Windows 11 System Restore Is Breaking Apps, Says Microsoft

Windows 11’s System Restore feature is buggy

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Microsoft has admitted that a bug in the latest version of Windows 11 could cause apps to fail if the customer performs a System Restore.

System Restore, somewhat ironically, is a feature designed to get malfunctioning PCs working again. It allows users to roll the PC back to a point in time where the PC was working normally.

However, a bug in Windows 11 version 22H2 – the latest major release – is causing apps to break.

Microsoft’s bug report states that users may see a “this app can’t open” message when they attempt to open apps, or that it simply won’t respond. The app might also have multiple entries on the Start menu or may crash when opened.

In some scenarios, the app may start to work normally if you simply attempt to re-open the app after the initial failure.

Affected Windows 11 apps

Microsoft hasn’t produced an exhaustive list of apps that are affected by this bug, but among the programs affected are major pieces of software including Microsoft Office, Notepad, Paint and the Terminal.

Microsoft states that any Windows app using the MSIX Windows app package format is likely to be affected.

System Restore bug workarounds

Microsoft has suggested a few workarounds for the bug, aside from simply trying to restart the borked application.

The company suggests reinstalling the app from the Windows Store or the source from where it was first installed. Running Windows Update may also solve the problem.

There’s no timeline for when Microsoft may find a permanent fix for the bug. In the meantime, it may be best to avoid performing a System Restore, as it seems to be causing more problems than it solves!