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If a PowerToys utility stops working after an update, first check whether PowerToys is running and that utility is still enabled. Then inspect the update status and logs before repairing or reinstalling through the same installation channel you already use. The right fix depends on whether one utility or the whole app is affected, your PowerToys version, Windows build, and the available error evidence.
First identify what stopped working
Before changing settings or reinstalling, note your PowerToys version, Windows version and build, installation method, affected utility, and the exact symptom. Check whether PowerToys itself opens and whether the problem affects one utility or several.
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- Open PowerToys Settings and go to Home.
- Find the affected utility and confirm its toggle is enabled.
- Try the utility again and note what happens, including any error message or missing shortcut.
If only one utility is affected, focus on that module rather than assuming the updater damaged all of PowerToys. Check that utility’s settings and shortcuts, too. Compatibility can matter: Microsoft notes that some utilities may not work with elevated applications because of Windows security boundaries.
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In PowerToys Settings, inspect the update area for a download in progress, an error, or an update ready to install. You can check for updates manually from Settings; automatic update checks happen while PowerToys is running. An automatic update restarts PowerToys and shows a toast confirming the new version is running, according to Microsoft Learn’s general settings documentation.
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If a shortcut disappeared or behavior changed, confirm the utility is enabled and inspect its settings before reinstalling. General Settings also provides settings backup and restore options. Microsoft says settings files are backed up before updates and restored automatically if PowerToys detects corruption.
Read the update state and logs
When the update itself appears to have failed, check these locations under the Windows account that runs PowerToys. They remain per-user even when PowerToys is installed machine-wide.
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%LOCALAPPDATA%MicrosoftPowerToysUpdateState.json— persisted update state.%LOCALAPPDATA%MicrosoftPowerToysRunnerLogsrunner-log_*.log— startup, update checks, and cleanup activity.%LOCALAPPDATA%MicrosoftPowerToysUpdateLogsupdate-log_*.log— activity fromPowerToys.Update.exe.%LOCALAPPDATA%MicrosoftPowerToysUpdates— downloaded installer files.
Microsoft’s PowerToys bug-reporting guide describes these diagnostic artifacts. Interpret the state values as follows:
| State | Meaning |
|---|---|
0/upToDate |
No update is needed. |
1/errorDownloading |
The download or installation failed; PowerToys will retry. |
2/readyToDownload |
A new version was found but has not been downloaded. |
3/readyToInstall |
The installer is downloaded and waiting for user action. |
4/networkError |
The GitHub API call failed. |
Look for concrete messages in the logs. For example, a failed delete accompanied by “Access is denied” suggests a file lock or permissions problem. A missing UpdateLogs directory alone does not establish the cause; the updater may not have launched or may have failed before that stage. Successful cleanup can be silent, so do not treat the absence of a log entry as proof of a specific failure.
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Repair or update through your existing installation channel
If update delivery failed, use the route that matches how PowerToys is installed rather than mixing assumptions from different installers. Microsoft documents installation through GitHub releases, Microsoft Store, WinGet, and community package managers. Follow the upgrade process for the package manager or store you originally used.
For the standalone executable installer, download the release for your device’s architecture (x64 or ARM64) and choose the appropriate per-user or machine-wide scope. Microsoft lists support for Windows 10 version 2004/build 19041 or later and Windows 11, on x64 or ARM64. Check the PowerToys GitHub releases for the available version and installer files.
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A reinstall can address an installation problem, but Microsoft’s general guidance does not identify a universal repair command for every post-update symptom. It is not a guaranteed fix for a utility-specific regression. If one module still fails after confirming it is enabled and PowerToys is current, match the precise symptom against that version’s release notes and issue tracker before assuming a broad defect.
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Use Report Bug from the PowerToys tray icon, or open Settings and launch Bug Report Tool. The tool packages logs and system information in a ZIP file and can prepare a GitHub issue. Include the affected utility, PowerToys version before and after the update if known, Windows build, installation channel, update status or error, and steps to reproduce. Review the package and redact personal information before sharing it publicly; see Microsoft’s bug-reporting instructions.
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