PowerToys 0.68.0 doesn't open after installing

[Arcnor]

Microsoft PowerToys version

0.68.0

Installation method

GitHub

Running as admin

None

Area(s) with issue?

General

Steps to reproduce

Currently, I cannot get PowerToys v0.68.0 to open at all. Pressing "Settings" on the tray icon just shows a waiting icon for a second, then does nothing afterwards.

I can confirm processes are running, like PowerToys itself, "AlwaysOnTop" and "PowerZones" (curiously, none of my other tools are).

Also, I unfortunately cannot "Report a bug", it just hangs and does nothing.

I understand this report is not very helpful, but I'm not sure where to find any logs to attach them, so if I can get that location from somewhere I'll do that.

Downgrading to 0.67.1 works fine, tried uninstalling and reinstalling different versions multiple times.

✔️ Expected Behavior

PowerTools should open, and just work...

❌ Actual Behavior

It doesn't open nor work, none of my configured shortcuts do, nor the apps themselves are running.

Other Software

No response

[kevin-secrist]

I had the same problem and updating to v0.68.1 (just released) fixed it for me. While the new version was installing, I dug into Event Viewer and found these indicating that the settings app was crashing on open, and similar events for PowerLauncher which is the left-click on tray app.

Faulting application name: PowerToys.Settings.exe, version: 0.68.0.0, time stamp: 0x63c9df9f
Faulting module name: KERNELBASE.dll, version: 10.0.19041.2546, time stamp: 0xe8e9ac9b
Exception code: 0xc000027b
Fault offset: 0x000000000010fd12
Faulting process id: 0x64f8
Faulting application start time: 0x01d9513261c50b77
Faulting application path: C:\Program Files\PowerToys\Settings\PowerToys.Settings.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\System32\KERNELBASE.dll
Report Id: e96fc65b-e608-4a47-bfc7-1363358ada66
Faulting package full name: 
Faulting package-relative application ID: 

[kay-xr]

Issue is still relevant for me on 0.68.1, I get the same appcrash error as described above. Things such as File Explorer Addons also seem to constantly crash the application.

Faulting module name: KERNELBASE.dll, version: 10.0.19041.2546, time stamp: 0xe8e9ac9b
Exception code: 0xe0434352
Fault offset: 0x000000000002cd29
Faulting process id: 0x866c
Faulting application start time: 0x01d9514ee8100bc8
Faulting application path: C:\Program Files\PowerToys\modules\PowerOCR\PowerToys.PowerOCR.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\System32\KERNELBASE.dll
Report Id: 5dc137fb-f761-412c-b6fc-2f724db1882b
Faulting package full name: 
Faulting package-relative application ID: 

Update:

I was able to resolve this issue by removing files/folders in the following locations %localappdata%\Microsoft\PowerToys\* C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\LocalLow\Microsoft\PowerToys\* C:\Users\%USERNAME%\Documents\PowerToys\*

This allowed me to install 0.68.0 and subsequently 0.68.1

[GrzegorzDrozd]

I was able to resolve this issue by removing files/folders in the following locations %localappdata%\Microsoft\PowerToys\* C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\LocalLow\Microsoft\PowerToys\* C:\Users\%USERNAME%\Documents\PowerToys\*

This allowed me to install 0.68.0 and subsequently 0.68.1

But removing those files will also remove settings form the app ?

[GrzegorzDrozd]

It looks like just renaming settings-placement.json file from %localappdata%\Microsoft\PowerToys\ fixed it for me...

[kay-xr]

But removing those files will also remove settings form the app ?

Yes it reset settings, but I didn't have anything complicated. I am glad you managed to find an easier fix, however.

[streger]

Hey people,

You can also do a simpler method, at least what worked for me, reported in #25512 - uninstall then install. All settings preserved.

[TheJoeFin]

can you verify if this is still an issue with v0.73.0 /needinfo

[microsoft-github-policy-service[bot]]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has been marked as requiring author feedback but has not had any activity for 5 days. It will be closed if no further activity occurs within 5 days of this comment.