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.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

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.

Related

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 remains the driver of growth in PCs, not AI
The Surface Laptop shown in front of a Copilot+ sign.

There's been a lot of talk about AI PCs this year, but has it actually delivered on its promise? A new analysis from TrendForce says the significant boost in laptop sales in 2024 has more to do with Windows 11 updates than it does with fancy new AI features.

"The impact of AI-integrated notebooks on the overall market remains limited for now," the report states. "However, AI features are expected to naturally integrate into notebook specifications as brands gradually incorporate them, resulting in a steady rise in the penetration rates of AI notebooks."

Read more
Microsoft warns that the latest Windows 11 update may crash PC games now
Gaming PC on a desk.

Microsoft has once again temporarily halted the rollout of its latest major Windows 11 update, also known as 24H2. This time it is for systems running select Ubisoft games following widespread user reports of crashes and performance issues. The affected titles include Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Assassin's Creed Origins, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Star Wars Outlaws, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.

Common complaints include black screens, freezing, and unresponsiveness during gameplay or while loading these titles. "I just bought a new gaming laptop with RTX 4080, Intel i9 14900hx. I can't play the game (Origins) even for 5 minutes because it crashes to a black screen, with audio, and the only way to close it is from task manager. Impossible to play," one user shared on Reddit. Others reported similar frustrations, citing the persistent error “NTDLL.dll” that renders their games unplayable.

Read more
Nearly six months later, you can finally try out Windows 11 Recall
Recall promotional image.

After a tumultuous initial reaction and months of reworking, Microsoft is finally releasing the first preview of its controversial Recall feature today. If you're a Windows Insider with a Qualcomm Copilot+ PC, you can install a new build of Windows 11 that includes both Recall and Click to Do.

If you're not part of the Windows Insider Program but you want to try out this feature, it's pretty easy to sign up on the Microsoft website. Recall was first announced back before any of the Copilot+ PCs were released and was meant to be available at launch, but an outcry of privacy and security concerns forced Microsoft to delay it.

Read more