Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing

New Windows 11 bug leaves some apps unable to update or repair

By

Update 11/22: Microsoft has issued a new Windows 11 build that fixes this app-breaking bug. The build (22000.348) is currently available to Windows Insiders in the Beta and Release Preview channels, and we expect it to roll out as an official build soon. If you’re not an Insider, Kaspersky has released guidance on how to bypass the issue. Original story follows. 

There’s a new bug plaguing some Windows 11 users. This time around, some apps are unable to be updated or repaired after the latest Windows 11 cumulative update is installed, according to Microsoft.

Recommended Videos

The bug is listed on the Windows 11 known issues page. Microsoft confirmed on November 18 that after KB5007215 or later updates are installed, Microsoft Installer (MSI) might have issues repairing or updating apps. For those unfamiliar, MSI is commonly used to distribute Windows updates and installers of third-party programs.

Related

The list of apps impacted by the bug is unknown at the moment, but Microsoft mentioned that apps known to be affected include some apps from Kaspersky. You’ll know when an app is impacted because affected apps might fail to open after an update or repair has been attempted.

Windows 11 blue error crash screen.
Microsoft

As a workaround for the issue, Microsoft suggests uninstalling the affected app, then installing the latest version of the app. Microsoft says that it’s working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release.

Usually, bug fixes come on “Patch Tuesday,” which is the second Tuesday of each month. This means you can expect a fix by December 14, unless Microsoft issues an urgent patch, as it has in the past for issues like PrintNightmare.

Oddly enough, this also seems to have impacted Windows 10. Affected platforms include Windows 10 version 21H2 and Windows 10 version 21H1, the two most recent updates for Windows 10.

This is just the latest bug for Windows 11, which is now hitting even more devices at a faster pace after Microsoft reported a positive rollout experience and user feedback. Previously, AMD CPUs could drop or throttle performance by up to 15% in games in Windows 11. AMD and Microsoft have since issued a fix, but other problems still persist. As an example, Windows 11 still takes up extra RAM when you open up multiple instances of File Explorer.

You can factor all of these bugs into your decision on upgrading to Windows 11. Microsoft still plans to support Windows 10 through 2025, and recently confirmed that Windows 10 will also be getting once-a-year featured updates. That gives Microsoft more time to fix common issues and bugs across both operating systems.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Arif Bacchus
Arif Bacchus
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…
Windows 11 is creating an ‘undeletable’ 8.63GB cache
The Surface Pro 11 on a white table in front of a window.

The recent Windows 11 24H2 update is reportedly flawed with a new issue where it creates 8.63GB of undeletable update cache. This cache is made during the update process and seems to remain on the system, despite attempts to remove it using traditional methods like Disk Cleanup, Storage Sense, or even manually deleting system folders like Windows.old​.

The issue appears to be linked to checkpoint updates, a new feature in Windows 11 designed to streamline and shrink update sizes by downloading smaller patches rather than full updates.

Read more
Passkeys in Windows 11 are about to get safer and easier to use
Customer using 1Password on their Windows laptop, sitting on a couch.

According to a new Developer Blog post, Microsoft is expanding its support for passkeys on Windows 11 soon, with plans to let you choose how your passkeys are saved and where they're stored. A new API will also allow third-party password managers like 1Password or Bitwarden to integrate more seamlessly into the Windows passkey experience.

With Windows Hello, users will be prompted to complete a one-time setup for each passkey-friendly website using their Microsoft account. Once that's done, you can log in across all your Windows 11 devices using whichever authentication method you prefer -- PIN, fingerprint, or facial recognition. All passkeys will be secured with end-to-end encryption and use your PC's TPM (Trusted Platform Module) to keep them protected.

Read more
Windows 11 can now use AI to respond to your text messages
The Phone Link app being used on a phone and laptop screen.

Microsoft has started rolling out a helpful Suggested Replies feature in the Phone Link app that gives users AI-powered text suggestions for quick replies to their messages, the software giant stated in a Support blog post.

The new feature uses Microsoft's Cloud AI models to create short replies to specific messages, resulting in faster response times. It is rolling out in Phone Link version 1.24082.137.0 for Windows 11 24H2 and 23H2. You don't need to be in the Windows Insider Program to try out the feature, but you won't see the Suggest Replies feature on all messages. You'll only see the suggestions when the Phone Link's AI can understand the message.

Read more