Windows Terminal Preview crashes on startup from executing command-line wt. #12380

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opened 2026-01-31 03:14:03 +00:00 by claunia · 7 comments
Owner

Originally created by @AeanSR on GitHub (Feb 3, 2021).

Originally assigned to: @DHowett on GitHub.

Environment

Windows build number: 10.0.21301.0
Windows Terminal version (if applicable): 1.6.10272.0

Any other software?

Steps to reproduce

Start the terminal by Win+R->wt. I found three wt.exe entries in my system: two symlinks and one actual executable. The two links seem to point to the same executable (which is out of my permission to execute directly). Oops sorry it is definitely not the same.

PS> Get-Command wt | Format-Table Path, Name
Path                                                  Name
----                                                  ----
C:\Users\v\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\wt.exe wt.exe
PS> fsutil reparsepoint query C:\Users\v\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\wt.exe
重分析标记值 : 0x8000001b
标记值: Microsoft

重新分析数据长度: 0x192
重分析数据:
0000:  03 00 00 00 4d 00 69 00  63 00 72 00 6f 00 73 00  ....M.i.c.r.o.s.
0010:  6f 00 66 00 74 00 2e 00  57 00 69 00 6e 00 64 00  o.f.t...W.i.n.d.
0020:  6f 00 77 00 73 00 54 00  65 00 72 00 6d 00 69 00  o.w.s.T.e.r.m.i.
0030:  6e 00 61 00 6c 00 50 00  72 00 65 00 76 00 69 00  n.a.l.P.r.e.v.i.
0040:  65 00 77 00 5f 00 38 00  77 00 65 00 6b 00 79 00  e.w._.8.w.e.k.y.
0050:  62 00 33 00 64 00 38 00  62 00 62 00 77 00 65 00  b.3.d.8.b.b.w.e.
0060:  00 00 4d 00 69 00 63 00  72 00 6f 00 73 00 6f 00  ..M.i.c.r.o.s.o.
0070:  66 00 74 00 2e 00 57 00  69 00 6e 00 64 00 6f 00  f.t...W.i.n.d.o.
0080:  77 00 73 00 54 00 65 00  72 00 6d 00 69 00 6e 00  w.s.T.e.r.m.i.n.
0090:  61 00 6c 00 50 00 72 00  65 00 76 00 69 00 65 00  a.l.P.r.e.v.i.e.
00a0:  77 00 5f 00 38 00 77 00  65 00 6b 00 79 00 62 00  w._.8.w.e.k.y.b.
00b0:  33 00 64 00 38 00 62 00  62 00 77 00 65 00 21 00  3.d.8.b.b.w.e.!.
00c0:  41 00 70 00 70 00 00 00  43 00 3a 00 5c 00 50 00  A.p.p...C.:.\.P.
00d0:  72 00 6f 00 67 00 72 00  61 00 6d 00 20 00 46 00  r.o.g.r.a.m. .F.
00e0:  69 00 6c 00 65 00 73 00  5c 00 57 00 69 00 6e 00  i.l.e.s.\.W.i.n.
00f0:  64 00 6f 00 77 00 73 00  41 00 70 00 70 00 73 00  d.o.w.s.A.p.p.s.
0100:  5c 00 4d 00 69 00 63 00  72 00 6f 00 73 00 6f 00  \.M.i.c.r.o.s.o.
0110:  66 00 74 00 2e 00 57 00  69 00 6e 00 64 00 6f 00  f.t...W.i.n.d.o.
0120:  77 00 73 00 54 00 65 00  72 00 6d 00 69 00 6e 00  w.s.T.e.r.m.i.n.
0130:  61 00 6c 00 50 00 72 00  65 00 76 00 69 00 65 00  a.l.P.r.e.v.i.e.
0140:  77 00 5f 00 31 00 2e 00  35 00 2e 00 33 00 32 00  w._.1...5...3.2.
0150:  34 00 32 00 2e 00 30 00  5f 00 78 00 36 00 34 00  4.2...0._.x.6.4.
0160:  5f 00 5f 00 38 00 77 00  65 00 6b 00 79 00 62 00  _._.8.w.e.k.y.b.
0170:  33 00 64 00 38 00 62 00  62 00 77 00 65 00 5c 00  3.d.8.b.b.w.e.\.
0180:  77 00 74 00 2e 00 65 00  78 00 65 00 00 00 30 00  w.t...e.x.e...0.
0190:  00 00                                             ..

PS> fsutil reparsepoint query C:\Users\v\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\Microsoft.WindowsTerminalPreview_8wekyb3d8bbwe\wt.exe
重分析标记值 : 0x8000001b
标记值: Microsoft

重新分析数据长度: 0x194
重分析数据:
0000:  03 00 00 00 4d 00 69 00  63 00 72 00 6f 00 73 00  ....M.i.c.r.o.s.
0010:  6f 00 66 00 74 00 2e 00  57 00 69 00 6e 00 64 00  o.f.t...W.i.n.d.
0020:  6f 00 77 00 73 00 54 00  65 00 72 00 6d 00 69 00  o.w.s.T.e.r.m.i.
0030:  6e 00 61 00 6c 00 50 00  72 00 65 00 76 00 69 00  n.a.l.P.r.e.v.i.
0040:  65 00 77 00 5f 00 38 00  77 00 65 00 6b 00 79 00  e.w._.8.w.e.k.y.
0050:  62 00 33 00 64 00 38 00  62 00 62 00 77 00 65 00  b.3.d.8.b.b.w.e.
0060:  00 00 4d 00 69 00 63 00  72 00 6f 00 73 00 6f 00  ..M.i.c.r.o.s.o.
0070:  66 00 74 00 2e 00 57 00  69 00 6e 00 64 00 6f 00  f.t...W.i.n.d.o.
0080:  77 00 73 00 54 00 65 00  72 00 6d 00 69 00 6e 00  w.s.T.e.r.m.i.n.
0090:  61 00 6c 00 50 00 72 00  65 00 76 00 69 00 65 00  a.l.P.r.e.v.i.e.
00a0:  77 00 5f 00 38 00 77 00  65 00 6b 00 79 00 62 00  w._.8.w.e.k.y.b.
00b0:  33 00 64 00 38 00 62 00  62 00 77 00 65 00 21 00  3.d.8.b.b.w.e.!.
00c0:  41 00 70 00 70 00 00 00  43 00 3a 00 5c 00 50 00  A.p.p...C.:.\.P.
00d0:  72 00 6f 00 67 00 72 00  61 00 6d 00 20 00 46 00  r.o.g.r.a.m. .F.
00e0:  69 00 6c 00 65 00 73 00  5c 00 57 00 69 00 6e 00  i.l.e.s.\.W.i.n.
00f0:  64 00 6f 00 77 00 73 00  41 00 70 00 70 00 73 00  d.o.w.s.A.p.p.s.
0100:  5c 00 4d 00 69 00 63 00  72 00 6f 00 73 00 6f 00  \.M.i.c.r.o.s.o.
0110:  66 00 74 00 2e 00 57 00  69 00 6e 00 64 00 6f 00  f.t...W.i.n.d.o.
0120:  77 00 73 00 54 00 65 00  72 00 6d 00 69 00 6e 00  w.s.T.e.r.m.i.n.
0130:  61 00 6c 00 50 00 72 00  65 00 76 00 69 00 65 00  a.l.P.r.e.v.i.e.
0140:  77 00 5f 00 31 00 2e 00  36 00 2e 00 31 00 30 00  w._.1...6...1.0.
0150:  32 00 37 00 32 00 2e 00  30 00 5f 00 78 00 36 00  2.7.2...0._.x.6.
0160:  34 00 5f 00 5f 00 38 00  77 00 65 00 6b 00 79 00  4._._.8.w.e.k.y.
0170:  62 00 33 00 64 00 38 00  62 00 62 00 77 00 65 00  b.3.d.8.b.b.w.e.
0180:  5c 00 77 00 74 00 2e 00  65 00 78 00 65 00 00 00  \.w.t...e.x.e...
0190:  30 00 00 00                                       0...

Expected behavior

The terminal window should show up. I used to start the terminal in this way until Feb 1st when the app store pushed an update for the Windows Terminal Preview silently.

Actual behavior

It shows in the taskbar shortly and then crashes. Although I can still start the terminal normally in other ways:
☐ wt (C:\Users\v\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\wt.exe). leads to crashes.
☑ From startup menu. Fine.
☑ From app store. Fine.
☑ C:\Users\v\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\Microsoft.WindowsTerminalPreview_8wekyb3d8bbwe\wt.exe. Fine.

Originally created by @AeanSR on GitHub (Feb 3, 2021). Originally assigned to: @DHowett on GitHub. <!-- 🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨 I ACKNOWLEDGE THE FOLLOWING BEFORE PROCEEDING: 1. If I delete this entire template and go my own path, the core team may close my issue without further explanation or engagement. 2. If I list multiple bugs/concerns in this one issue, the core team may close my issue without further explanation or engagement. 3. If I write an issue that has many duplicates, the core team may close my issue without further explanation or engagement (and without necessarily spending time to find the exact duplicate ID number). 4. If I leave the title incomplete when filing the issue, the core team may close my issue without further explanation or engagement. 5. If I file something completely blank in the body, the core team may close my issue without further explanation or engagement. All good? Then proceed! --> <!-- This bug tracker is monitored by Windows Terminal development team and other technical folks. **Important: When reporting BSODs or security issues, DO NOT attach memory dumps, logs, or traces to Github issues**. Instead, send dumps/traces to secure@microsoft.com, referencing this GitHub issue. If this is an application crash, please also provide a Feedback Hub submission link so we can find your diagnostic data on the backend. Use the category "Apps > Windows Terminal (Preview)" and choose "Share My Feedback" after submission to get the link. Please use this form and describe your issue, concisely but precisely, with as much detail as possible. --> # Environment ```none Windows build number: 10.0.21301.0 Windows Terminal version (if applicable): 1.6.10272.0 Any other software? ``` # Steps to reproduce Start the terminal by `Win+R`->`wt`. I found three `wt.exe` entries in my system: two symlinks and one actual executable. ~The two links seem to point to the same executable (which is out of my permission to execute directly).~ Oops sorry it is definitely not the same. PS> Get-Command wt | Format-Table Path, Name Path Name ---- ---- C:\Users\v\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\wt.exe wt.exe ``` PS> fsutil reparsepoint query C:\Users\v\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\wt.exe 重分析标记值 : 0x8000001b 标记值: Microsoft 重新分析数据长度: 0x192 重分析数据: 0000: 03 00 00 00 4d 00 69 00 63 00 72 00 6f 00 73 00 ....M.i.c.r.o.s. 0010: 6f 00 66 00 74 00 2e 00 57 00 69 00 6e 00 64 00 o.f.t...W.i.n.d. 0020: 6f 00 77 00 73 00 54 00 65 00 72 00 6d 00 69 00 o.w.s.T.e.r.m.i. 0030: 6e 00 61 00 6c 00 50 00 72 00 65 00 76 00 69 00 n.a.l.P.r.e.v.i. 0040: 65 00 77 00 5f 00 38 00 77 00 65 00 6b 00 79 00 e.w._.8.w.e.k.y. 0050: 62 00 33 00 64 00 38 00 62 00 62 00 77 00 65 00 b.3.d.8.b.b.w.e. 0060: 00 00 4d 00 69 00 63 00 72 00 6f 00 73 00 6f 00 ..M.i.c.r.o.s.o. 0070: 66 00 74 00 2e 00 57 00 69 00 6e 00 64 00 6f 00 f.t...W.i.n.d.o. 0080: 77 00 73 00 54 00 65 00 72 00 6d 00 69 00 6e 00 w.s.T.e.r.m.i.n. 0090: 61 00 6c 00 50 00 72 00 65 00 76 00 69 00 65 00 a.l.P.r.e.v.i.e. 00a0: 77 00 5f 00 38 00 77 00 65 00 6b 00 79 00 62 00 w._.8.w.e.k.y.b. 00b0: 33 00 64 00 38 00 62 00 62 00 77 00 65 00 21 00 3.d.8.b.b.w.e.!. 00c0: 41 00 70 00 70 00 00 00 43 00 3a 00 5c 00 50 00 A.p.p...C.:.\.P. 00d0: 72 00 6f 00 67 00 72 00 61 00 6d 00 20 00 46 00 r.o.g.r.a.m. .F. 00e0: 69 00 6c 00 65 00 73 00 5c 00 57 00 69 00 6e 00 i.l.e.s.\.W.i.n. 00f0: 64 00 6f 00 77 00 73 00 41 00 70 00 70 00 73 00 d.o.w.s.A.p.p.s. 0100: 5c 00 4d 00 69 00 63 00 72 00 6f 00 73 00 6f 00 \.M.i.c.r.o.s.o. 0110: 66 00 74 00 2e 00 57 00 69 00 6e 00 64 00 6f 00 f.t...W.i.n.d.o. 0120: 77 00 73 00 54 00 65 00 72 00 6d 00 69 00 6e 00 w.s.T.e.r.m.i.n. 0130: 61 00 6c 00 50 00 72 00 65 00 76 00 69 00 65 00 a.l.P.r.e.v.i.e. 0140: 77 00 5f 00 31 00 2e 00 35 00 2e 00 33 00 32 00 w._.1...5...3.2. 0150: 34 00 32 00 2e 00 30 00 5f 00 78 00 36 00 34 00 4.2...0._.x.6.4. 0160: 5f 00 5f 00 38 00 77 00 65 00 6b 00 79 00 62 00 _._.8.w.e.k.y.b. 0170: 33 00 64 00 38 00 62 00 62 00 77 00 65 00 5c 00 3.d.8.b.b.w.e.\. 0180: 77 00 74 00 2e 00 65 00 78 00 65 00 00 00 30 00 w.t...e.x.e...0. 0190: 00 00 .. PS> fsutil reparsepoint query C:\Users\v\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\Microsoft.WindowsTerminalPreview_8wekyb3d8bbwe\wt.exe 重分析标记值 : 0x8000001b 标记值: Microsoft 重新分析数据长度: 0x194 重分析数据: 0000: 03 00 00 00 4d 00 69 00 63 00 72 00 6f 00 73 00 ....M.i.c.r.o.s. 0010: 6f 00 66 00 74 00 2e 00 57 00 69 00 6e 00 64 00 o.f.t...W.i.n.d. 0020: 6f 00 77 00 73 00 54 00 65 00 72 00 6d 00 69 00 o.w.s.T.e.r.m.i. 0030: 6e 00 61 00 6c 00 50 00 72 00 65 00 76 00 69 00 n.a.l.P.r.e.v.i. 0040: 65 00 77 00 5f 00 38 00 77 00 65 00 6b 00 79 00 e.w._.8.w.e.k.y. 0050: 62 00 33 00 64 00 38 00 62 00 62 00 77 00 65 00 b.3.d.8.b.b.w.e. 0060: 00 00 4d 00 69 00 63 00 72 00 6f 00 73 00 6f 00 ..M.i.c.r.o.s.o. 0070: 66 00 74 00 2e 00 57 00 69 00 6e 00 64 00 6f 00 f.t...W.i.n.d.o. 0080: 77 00 73 00 54 00 65 00 72 00 6d 00 69 00 6e 00 w.s.T.e.r.m.i.n. 0090: 61 00 6c 00 50 00 72 00 65 00 76 00 69 00 65 00 a.l.P.r.e.v.i.e. 00a0: 77 00 5f 00 38 00 77 00 65 00 6b 00 79 00 62 00 w._.8.w.e.k.y.b. 00b0: 33 00 64 00 38 00 62 00 62 00 77 00 65 00 21 00 3.d.8.b.b.w.e.!. 00c0: 41 00 70 00 70 00 00 00 43 00 3a 00 5c 00 50 00 A.p.p...C.:.\.P. 00d0: 72 00 6f 00 67 00 72 00 61 00 6d 00 20 00 46 00 r.o.g.r.a.m. .F. 00e0: 69 00 6c 00 65 00 73 00 5c 00 57 00 69 00 6e 00 i.l.e.s.\.W.i.n. 00f0: 64 00 6f 00 77 00 73 00 41 00 70 00 70 00 73 00 d.o.w.s.A.p.p.s. 0100: 5c 00 4d 00 69 00 63 00 72 00 6f 00 73 00 6f 00 \.M.i.c.r.o.s.o. 0110: 66 00 74 00 2e 00 57 00 69 00 6e 00 64 00 6f 00 f.t...W.i.n.d.o. 0120: 77 00 73 00 54 00 65 00 72 00 6d 00 69 00 6e 00 w.s.T.e.r.m.i.n. 0130: 61 00 6c 00 50 00 72 00 65 00 76 00 69 00 65 00 a.l.P.r.e.v.i.e. 0140: 77 00 5f 00 31 00 2e 00 36 00 2e 00 31 00 30 00 w._.1...6...1.0. 0150: 32 00 37 00 32 00 2e 00 30 00 5f 00 78 00 36 00 2.7.2...0._.x.6. 0160: 34 00 5f 00 5f 00 38 00 77 00 65 00 6b 00 79 00 4._._.8.w.e.k.y. 0170: 62 00 33 00 64 00 38 00 62 00 62 00 77 00 65 00 b.3.d.8.b.b.w.e. 0180: 5c 00 77 00 74 00 2e 00 65 00 78 00 65 00 00 00 \.w.t...e.x.e... 0190: 30 00 00 00 0... ``` # Expected behavior The terminal window should show up. I used to start the terminal in this way until Feb 1st when the app store pushed an update for the Windows Terminal Preview silently. # Actual behavior It shows in the taskbar shortly and then crashes. Although I can still start the terminal normally in other ways: &#9744; `wt` (`C:\Users\v\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\wt.exe`). **leads to crashes**. &#9745; From startup menu. Fine. &#9745; From app store. Fine. &#9745; `C:\Users\v\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\Microsoft.WindowsTerminalPreview_8wekyb3d8bbwe\wt.exe`. Fine.
claunia added the Needs-TriageNeeds-Tag-FixNeeds-AttentionTracking-External labels 2026-01-31 03:14:03 +00:00
Author
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@zadjii-msft commented on GitHub (Feb 3, 2021):

Oh no. You've got 1.6 installed, but it looks like the alias is pointing at 1.5.3242.0. That's bad. @DHowett is working on an internal thread about this right now. Turns out you're not the first person to hit this 😑

@zadjii-msft commented on GitHub (Feb 3, 2021): Oh no. You've got 1.6 installed, but it looks like the alias is pointing at 1.5.3242.0. That's bad. @DHowett is working on an internal thread about this right now. Turns out you're not the first person to hit this 😑
Author
Owner

@vefatica commented on GitHub (Feb 3, 2021):

Is that right ... the store pushes updates to Windows Terminal? I've been getting my WT packages here, at GitHub. Am I immune?

@vefatica commented on GitHub (Feb 3, 2021): Is that right ... the store pushes updates to Windows Terminal? I've been getting my WT packages here, at GitHub. Am I immune?
Author
Owner

@DHowett commented on GitHub (Feb 3, 2021):

@vefatica You are not immune to this. Packages registered with the app deployment subsystem (by way of msix/msixbundle installation) can/will be serviced by the store.

@DHowett commented on GitHub (Feb 3, 2021): @vefatica You are not immune to this. Packages registered with the app deployment subsystem (by way of msix/msixbundle installation) can/will be serviced by the store.
Author
Owner

@DHowett commented on GitHub (Feb 3, 2021):

@AeanSR if you go to "Manage app execution aliases" and disable and re-enable terminal preview, does it start working?

@DHowett commented on GitHub (Feb 3, 2021): @AeanSR if you go to "Manage app execution aliases" and disable and re-enable terminal preview, does it start working?
Author
Owner

@AeanSR commented on GitHub (Feb 4, 2021):

@AeanSR if you go to "Manage app execution aliases" and disable and re-enable terminal preview, does it start working?

Weird. After that, fsutil reparsepoint query C:\Users\v\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\wt.exe links to v1.6 correctly, and I can start the terminal by executing wt in PowerShell. However, the Run dialogue still tries to invoke v1.5 and prompted a "cannot access" error:

[MsgBox Title] C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.WindowsTerminalPreview_1.5.324...
[Error] Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permission to access the item.

Rebooting did not fix that.

@AeanSR commented on GitHub (Feb 4, 2021): > @AeanSR if you go to "Manage app execution aliases" and disable and re-enable terminal preview, does it start working? Weird. After that, `fsutil reparsepoint query C:\Users\v\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\wt.exe` links to v1.6 correctly, and I can start the terminal by executing `wt` in PowerShell. However, the Run dialogue still tries to invoke v1.5 and prompted a "cannot access" error: [MsgBox Title] C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.WindowsTerminalPreview_1.5.324... [Error] Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permission to access the item. Rebooting did not fix that.
Author
Owner

@AeanSR commented on GitHub (Feb 5, 2021):

Now I come to the same situation with #8959. Aliases are fixed. But searching wt and open the file location, it takes me to C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.WindowsTerminalPreview_1.5.3242.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\wt.exe.

@AeanSR commented on GitHub (Feb 5, 2021): Now I come to the same situation with #8959. Aliases are fixed. But searching `wt` and open the file location, it takes me to `C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.WindowsTerminalPreview_1.5.3242.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\wt.exe`.
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@miniksa commented on GitHub (May 28, 2021):

Related to #10243

@miniksa commented on GitHub (May 28, 2021): Related to #10243
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Reference: starred/terminal#12380