Microsoft Confirms Windows 10 'Open With' Dialog Box Glitch

Microsoft has acknowledged a bug in Windows 10 that causes apps to incorrectly display a "How do you want to open this file?" dialog box that appears when users right-click on a program's icon and attempt to execute a registered task.

Issue Details

Windows apps can be configured to offer different tasks when you right-click their icons in the Start Menu or taskbar. For example, right-clicking the new Outlook for Windows app icon typically shows tasks such as "New Message," "New Event," and "Open Calendar."

However, since the April KB5036979 preview update, attempting to use one of these tasks results in an "Open With" dialog box appearing. Microsoft has confirmed this issue in a new entry on the Windows Message Center:

"After installing the Windows update released on April 23, 2024 (KB5036979), and subsequent updates, some apps may show an 'Open With' dialog box that asks, 'How do you want to open this file?'"

Users may encounter this issue when right-clicking on an app icon in the Taskbar or Start menu to execute a task. Instead of performing the selected task, the "Open With" dialog box appears.

Impact and Workaround

For example, right-clicking the Windows Calculator icon and selecting "Standard" should launch Calculator in standard mode, but instead, it prompts the user with a "How do you want to open this file?" dialog.

Microsoft suggests that this bug may prevent tasks from executing properly and advises users to open the app and perform the operation manually. Despite this, tests have shown that the dialog box does not affect app functionality, and normal use is possible after closing the prompt.

This problem impacts all Windows apps with registered tasks, such as Calculator, the new Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Teams, Snip & Sketch, and Sticky Notes.

Windows 11 Bug Affects Microsoft Photos App

Additionally, Microsoft has reported a new problem impacting Windows 11, preventing the Microsoft Photos app from launching.

"If your device has updated the Microsoft Photos app from the Windows Store on or after June 4, 2024 (version 2024.11050.29009.0 and above), you might face issues starting the application," reads the Windows 11 message center.

Upon launching the app, users might see a spinning circle before the app disappears. If the Procmon monitoring tool is installed, this error might display as an Access Denied error on Process Exit ('Exit Status: -2147024891').

This issue is likely to occur if the "Prevent non-admin users from installing packaged Windows apps" policy or its Configuration Service Provider (CSP) equivalent policy, BlockNonAdminUserInstall, is enabled.

Microsoft is actively working on a fix and will provide an update in the future.

Staying Proactive with Cybersecurity

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