Windows 11 update accidentally removes Copilot, causes issues for Citrix users

A recent Windows 11 security update is causing unexpected issues for enterprise customers, including the unintentional removal of Microsoft’s Copilot AI assistant from affected systems, creating potential workflow disruptions for organizations that have integrated the AI tool into their operations.

The update, KB5053598 (OS build 26100.3476), released during March’s Patch Tuesday, applies to all editions of Windows 11 version 24H2 and was primarily intended as a security fix. However, Microsoft has acknowledged it contains a flaw that causes the Copilot app to be “unintentionally uninstalled and unpinned from the taskbar” on some devices.

“We’re aware of an issue with the Microsoft Copilot app affecting some devices. The app is unintentionally uninstalled and unpinned from the taskbar,” Microsoft said in an advisory.

Impact on enterprises

For organizations relying on Copilot integration, Microsoft recommends that affected users reinstall the app from the Microsoft Store and “manually pin it to the taskbar” while a permanent fix is developed.

The company clarified that the Microsoft 365 Copilot app remains unaffected by this issue, which may provide some relief to enterprise customers who have invested in the premium AI assistant version.

More concerning for enterprise IT administrators, the update conflicts with Citrix Session Recording Agent (SRA) version 2411, potentially removing January 2025 security updates from systems running this enterprise software.

This regression in security posture could leave systems vulnerable to already-patched exploits, creating additional workload for IT departments that must now carefully manage the update process.

“Devices that have certain Citrix components installed might be unable to complete installation of the January 2025 Windows security update,” the advisory added. Affected systems may initially apply the security update but fail during restart with an error message stating, “Something didn’t go as planned. No need to worry – undoing changes.”

This issue presents a significant challenge for enterprise customers who rely on Citrix virtualization solutions. IT departments must now choose between maintaining security patches and ensuring the operational continuity of critical business applications.

However, the software major stated that this issue likely affects a “limited number of organizations as version 2411 of the SRA application is a new version.”

The company emphasized that home users are unlikely to be affected by Citrix-related problems, as the software is primarily deployed in enterprise environments.

Broader implications

The incident highlights the ongoing challenges of maintaining operating system integrity while rapidly deploying new features and security patches. For enterprise customers, who often maintain strict change management protocols, unexpected application removals, and conflicts can cause significant operational disruptions.

Many organizations have been gradually adopting Copilot as part of their productivity strategy, with some still evaluating its enterprise value. This unintended removal may give pause to IT decision-makers considering broader deployment of AI assistants within their environments.

The bug also underscores the complexity of modern operating system updates, which must account for countless hardware configurations and third-party software interactions. Enterprise customers often delay updates precisely to avoid such issues, creating a delicate balance between security and stability.

Workarounds and solutions

For organizations affected by the Copilot removal, Microsoft’s temporary solution requires manual intervention, potentially creating additional work for IT support teams in large deployments. The company has not provided an estimated timeline for a permanent fix.

Regarding the Citrix compatibility issue, Microsoft recommends that enterprise customers running SRA version 2411 delay the installation of KB5053598 until a resolution is available. For organizations that have already deployed the update and encountered problems, a rollback to the previous version may be necessary.

The update also affects Windows on Arm users who play the Roblox game.

The Microsoft advisory said that such users will be unable to download and play the game from the Windows Store after installing this update, though Microsoft notes the game remains accessible via direct download from Roblox’s website.

While this may seem like a minor issue, it demonstrates how seemingly unrelated applications can be affected by operating system updates.

Microsoft indicated that it is “working on a resolution to address this issue.” The company typically addresses such conflicts through subsequent patches, though enterprise customers may need to implement temporary workarounds in the meantime.

This incident serves as a reminder for enterprise IT departments to maintain robust testing environments and phased deployment strategies for Windows updates, particularly when running specialized software like Citrix SRA. Organizations should also consider documenting their custom application configurations to better identify potential conflicts with future updates.