# ParaView 6.2.0 fails to launch on Windows 11 25H2 – Smart App Control blocks DLL loading

**URL:** <https://discourse.paraview.org/t/paraview-6-2-0-fails-to-launch-on-windows-11-25h2-smart-app-control-blocks-dll-loading/17812>\
**Category:** ParaView Support\
**Created:** [November 10, 2026, 6:01am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/paraview-6-2-0-fails-to-launch-on-windows-11-25h2-smart-app-control-blocks-dll-loading/17812 "2026-11-10T06:01:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ayan\_Santania](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/ayan_santania/32/18026_2.png) [@Ayan\_Santania](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/Ayan_Santania)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2026, 6:01am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/paraview-6-2-0-fails-to-launch-on-windows-11-25h2-smart-app-control-blocks-dll-loading/17812/1 "2026-11-10T06:01:55Z")

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Hello ParaView Developers,

I am experiencing an issue running ParaView 6.2.0 on my Windows 11 laptop and would appreciate your assistance.

**System information:**

- OS: Windows 11 25H2

- OS Build: 26200.9711

- ParaView version: 6.2.0

- Architecture: Windows 64-bit

**Problem description:**

When I launch `paraview.exe`, the application fails to start and displays a series of “Bad Image” errors with status code `0xc0e90002`.

The affected DLLs include:

- `pqCore-pv6.2.dll`

- `pqApplicationComponents-pv6.2.dll`

- `vtkRemotingViews-pv6.2.dll`

- `vtkRenderingOpenGL2-pv6.2.dll`

- `vtkInteractionWidgets-pv6.2.dll`

I downloaded ParaView again and tested a fresh copy, but the issue persisted.

After investigating Windows Event Viewer, I found the following:

1. Code Integrity Operational Event ID 3077 reports that `paraview.exe` attempted to load `pqApplicationComponents-pv6.2.dll`, but the DLL was blocked by the `VerifiedAndReputableDesktop` policy.

2. The reported status code was `0xc0e90002`.

3. Event ID 3089 associated with this event reported `TotalSignatureCount=0`.

4. Windows Security shows that Smart App Control is enabled.

5. The DLL Properties window does not show any embedded or catalog digital signatures.

I also verified that the `VerifiedAndReputableDesktop` policy is currently enforced on my system.

I understand that Smart App Control is a Windows security feature, and I am reluctant to disable it, as re-enabling it requires fresh installation of Windows.

**My questions:**

1. Is the Windows build of ParaView 6.2.0 expected to work with Windows 11 Smart App Control enabled?

2. Is there an officially supported, digitally signed Windows build or installer that would work without requiring users to disable Smart App Control?

I would be grateful for any guidance. I use ParaView for visualising OpenFOAM CFD simulations, and resolving this issue would be extremely helpful..

Thank you for your time and assistance.

Best regards,

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**Author:** ![mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/mwestphal/32/17_2.png) [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2026, 9:24am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/paraview-6-2-0-fails-to-launch-on-windows-11-25h2-smart-app-control-blocks-dll-loading/17812/2 "2026-11-10T09:24:22Z")

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> [@Ayan\_Santania](#):
>
> 1. Is the Windows build of ParaView 6.2.0 expected to work with Windows 11 Smart App Control enabled?

No

> Is there an officially supported, digitally signed Windows build or installer that would work without requiring users to disable Smart App Control?

No

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**Author:** ![Ayan\_Santania](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/ayan_santania/32/18026_2.png) [@Ayan\_Santania](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/Ayan_Santania)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2026, 10:41am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/paraview-6-2-0-fails-to-launch-on-windows-11-25h2-smart-app-control-blocks-dll-loading/17812/3 "2026-11-10T10:41:50Z")

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Hi,

Thanks for responding.

I just wanted to ask whether Kitware has any plans to provide an officially signed Windows build or installer in a future ParaView release that would be compatible with this ‘Smart App Control’ feature of Windows?

I would prefer to use the native Windows version rather than rely on WSL, especially for CFD post-processing workflows.

Thanks again for your time.

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**Author:** ![cory.quammen](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/cory.quammen/32/11193_2.png) [@cory.quammen](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/cory.quammen)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2026, 11:06am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/paraview-6-2-0-fails-to-launch-on-windows-11-25h2-smart-app-control-blocks-dll-loading/17812/4 "2026-11-10T11:06:28Z")

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Hi @Ayan_Santania, did you install ParaView from the .msi installer or the .zip bundle? If you installed the .msi, then we have some more work to do signing the components it installs (e.g., DLLs).

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**Author:** ![Ayan\_Santania](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/ayan_santania/32/18026_2.png) [@Ayan\_Santania](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/Ayan_Santania)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2026, 11:37am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/paraview-6-2-0-fails-to-launch-on-windows-11-25h2-smart-app-control-blocks-dll-loading/17812/5 "2026-11-10T11:37:12Z")

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Hi @cory.quammen ,

I used the .zip bundle. Both the times (the 2nd attempt was to start afresh).

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**Author:** ![cory.quammen](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/cory.quammen/32/11193_2.png) [@cory.quammen](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/cory.quammen)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2026, 12:04pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/paraview-6-2-0-fails-to-launch-on-windows-11-25h2-smart-app-control-blocks-dll-loading/17812/6 "2026-11-10T12:04:32Z")

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Ah, we don’t sign the zip bundles at all. If you are able to use the .msi installers on your system instead, that should hopefully work. Can you install an .msi file and let us know if it also fails with Smart App control enabled?

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**Author:** ![Ayan\_Santania](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/ayan_santania/32/18026_2.png) [@Ayan\_Santania](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/Ayan_Santania)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2026, 12:23pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/paraview-6-2-0-fails-to-launch-on-windows-11-25h2-smart-app-control-blocks-dll-loading/17812/7 "2026-11-10T12:23:12Z")

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I tested the MSI installer as suggested.

The installation completed successfully using the default settings. However, when I launched ParaView 6.2.0 from the Windows Start menu, I encountered the same “Bad Image” errors as with the ZIP bundle.

The errors appeared for the following DLLs:

- vtkFiltersGeneral-pv6.2.dll

- vtkFiltersGeometry-pv6.2.dll

Both reported error status 0xc0e90002.

Smart App Control was enabled throughout the installation and testing. No security settings were changed.

Unfortunately, the MSI installer does not appear to resolve the issue.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cory.quammen](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/cory.quammen/32/11193_2.png) [@cory.quammen](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/cory.quammen)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2026, 12:27pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/paraview-6-2-0-fails-to-launch-on-windows-11-25h2-smart-app-control-blocks-dll-loading/17812/8 "2026-11-10T12:27:59Z")

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Okay, thanks for confirming. We’ll look into what we need to do to make the ParaView binaries work with Smart App Control.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ayan\_Santania](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/ayan_santania/32/18026_2.png) [@Ayan\_Santania](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/Ayan_Santania)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2026, 12:29pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/paraview-6-2-0-fails-to-launch-on-windows-11-25h2-smart-app-control-blocks-dll-loading/17812/9 "2026-11-10T12:29:44Z")

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Thank you, @cory.quammen . I really appreciate this issue being addressed. I’d be happy to help with further testing if needed.