We've all made mistakes. But when a company like Microsoft screws up, the results can be catastrophic. It turns out, Microsoft made a huge blunder that's causing Windows 11 apps to fail to load because of an expired certificate on version 21H2.
The expired certificates are causing all sorts of built-in Windows 11 apps to break. Users report problems with the Snipping Tool, touch keyboard, voice typing, the Input Method Editor user interface, the emoji panel, getting started, and tips sections.
Microsoft has released a patch named KB4006746 that fixes all of the issues except for the Snipping Tool and a problem with Windows 11 in S mode. The patch is in preview, so you'll need to install it manually. To do so, go to Settings, then check for updates. Install the patch, and you'll be able to use most of the broken built-in apps again.
For Snipping Tool, Microsoft doesn't seem to have a fix yet, which is a problem for users who rely on it to capture screenshots. The company's solution isn't great, as it said, "To mitigate the issue with Snipping Tool, use the Print Screen key on your keyboard and paste the screenshot into your document. You can also paste it into Paint to select and copy the section you want."
The final issue applies to users in S mode. Basically, the accounts page in the settings section of Windows 11 with S mode enabled isn't working.
Fortunately, the company is working on a fix for this and the Snipping Tool problems. "We are working on a resolution for Snipping tool and the S mode only issues and will provide an update when more information is available," said Microsoft.
If you can't wait, The Verge says that some of its readers have reported being able to change the system date back to October 30th to get it working (the day before the certificates expire). Your mileage may vary with a fix like that, but if you're among the users with this problem and you need Snipping Tool, it's worth a try.