Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. News

Here’s a fix for the new Windows 11 preview update issue

By

A recently launched Windows 11 preview update has been reported as unsafe for computer installation due to issues with .NET Framework 3.5 applications.

Microsoft has detailed on its Windows health dashboard that if installed, the Windows 11 KB5012643 preview update might cause certain applications that support the framework to break. The apps might not work properly or might fail to open altogether, PCGamer added.

A laptop sits on a desk with a Windows 11 wallpaper.
Microsoft

Microsoft has not shared exactly which major applications have been affected; however, the brand did note that associated 3.5 framework features, such as Windows Communication and Windows Workflow Foundation, seem to be among those affected by the issues in the update.

Recommended Videos

PCGamer noted that due to the .NET Framework 3.5 connection, various console apps and Windows services, such as its productivity suite of apps, could be among those affected; however, none of this has been confirmed.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

There is also no word on what the update was intended to address, only that it is incurring issues now. The general recommendation is that users avoid installing version 21H2 of Windows 11 with the KB5012643 update if they have not done so already.

Related

For those who have installed the update, there is hope, as Microsoft has shared some workarounds users can try while it attends to the issue overall.

Users have the option to uninstall the update if any issues arise, by accessing Windows Update Settings in System Settings. From here users can view their update history and return to a previous system version.

Users can also try to reinstall .NET Framework 3.5 and the Windows Communication Foundation in Windows Features. This can be accessed through the control panel, and Microsoft has detailed instructions on how to perform this fix.

BleepingComputer notes that IT admins and advanced users can launch the following Command Prompt as an administrator, to re-enable the framework.

dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:netfx3 /all
dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:WCF-HTTP-Activation
dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:WCF-NonHTTP-Activation

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Fionna Agomuoh
Fionna Agomuoh
Computing Writer
Fionna Agomuoh is a Computing Writer at Digital Trends. She covers a range of topics in the computing space, including…
Microsoft won’t back down on Windows 11’s biggest hurdle
The Surface Pro 11 on a white table in front of a window.

Microsoft has reaffirmed that it will not lower the minimum hardware requirements for Windows 11, solidifying the need for a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 and a compatible CPU. This decision leaves many older PCs ineligible for the upgrade. Microsoft emphasizes that these standards are vital for improved security and performance.

As per a recent blog post titled “TPM 2.0 – a necessity for a secure and future-proof Windows 11,” Microsoft reaffirmed its decision not to relax Windows 11’s strict hardware requirements. TPM 2.0 is a hardware-based security feature that protects sensitive data and ensures secure boot processes. Microsoft argues that such measures are nonnegotiable as the company continues to address rising cybersecurity threats. The minimum requirements include a list of approved CPUs, starting from AMD Ryzen 2000 and Intel 8th Gen processors, that offer advanced security features and better performance efficiency.

Read more
Windows 11 Recall finally arrives, but with one new problem
Recall screenshot.

The Windows 11 Recall feature has been troublesome since its announcement. Now that the feature is available in a testing capacity, it is still causing users some issues.

Tech reviewers testing the feature have observed that Recall will now fail to save the snapshots that allow the function to work. CNBC noted that it may take “several minutes” for a snapshot to save, which may leave delays in the AI processing. Tom Warren of The Verge, noted on Bluesky that snapshots were not saving at all in his experience.

Read more
Firefox has a new tactic to win the web browser wars
The Firefox iPhone app.

The browser wars continue to heat up. Firefox is exploring a new way of hooking people on its browser faster, instantly setting it as your default web browser upon installation.

The experiment uses an attribution campaign to set Firefox, which remains a contender for one of the best web browsers, as the default web browser without requiring the extra step of changing your default browser in Windows. When you download the browser, Firefox will become your default web browser when using the set_default_browser campaign.

Read more