Windows 11 users who’ve custom-made the interface of the operating system with a third-party app might run into hassle with the incoming 24H2 update later this 12 months, if what’s occurring in testing is something to go by.
Tom’s Hardware noticed a Neowin report noting that within the lately deployed preview construct 26100 of Windows 11, which is supposedly the RTM version of the 24H2 update, Microsoft has stealthily (and moderately crudely) disabled some apps that modify the interface.
Particularly, StartAllBack and ExplorerPatcher are the 2 UI customization apps which are blocked from Home windows 11 24H2, that means you gained’t have the ability to get the replace till you take away that software program.
So, why has this occurred? As you may guess, the rationale for successfully casting apart these third-party apps is certain up within the compatibility and doable stability and safety points that they trigger, as Home windows improvement MVP Rafael Rivera makes clear on X (previously Twitter).
There are many causes to skewer Microsoft, however this is not one in all them. Right here, Microsoft is obstructing unreliable excessive crash price software program that’s extraordinarily delicate to OS modifications.Fixing the bugs and revving the model quantity is probably going all that is wanted right here (this time). https://t.co/bm8E8LEdZ4April 6, 2024
Certainly, as Neowin factors out, if you try to put in ExplorerPatcher on construct 26100, the OS tells you that it may well’t be run as a result of the app “causes safety or efficiency points on Home windows.”
Evaluation: A rush to RTM?
As one vibrant spark on X observes, tongue firmly planted in cheek, Microsoft Groups can be “an unreliable excessive crash price little bit of software program” so why doesn’t Microsoft block that from putting in? Properly, Rivera does reply to that little little bit of trolling, noting that no matter stability points Groups might have, it doesn’t forestall OS boot or restoration choices – suggesting there are some critical flaws with these customization apps and the 24H2 replace.
When you recall, 24H2 has an all-new underlying platform called Germanium, so there are some large modifications right here – and we’re guessing that this shift underneath the hood is the rationale for the apps being problematic. That’s pure guesswork, thoughts.
Regardless of the purpose behind the apparently thorny compatibility points, there are issues with the best way Microsoft has gone about this. Communication with the software program builders could be anticipated – and usually occurs in these sorts of instances, no less than giving them some warning of what’s occurring. Not this time, although.
Moreover, the best way the ban seems to have been applied appears very crude – it’s a blanket ban on all EXE recordsdata containing the names of the offending apps (which implies all variations are affected, and any associated apps). The best way this has been carried out smacks of both laziness or a rush to get this transfer by, which isn’t a very good search for Microsoft.
It nearly looks as if Microsoft has jammed this in at a late stage as a result of the 24H2 update RTM needed to be pushed out of the door sharpish. There was an issue discovered last-minute and a repair was rapidly utilized utilizing a hatchet, not a scalpel (once more, guesswork – however that is what it appears like).
That concept does make some sense, as the anticipated date for the RTM (near-finalized) candidate of the 24H2 replace was April, and this construct must be prepared for brand new Snapdragon X Elite AI PCs that are coming in June (in concept). These laptops require that Germanium construct resulting from their ARM-based chips, so there’s a important have to get this carried out.
In brief, it’s all a bit messy and a few feathers have undoubtedly been ruffled right here – though as a result of talked about shoddy implementation of the app ban, it’s really very straightforward to avoid it: merely rename the EXE of the shopper. We wouldn’t suggest doing that, thoughts – as if the hints about boot failure are on the cash, your PC may find yourself with a critical spanner within the works.
In the meantime, these customization apps nonetheless work with Home windows 11 23H2, the present model, and now we have to keep in mind that these modifications are nonetheless in testing. We don’t know if this ban is short-term, or whether or not it’ll really be enforced when 24H2 arrives later this 12 months (from September, most likely).
Microsoft and the related devs ought to have the ability to work collectively and discover a higher answer, certainly a full decision, earlier than then, and Rivera’s feedback point out this would be the case.
