[BUG] Claude Desktop update leaves MSIX in wedged state - reinstall fails with 0x80073CF6/0x80073D05

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

What's Wrong?

After a failed Claude Desktop auto-update on Windows, the MSIX package is left in an
inconsistent state. The package is no longer registered (Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers *Claude*
returns nothing), but every reinstall attempt fails:

Add-AppxPackage : Deployment failed with HRESULT: 0x80073CF6, Package could not be registered.
Internal error: 0x80073D05.

Same failure with -ForceApplicationShutdown -ForceUpdateFromAnyVersion and with a fresh
installer download.

Root cause identified

The package's Helium registry hives are still loaded by the kernel:

• %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Claude_pzs8sxrjxfjjc\SystemAppData\Helium\User.dat (+ .LOG1/.LOG2,

UserClasses.dat) are locked ("in use by another process") and cannot be deleted even elevated.

• Sysinternals Handle initially showed a single holder: svchost.exe (Appinfo service) holding

a Job handle: \Container_Claude_1.15962.1.0_x64__pzs8sxrjxfjjc-S-1-5-21-....

• After killing that svchost, no process handle remains (handle64 -a finds nothing), yet

the .dat files stay locked → the hives are pinned as kernel app hives (not visible in
HKEY_USERS, no reg unload possible).

• Deployment then fails at the "delete existing package app data" step (0x80073D05).

What I tried (all failed)

• Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers (package not registered)
• Remove-Item on the Packages folder, elevated (files locked)
• Restarting AppXSvc / StateRepository (refused, dependent services)
• Killing the Appinfo svchost holding the container Job handle
• Add-AppxPackage with force flags
• No Claude/Cowork processes running, no CoworkVMService present

Only workaround: extract the MSIX as a ZIP and run app\claude.exe directly (Chat/Code work,
Cowork unavailable). A reboot is the only way to release the hives — not always possible
(remote machine, long-running workloads).

Environment

• Windows 10/11 x64, package Claude_1.15962.1.0_x64__pzs8sxrjxfjjc
• Related: #49917, #47877, #48437

What Should Happen?

The updater/installer should tear down the app container (silo) and unload Helium hives before
AddPackage, or detect this wedged state and offer a repair path that doesn't require a reboot.

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

ClaudeSetup.log

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

1.15962

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

Other

Additional Information

_No response_