claude-code - 💡(How to fix) Fix [BUG] Claude Desktop update fails with 0x80073CF6 when CoworkVMService is running (Windows) [1 comments, 2 participants]

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anthropics/claude-code#49655Fetched 2026-04-17 08:35:02
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Error Message

Error Messages/Logs

  • Error deleting Helium\User.dat: 0x20 (ERROR_SHARING_VIOLATION)
  • Error deleting Helium\UserClasses.dat: 0x20 (ERROR_SHARING_VIOLATION)
  • Error 0xD0074005: Cannot notify BrokerInfrastructure service about package state change

Root Cause

The AppX installer cannot delete the Helium virtual registry hive files because CoworkVMService holds kernel-level locks on them:

  • C:\Users<user>\AppData\Local\Packages\Claude_pzs8sxrjxfjjc\SystemAppData\Helium\User.dat
  • C:\Users<user>\AppData\Local\Packages\Claude_pzs8sxrjxfjjc\SystemAppData\Helium\UserClasses.dat

Fix Action

Fix / Workaround

Workaround (requires manual step before every update): Stop-Service CoworkVMService -Force Stop-Process -Name cowork-svc, parsecd, chrome-native-host -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

Code Example

MSIX installation failed: AddPackage failed: AddPackage failed with HRESULT 0x80073CF6

  AppX deployment log:
  - Error deleting Helium\User.dat: 0x20 (ERROR_SHARING_VIOLATION)
  - Error deleting Helium\UserClasses.dat: 0x20 (ERROR_SHARING_VIOLATION)
  - Error 0xD0074005: Cannot notify BrokerInfrastructure service about package state change
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Preflight Checklist

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

What's Wrong?

**Claude Desktop fails to update/reinstall on Windows with HRESULT 0x80073CF6 (ERROR_PACKAGES_IN_USE) when CoworkVMService is running, even after Claude Desktop is fully closed.

The AppX installer cannot delete the Helium virtual registry hive files because CoworkVMService holds kernel-level locks on them:

  • C:\Users<user>\AppData\Local\Packages\Claude_pzs8sxrjxfjjc\SystemAppData\Helium\User.dat
  • C:\Users<user>\AppData\Local\Packages\Claude_pzs8sxrjxfjjc\SystemAppData\Helium\UserClasses.dat

These locks cannot be released without a full system reboot, making it impossible to update Claude while any server/service is running.**

What Should Happen?

The Claude installer should automatically stop CoworkVMService and related processes (cowork-svc, parsecd, chrome-native-host) before attempting the MSIX package update, then restart them after installation completes.

Error Messages/Logs

MSIX installation failed: AddPackage failed: AddPackage failed with HRESULT 0x80073CF6

  AppX deployment log:
  - Error deleting Helium\User.dat: 0x20 (ERROR_SHARING_VIOLATION)
  - Error deleting Helium\UserClasses.dat: 0x20 (ERROR_SHARING_VIOLATION)
  - Error 0xD0074005: Cannot notify BrokerInfrastructure service about package state change

Steps to Reproduce

  1. Install Claude Desktop (MSIX) with Cowork feature enabled
  2. Launch Claude Desktop — CoworkVMService starts automatically
  3. Close Claude Desktop completely
  4. Download and run the new Claude Setup.exe installer
  5. Installation fails with: AddPackage failed with HRESULT 0x80073CF6

Workaround (requires manual step before every update): Stop-Service CoworkVMService -Force Stop-Process -Name cowork-svc, parsecd, chrome-native-host -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

Claude Code Version Claude Desktop 1.3036.0.0

Operating System Windows 11 Pro 10.0.26100

Terminal/Shell PowerShell (Administrator)

Claude Model

Other

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

No response

Claude Code Version

Claude Desktop 1.3036.0.0

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

  • This is a recurring issue: every Claude Desktop update requires a full system reboot if CoworkVMService has been running
  • The Helium hive files are locked at kernel level — handle64.exe (Sysinternals) cannot detect the lock
  • reg unload fails with "Access is denied" even from Administrator
  • Only a full system restart releases the kernel-level hive locks
  • Users running servers or long-running processes cannot reboot just to update Claude

extent analysis

TL;DR

Stop the CoworkVMService and related processes before attempting to update Claude Desktop to resolve the HRESULT 0x80073CF6 error.

Guidance

  • The error HRESULT 0x80073CF6 is caused by the CoworkVMService holding kernel-level locks on the Helium virtual registry hive files, preventing the AppX installer from deleting them.
  • To verify the issue, check the AppX deployment log for ERROR_SHARING_VIOLATION errors when attempting to delete Helium\User.dat and Helium\UserClasses.dat.
  • To mitigate the issue, stop the CoworkVMService and related processes (cowork-svc, parsecd, chrome-native-host) using the provided PowerShell commands before updating Claude Desktop.
  • Consider implementing an automated solution to stop and restart these services as part of the update process to prevent future occurrences.

Example

Stop-Service CoworkVMService -Force
Stop-Process -Name cowork-svc, parsecd, chrome-native-host -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

Notes

The provided workaround requires manual intervention before every update, which may not be practical for users running servers or long-running processes. A more permanent solution would involve modifying the Claude Desktop installer to automatically stop and restart the necessary services.

Recommendation

Apply the provided workaround to stop the CoworkVMService and related processes before updating Claude Desktop, as a permanent fix is not currently available. This will allow users to update Claude Desktop without requiring a full system reboot.

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claude-code - 💡(How to fix) Fix [BUG] Claude Desktop update fails with 0x80073CF6 when CoworkVMService is running (Windows) [1 comments, 2 participants]