updated its documentation to indicate that the recovery-related complications from the August 2025 Update have been addressed. Note, however, that these updates are considered optional and will not install automatically through Windows Update.

So, should you proceed with the installation? If you anticipate using the reset or recovery functions soon, it is advisable to download these out-of-band updates before the next scheduled Patch Tuesday. Conversely, if you do not foresee needing these features, you may opt to bypass this update for now.

Microsoft has clarified that “This update does not contain any additional security enhancements from those provided in the August 2025 security release.” They also emphasized that installation of this out-of-band update will necessitate a system restart.

In a related support document, Microsoft reiterated the recommendation to install either Windows 10 KB5066188 or Windows 11 KB5066189 (23H2) for users who have experienced recovery process disruptions. For those who are not affected or have no immediate plans to use “Reset this PC, ” it remains an option to skip this update.

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