Unable to Launch Windows Terminal via `wt.exe` or `windowsterminal.exe` After KB5050021 Update

Question

Issue Report: Unable to Launch Windows Terminal via wt.exe or windowsterminal.exe After KB5050021 Update

Issue Summary

Subject: Unable to Launch Windows Terminal via wt.exe or windowsterminal.exe After KB5050021 Update

Affected System: Windows 11

OS Build: 22621.4751 (Post-KB5050021 update)

Windows Terminal Version: 1.21.3231.0

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Detailed Description

After applying the KB5050021 update on January 14, 2025, the Windows Terminal fails to launch when executed via:

• wt.exe in PowerShell, CMD, or VS Code integrated terminal.
• Direct execution of windowsterminal.exe in C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.WindowsTerminal_1.21.3231.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe.

No error messages are displayed, and the process is not visible in Task Manager for long. The WindowsTerminal.exe process briefly appears in Task Manager but disappears after a couple of seconds. However, the terminal opens correctly when launched via its app icon in the Start menu.

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Steps to Reproduce

1. Update Windows 11 to build 22621.4751 via KB5050021.
2. Attempt to open Windows Terminal via wt.exe in a PowerShell or CMD window.
3. Alternatively, attempt to open windowsterminal.exe directly.
4. Observe that no terminal appears and no error messages are shown.

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Observations

• When launched via the app icon, the terminal works correctly.
• Running Get-Process -Name *WindowsTerminal*, wt after opening the terminal via the app icon shows WindowsTerminal as active. Running the same command after executing wt.exe returns no processes.
• When executing wt.exe, the WindowsTerminal.exe process briefly appears in Task Manager but disappears after a couple of seconds.
• The issue persists across the following environments:
  • Default PowerShell terminal.
  • CMD.
  • VS Code integrated terminal.
• Resetting, uninstalling, and reinstalling Windows Terminal, as well as running sfc /scannow and DISM commands, did not resolve the issue.

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Expected Behavior

wt.exe and windowsterminal.exe should launch Windows Terminal normally, as before the update.

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System Information

• OS Build: 22621.4751
• Windows Terminal Version: 1.21.3231.0
• KB Update Installed: KB5050021
• Hardware Info: [Include relevant specs here]

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Additional Notes

The issue affects workflows that depend on scripting or terminal automation via wt.exe. This problem has been consistently reproducible and may affect other users who installed the KB5050021 update.

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Answer 1

Hello,

Thank you for posting in Q&A forum.

To further troubleshoot this issue, please kindly try below steps:

1.Check for if there's any missing or corupted system file and repair the installation in PowerShell:

Repair-WindowsImage -Online -RestoreHealth

sfc /scannow

2.Navigate to the following directory and delete the settings file: C:\Users<YourUsername>\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsTerminal_<random string>\LocalState\settings.json to reset the Terminal settings.

3.Uninstall the windows terminal in PowerShell by command:

Get-AppxPackage WindowsTerminal | Remove-AppxPackage

and reinstall it from the Microsoft Store.

To help other customers who may be facing the same issue, please don't forget to vote if the reply is helpful.

Best Regards

Zunhui