Notepad fails to launch from Win+R ("notepad") due to missing Microsoft.UI.Windowing.Core.dll (Windows 11 Insider Dev 25H2 build 26220.7052)

Nova 20

Hi,

When I press Win + R, type notepad, and hit Enter, I get this error message:

The code execution cannot proceed because Microsoft.UI.Windowing.Core.dll was not found. Reinstalling the program may fix this problem.

However:

Running C:\Windows\notepad.exe directly works perfectly.

Opening Notepad from the Start menu also works fine.

The problem only happens when launching Notepad via Win + R (or the notepad command).

This makes me think the modern UWP version of Notepad (WinUI 3) is missing a dependency or has a broken link to the Windows App SDK, while the legacy executable still works.

Steps I have tried:

Reinstalled Notepad using:

dism /online /add-capability /capabilityname:Microsoft.Windows.Notepad~~~~0.0.1.0

Ran:

   sfc /scannow DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

None of these solved the issue.

Could you please confirm if this is a known issue in the Dev Channel build 26220.7052, or provide guidance on how to reinstall or restore the missing Microsoft.UI.Windowing.Core.dll / Windows App SDK runtime?

System Info:

Edition: Windows 11 Insider Preview 25H2 (Build 26220.7052)

Channel: Dev

Architecture: x64

Notepad version: UWP (Microsoft Store)

Thanks a lot for your help!

Nova 20 Reputation points

2025-11-10T15:55:12.86+00:00

Thanks for the answer, but how can I reinstall Windows App SDK? I don't know how to reinstall it?
Dragon Mc Fly 20 Reputation points

2025-12-05T16:19:43.9666667+00:00

I had the same problem and the only thing that solved the problem was delete notepad at

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths
(see: https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/143v4gy/cant_launch_notepad_from_the_run_prompt/)
Marcel van den Bosch 0 Reputation points

2026-02-13T09:37:59.8266667+00:00

The solution mentioned by Dragon Mc Fly worked for me!

12 answers

Stephan Kuebler 0 Reputation points

2026-04-26T19:48:23.91+00:00

26.04.2026 - I have same Problem. tried SFC, Dism, Reinstall, Changeing Registry. Nothing Helps. Strangely when i check the "App Setting" it say |Version = 11.2512.29.0 |App = 0 Bytes |Data = 40.0KB |TotalUsed = 40.0 KB ??? A 0 Byte App that has 40KB ???
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Sándor Gordon Lipcsei 0 Reputation points

2026-04-26T09:26:06.1633333+00:00

Setting the regkey in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\Notepad from the original ms store version's path to "c:\windows\system32\notepad.exe" solved it for me too.
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Stephan Kuebler 0 Reputation points

2026-04-26T19:42:05.4133333+00:00

26.04.2026 - I have same Problem. tried SFC, Dism, Reinstall, Changeing Registry. Nothing Helps. Strangely when i check the "App Setting" it say |Version = 11.2512.29.0 |App = 0 Bytes |Data = 40.0KB |TotalUsed = 40.0 KB ??? A 0 Byte App that has 40KB ???
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Fernando Brito /in/brito1st 5 Reputation points

2026-03-13T00:18:21.9566667+00:00
Just address the 1st regedit address to original notepad.exe into: %SystemRoot%\System32\notepad.exe

Windows + X > Run > type: regedit (Shift + Enter)
Key Name:
```
Paste into Address Bar(direct):

"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\notepad.exe"
```
- Value 0
  
  After change the "Data" value, Close and try again to able.
  
  Name: <NO NAME> Type: REG_SZ Data: C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe
- Value 1
  
  (Don`t need to change, Maintain the "New Notepad" Version as "Path" to System Fix will comes)
  
  Name: Path Type: REG_SZ Data: C:\Program%20Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.WindowsNotepad_11.2512.26.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\Notepad
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John E. Miller III 0 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2026-03-01T17:17:24.0533333+00:00

Remove-Item "HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\notepad.exe" -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

Remove-Item "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\notepad.exe" -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

Fixed it for me ... will see how long it lasts and I also wonder how many of us affected have bypassed MSA sign-in and are signed in w. local admin accounts?
(winver 23H2 22631.4037)

EDIT: Noticed just now that:
WIN+R now launches: Notepad w. a memory of previous text and allows me to close it w.o. prompting for save (and keeps text) - launching from Start menu behaves different ... but they are the same version ... odd. This will have to suffice for now ... not sure muscle memory WIN+R: notepad is ever going to go away after 30 years.
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Lance 15 Reputation points

2026-01-30T18:08:45.6+00:00

I have had the same issues and have tried uninstalling/reinstalling, using DISM and SFC but these had no effect. I checked the registry entry at Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\mspaint.exe

and it had two keys: (Default), and Path. Both had the same value. I just deleted the string value in (Default) and now mspaint works just fine from Win+R. Same for Notepad.
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5 people found this answer helpful.
小T 做着白日梦的 45 Reputation points

2026-08-30T07:30:42.4133333+00:00

I think this is a pretty good solution.

My guess is that the program path in the (default) value is running in the user directory (%USERPROFILE%), so the program can’t find the needed dependencies in the current directory.

And the program under the 'Path' value is executed in its directory, so its dependencies can be accessed normally.
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Notepad fails to launch from Win+R ("notepad") due to missing Microsoft.UI.Windowing.Core.dll (Windows 11 Insider Dev 25H2 build 26220.7052)

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