This Windows 11 bug is preventing basic system applications from running

By Arif Bacchus Published November 4, 2021

Another annoying issue is bothering some Windows 11 users. With this new bug, built-in system apps like the Snipping Tool, which is a common method for taking screenshots, refuse to work.

The good news? Microsoft has already confirmed it is working on a fix.

The Windows 11 Snipping Tool in use in Microsoft PowerPoint. — Image used with permission by copyright holder

According to Microsoft’s Windows 11 known issues page, a digital certificate in Windows 11 expired on October 31 and became outdated. This caused the Snipping Tool, Touch Keyboard, Voice Typing, and Emoji Panel to stop working properly or refuse to launch altogether. Also impacted was the Accounts page and landings page in the Settings app in Windows 11 S mode, as well as the Getting Started and Tips app, and Input Method Editor.

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To fix issues some of these issues, as well as the performance issues with AMD Ryzen processors, Microsoft issued a security update by the name of KB5006746. It was originally released on October 21 and appears as an optional download. You need to manually force the install by going to Settings > Windows Update > Download and install.

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The update only resolves problems with the Touch Keyboard, Voice Typing, and Emoji Panel, as well as the Getting Started app and the Input Method Indicator. Microsoft is still trying to fix the Snipping Tool and the S Mode-only issues. It says it will provide an update when more information is available.

As a temporary workaround, it’s being suggested to use the Print Screen key on your keyboard and paste the screenshot into a document or into the Paint app. Microsoft usually issues Windows patches on the second Tuesday of each month, so we’re assuming that an official fix could come around November 9.

Although Windows 11 has been out for around a month now, the rollout has been a bit rough. Users have reported experiencing a lot of bugs in Windows 11. Empty folders in the subsystem, a delay when using the context menus in Windows 11 itself, and a memory leak in the File Explorer are just some examples.

If you’re hesitant about updating to Windows 11 for any of these issues, or if you experience one yourself, we suggest checking out the Feedback Hub app. The app is where Windows users report and file issues relating to the new operating system, as well as Windows 10.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Arif Bacchus is a native New Yorker and a fan of all things technology. Arif works as a freelance writer at Digital Trends…

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