Microsoft has acknowledged that users running Windows 11 version 22H2 may experience a variety of issues such as the breaking of some apps resulting in the display of error messages after a System Restore to a previous restore point.
The operating systems by this known issue are all Windows 11 versions 22H2: Windows 11 SE, Windows 11 Home and Pro, Windows 11 Enterprise Multi-Session, Windows 11 Enterprise and Education, and Windows 11 IoT Enterprise.
For those unaware, System Restore is a Microsoft Windows tool designed to protect and repair computer software. System Restore takes a “snapshot” of some system files and the Windows registry and saves them as Restore Points.
When an install failure or data corruption occurs, System Restore can return a system to working condition without you having to reinstall the operating system. It repairs the Windows environment by reverting back to the files and settings that were saved in the restore point.
According to an official post on the Microsoft Support website, the company said that some Windows applications that use the MSIX Windows app package format may experience the following symptoms:
- An error message “This app can’t open” is displayed instead of the app starting.
- The app might have multiple entries on the Start menu.
- An app may not respond when you try to start the app.
- An I/O error may occur, followed by the app not responding, and then the app crashes.
- If you try to start the app again, the app now runs.
Further, the Redmond giant also mentioned that other symptoms may also occur, which are not listed above.
Several Microsoft apps that are known to experience this issue, include Notepad, Paint, Microsoft Office apps, Cortana, and the Windows Terminal app.
“This list of apps is not a complete list. Any Windows applications that use the MSIX Windows app package format may experience this issue,” Microsoft said.
Currently, there is no word from the company if they are investigating the known issue or working on a fix. However, Microsoft has shared a workaround for affected users. Affected users can try any of the following:
- Starting the app again.
- Re-installing the app from the Windows Store.
- Re-installing the app from the original source from which it was first installed.
- Running Windows Update.
Besides the above, if you want more information on other methods of how to repair broken apps and programs in Windows, you can click the official documentation here.
