Microsoft has fixed a known issue causing Wi-Fi network connectivity problems on Windows 11 systems triggered by recently released cumulative updates.
The company confirmed the issue on Tuesday after a massive stream of user reports on Reddit, Twitter, and Microsoft's own community platform and after several universities issued advisories advising students and staff to uninstall the KB5033375 update (and the KB50532288 optional preview update if installed).
"Microsoft has received reports of an issue in which some Wi-Fi adapters might not connect to some networks after installing KB5032288. We have confirmed this issue was caused by KB5032288 and KB5033375," Redmond said in a Windows release health update on Monday.
"As reported, you are more likely to be affected by this issue if you are attempting to connect to an enterprise, education, or public Wi-Fi network using 802.1x authentication. This issue is not likely to occur on home networks."
The known issue impacts only client platforms (i.e., Windows 11 23H2 and Windows 11 22H2), with Windows 10 devices not likely affected by these Wi-Fi connectivity problems.
There is currently no information to suggest that this issue is linked to any specific wireless network adapter models.
Fixed via Known Issue Rollback
Microsoft resolved this widespread known issue through Known Issue Rollback (KIR), a Windows feature that helps reverse flawed non-security updates delivered via Windows Update.
The fix might need up to 24 hours to roll out to all impacted consumer and non-managed business devices. For quicker deployment, users can also reboot affected Windows 11 devices.
Redmond also provides a KIR Group Policy to address the Wi-Fi connectivity issues on impacted Windows enterprise-managed devices.
Those who need a temporary workaround until the fix rolls out to their systems can uninstall KB5033375 and KB50532288 using the following steps:
- Open the Windows start menu, search for "Windows Update," then go to Update history > Uninstall updates.
- On the list of installed updates, select KB5033375 (or KB50532288), and then click the Uninstall button next to it.
- Use the 'Show or Hide Updates' troubleshooter to prevent the update from reappearing as an available update from Windows Update.
- After the update is uninstalled, restart the computer.
This week, Redmond also released a troubleshooter tool to remove the HP Smart app after it was automatically installed on Windows, and all printers were renamed to HP LaserJet M101-M106 on impacted devices.
Comments
darylzero - 2 months ago
How is it automatically going to "roll back" the update if they cannot connect to wireless?!?? Stupid Microsoft
Good job getting rid of the testing team years ago.
NoneRain - 2 months ago
That's why they specify the KB so you can remove manually? Also, connect to any other WIFI that is not 802.1x. That's not stupid at all, considering the problem is there.
But indeed, their QA is not near good enough, with no signs of improving in the fear future...
electrolite - 2 months ago
802.11 is the specification for all WiFi. What any other Wifi are you referring to that is not 802.11? The OP point is valid. A lot of laptops these days do not even have an ethernet port so that is a hassle to deal with if WiFi stops working.
peterracine - 2 months ago
I believe that 802.1x that NoneRain was referring to is a network access protocol that can be used to authenticate to a network - including wireless networks. Commonly seen in corporate networks.
h_b_s - 2 months ago
"X" is not a variable. It's part of the specification's name. 802.1X is the IEEE specification for port based network access controls. It's part of the 802.1 set of specifications covering many of the protocols in use daily by large swaths of individuals and organizations using networking. 802.1X is most commonly used by larger organizations to control WLAN access because PSK is no where near sufficient to manage access to those networks and it's the most widely supported access control protocol with multiple tools available for logging, authentication, and management.
Edit to add: It's also network type agnostic. While it's most often used these days to control access to WLANs, there's no reason 802.1X can't be deployed on wired networks just as well for the same use cases. It has both benefits and drawbacks like most security tools.
NoneRain - 2 months ago
Just like peterracine and h_b_s already said, IEEE 802.1X is part of the IEEE 802.1 group.
The protocol needs an authenticator, an authentication server and a supplicant (devices).
It's mostly used in corporate networks, so if your notebooks have the WIFI issue described in the article, connect them to another network that is not relying on authentication to a RADIUS/EAP server, and you're good. (any other WLAN/LAN that does not use IEEE 802.1X).
Supposing you're a home user, this issue will not affect you at all.
electrolite - 2 months ago
My bad. Thanks for the clarification. I was thinking the WiFi Consortium but this is a IEEE standard (they are just as bad with naming as the WiFi Consortium it seems).