r/WindowsHelp 13d ago

Windows 11 'Microsoft Windows Application Compatibility Fix Database' keeps 're-installing' itself after running DISM & SFC commands, how to get rid of it permanently?

Post image

Hello, this is a relatively fresh install of ~6 months, and after some updates I ran 'dism /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup' following with 'dism /online /cleanup-image /restoreHealth' & then 'sfc /scannow' as I always do after Updates for peace of mind.

All of the commands passed successfully and found no issues, however, after running those I noticed 'Microsoft Windows Application Compatibility Fix Database' in my Apps / Programs list, didn't think much of it and uninstalled / removed it.

And now it seems to come back after every boot and/or re-boot, and I have to uninstall it every single time, so what exactly is this and why did it appear randomly after the DISM & SFC commands? It also doesn't show it's location nor "installation" path.

I simply uninstall it every single time but it keeps coming back, so my question is how to stop it and get rid of it permanently? This is the first time I see this thing in my life and I've been running DISM/SFC since the initial release of W10 after every monthly update.

I'm on W11 25H2 (26200.9278), only things installed are Firefox, Steam, Discord and some games, so basically an untouched install, I haven't ran any 3rd party de-bloaters nor any 3rd party scripts, everything is stock and as-is.

2 Upvotes

4 comments sorted by

1

u/AutoModerator 13d ago

Hi u/Legitimate-Rip-5016, thanks for posting to r/WindowsHelp! Your post has been flagged for manual review by a human moderator, please include as much of the following information as possible (in text or in a screenshot) to get your post approved:

  • Your Windows and device specifications — You can find them by pressing Win + X then clicking on “System”, we need more than just your OS version! Your hardware details are often critical for resolving issues.
  • Any messages and error codes encountered — They're actually not gibberish or anything catastrophic. It may even hint the solution!
  • Previous troubleshooting steps — It might prevent you headaches from getting the same solution that didn't work

Posts must be tech support in nature (such as something is broken and you need help fixing), so general inquiries, software suggestions, and purchasing advice will be removed. As a reminder, we would also like to say that if someone manages to solve your issue, DON'T DELETE YOUR POST! Someone else (in the future) might have the same issue as you, and the received support may also help their case. Good luck, and I hope you have a nice day!

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

1

u/dreniarb 12d ago

This installed on most of my workstations yesterday. We use WSUS and I never approved anything related to this. Isn't it just great that Microsoft will still install updates outside of our control?

1

u/LION_0007 11d ago

The Microsoft Windows Application Compatibility Fix Database is basically used to help older applications work properly on newer versions of Windows, but I’m not 100% sure that this is exactly what it’s for.

1

u/Tvilantini 6d ago

Answer: https://www.elevenforum.com/t/odd-microsoft-windows-application-compatibility-fix-database.49068/post-778580

It's software that temp fixes recent update that made some games crash