Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. News

Here’s a fix for the new Windows 11 preview update issue

By

A recently launched Windows 11 preview update has been reported as unsafe for computer installation due to issues with .NET Framework 3.5 applications.

Microsoft has detailed on its Windows health dashboard that if installed, the Windows 11 KB5012643 preview update might cause certain applications that support the framework to break. The apps might not work properly or might fail to open altogether, PCGamer added.

A laptop sits on a desk with a Windows 11 wallpaper.
Microsoft

Microsoft has not shared exactly which major applications have been affected; however, the brand did note that associated 3.5 framework features, such as Windows Communication and Windows Workflow Foundation, seem to be among those affected by the issues in the update.

Recommended Videos

PCGamer noted that due to the .NET Framework 3.5 connection, various console apps and Windows services, such as its productivity suite of apps, could be among those affected; however, none of this has been confirmed.

Related

There is also no word on what the update was intended to address, only that it is incurring issues now. The general recommendation is that users avoid installing version 21H2 of Windows 11 with the KB5012643 update if they have not done so already.

For those who have installed the update, there is hope, as Microsoft has shared some workarounds users can try while it attends to the issue overall.

Users have the option to uninstall the update if any issues arise, by accessing Windows Update Settings in System Settings. From here users can view their update history and return to a previous system version.

Users can also try to reinstall .NET Framework 3.5 and the Windows Communication Foundation in Windows Features. This can be accessed through the control panel, and Microsoft has detailed instructions on how to perform this fix.

BleepingComputer notes that IT admins and advanced users can launch the following Command Prompt as an administrator, to re-enable the framework.

dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:netfx3 /all
dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:WCF-HTTP-Activation
dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:WCF-NonHTTP-Activation

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Fionna Agomuoh
Fionna Agomuoh
Computing Writer
Fionna Agomuoh is a Computing Writer at Digital Trends. She covers a range of topics in the computing space, including…
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
Microsoft Word may delete your files — here’s how to avoid it
Windows 11 logo on a laptop.

There's a new bug in Microsoft Word that may delete your files, and according to user reports, they're not always recoverable through the Recycle Bin. Fortunately, Microsoft is aware of the problem, but it's unclear when the issue might be fixed. If you want to make sure that your files stay safe, we've got a few workarounds to help you out.

In the last few days, the Microsoft community boards have been flooded with reports of people complaining about their files randomly being deleted, with one user saying: "I use Word. Today, it deleted eight hours of work." Further reports quickly made it clear that the affected files have a few things in common.

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