Dozens of Microsoft Windows 10 users are reporting that their computers crash when plugging in Amazon Kindles.

The issue appears to be caused by the recent Windows 10 Anniversary update. Users of Amazon’s Paperwhite and Voyage attempting to either transfer books or charge their devices via USB are seeing their various Windows 10 laptops and desktops locking up and requiring rebooting.

Pooka, a user of troubleshooting forum Ten Forums said: “I’ve had a Kindle paperwhite for a few years no and never had an issue with connecting it via USB. However, after the recent Windows 10 updates, my computer BSOD’s [blue screen of death] and force restarts almost as soon as I plug my Kindle in.”

On Microsoft’s forums, Rick Hale said: “On Tuesday, I upgraded to the Anniversary Edition of Windows 10. Last night, for the first time since the upgrade, I mounted my Kindle by plugging it into a USB 2 port. I immediately got the blue screen with the QR code. I rebooted and tried several different times, even using a different USB cable, but that made no difference.”

Another forum user, Tuscat, who found the issue affected both an HP laptop and a Dell desktop said: “It’s pretty frustrating because I need to transfer some PDFs to the Kindle for my son’s school classes.”

The issue appears to be affecting regular Windows 10 Anniversary update users and those on Microsoft’s Insider programme for pre-release software testing.

If left plugged into the computer, some users are reporting the Kindles appear as normal once Windows 10 reboots, but if the Kindle is removed and reinserted or the computer is rebooted, the problem occurs again.

Another user, SeanHsi, said: “If I want to plug in my Kindle Voyage, I do it before the OS of my laptop is awake. For example: plug in Kindle before booting the computer or plug in Kindle when the laptop is sleeping. Then the Kindle will work fine with non-blue-screen Win 10 AU after the computer is active.”

Others have not been so lucky and have found that nothing helps with the crash. Some have suggested that plugging in the Kindles when the computer is either asleep or booting up can allow them to be used or charged without prompting the Windows 10 blue screen of death crash. Precisely what is causing the issue in the Anniversary update and permanent fix to solve user frustrations have yet to be found.

This is the second high-profile issue with Microsoft’s latest big update to Windows 10. The Anniversary update brought notification improvements, enhancements to Microsoft Edge and Cortana, as well as usability changes across the board, which were generally well-received.

But it also brought with it a bug that broke users’ webcams, rendering them inoperable even when using Microsoft-owned Skype for video chat. Microsoft apologised and said a fix for those issues, which affects many popular webcams using either MJPEG or H.264 video formats, is expected in September.

Microsoft has not replied to request for comment.