claude-code - 💡(How to fix) Fix [BUG] Cowork fails to install on Windows 11 Pro – HRESULT 0x80073CF6 [1 participants]

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anthropics/claude-code#49540Fetched 2026-04-17 08:38:14
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Error Message

When the Claude desktop installer is run with full administrator privileges, Cowork should install successfully alongside Claude and be accessible within the app. The AddPackage step should complete without error and Cowork should appear as a feature in the Claude desktop application.

Error Messages/Logs

2026/04/16 11:48:27.215961 ERROR dialog (opening log): Installation failed: AddPackage failed: AddPackage failed with HRESULT 0x80073CF6 2026/04/16 11:49:09.091077 ERROR dialog (with log path): Administrator access is required to install Claude with full features. You can try again or install without Cowork. 2026/04/16 11:51:16.585621 ERROR dialog (opening log): Installation failed: AddPackage failed: AddPackage failed with HRESULT 0x80073CF6 2026/04/16 11:51:49.816248 ERROR dialog (with log path): Administrator access is required to install Claude with full features. You can try again or install without Cowork. 2026/04/16 11:52:54.221539 ERROR dialog (opening log): Installation failed: AddPackage failed: AddPackage failed with HRESULT 0x80073CF6 2026/04/16 11:52:56.867109 ERROR dialog (with log path): Administrator access is required to install Claude with full features. You can try again or install without Cowork. Error occurs consistently across 3+ separate install attempts on the same machine

Code Example

2026/04/16 11:48:27.215961 MSIX installation failed: AddPackage failed: AddPackage failed with HRESULT 0x80073CF6
2026/04/16 11:48:27.215961 ERROR dialog (opening log): Installation failed: AddPackage failed: AddPackage failed with HRESULT 0x80073CF6
2026/04/16 11:49:09.091077 Elevated process exited with code 1
2026/04/16 11:49:09.091077 Elevation failed: elevated installer exited with code 1
2026/04/16 11:49:09.091077 ERROR dialog (with log path): Administrator access is required to install Claude with full features. You can try again or install without Cowork.

2026/04/16 11:51:16.585621 MSIX installation failed: AddPackage failed: AddPackage failed with HRESULT 0x80073CF6
2026/04/16 11:51:16.585621 ERROR dialog (opening log): Installation failed: AddPackage failed: AddPackage failed with HRESULT 0x80073CF6
2026/04/16 11:51:49.816248 Elevated process exited with code 1
2026/04/16 11:51:49.816248 Elevation failed: elevated installer exited with code 1
2026/04/16 11:51:49.816248 ERROR dialog (with log path): Administrator access is required to install Claude with full features. You can try again or install without Cowork.

2026/04/16 11:52:54.221539 MSIX installation failed: AddPackage failed: AddPackage failed with HRESULT 0x80073CF6
2026/04/16 11:52:54.221539 ERROR dialog (opening log): Installation failed: AddPackage failed: AddPackage failed with HRESULT 0x80073CF6
2026/04/16 11:52:56.867109 Elevated process exited with code 1
2026/04/16 11:52:56.867109 Elevation failed: elevated installer exited with code 1
2026/04/16 11:52:56.867109 ERROR dialog (with log path): Administrator access is required to install Claude with full features. You can try again or install without Cowork.
RAW_BUFFERClick to expand / collapse

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?

Environment:

OS: Windows 11 Professional (build 10.0.26200, x64) Claude Desktop App: latest version (installed April 16, 2026) Elevation: Full administrator privileges confirmed

Description: Claude desktop app installs successfully but Cowork fails to install every time with AddPackage failed with HRESULT 0x80073CF6. This occurs even when running the installer with full administrator privileges (elevation type: Full confirmed in logs). Steps to Reproduce:

Download Claude desktop installer from claude.ai Run installer as Administrator Claude installs successfully Cowork component fails silently — not present in app after install

Troubleshooting Already Attempted:

Ran installer as Administrator (elevation confirmed in logs) Re-registered Windows DesktopAppInstaller via admin PowerShell Removed Claude AppX package fully (Get-AppxPackage Claude | Remove-AppxPackage) and reinstalled Cleared Windows Store cache (wsreset.exe) Restarted PC between attempts Attempted install 4+ times — Claude succeeds every time, Cowork fails every time

Relevant Log Output: Elevation type: Full Is elevated: true Installing via AddPackage (current-user)... MSIX installation failed: AddPackage failed: AddPackage failed with HRESULT 0x80073CF6 Elevation failed: elevated installer exited with code 1 Administrator access is required to install Claude with full features. Expected Behavior: Cowork installs alongside Claude when running with administrator privileges. Actual Behavior: Cowork is absent after every install attempt despite full elevation.

What Should Happen?

When the Claude desktop installer is run with full administrator privileges, Cowork should install successfully alongside Claude and be accessible within the app. The AddPackage step should complete without error and Cowork should appear as a feature in the Claude desktop application.

Error Messages/Logs

2026/04/16 11:48:27.215961 MSIX installation failed: AddPackage failed: AddPackage failed with HRESULT 0x80073CF6
2026/04/16 11:48:27.215961 ERROR dialog (opening log): Installation failed: AddPackage failed: AddPackage failed with HRESULT 0x80073CF6
2026/04/16 11:49:09.091077 Elevated process exited with code 1
2026/04/16 11:49:09.091077 Elevation failed: elevated installer exited with code 1
2026/04/16 11:49:09.091077 ERROR dialog (with log path): Administrator access is required to install Claude with full features. You can try again or install without Cowork.

2026/04/16 11:51:16.585621 MSIX installation failed: AddPackage failed: AddPackage failed with HRESULT 0x80073CF6
2026/04/16 11:51:16.585621 ERROR dialog (opening log): Installation failed: AddPackage failed: AddPackage failed with HRESULT 0x80073CF6
2026/04/16 11:51:49.816248 Elevated process exited with code 1
2026/04/16 11:51:49.816248 Elevation failed: elevated installer exited with code 1
2026/04/16 11:51:49.816248 ERROR dialog (with log path): Administrator access is required to install Claude with full features. You can try again or install without Cowork.

2026/04/16 11:52:54.221539 MSIX installation failed: AddPackage failed: AddPackage failed with HRESULT 0x80073CF6
2026/04/16 11:52:54.221539 ERROR dialog (opening log): Installation failed: AddPackage failed: AddPackage failed with HRESULT 0x80073CF6
2026/04/16 11:52:56.867109 Elevated process exited with code 1
2026/04/16 11:52:56.867109 Elevation failed: elevated installer exited with code 1
2026/04/16 11:52:56.867109 ERROR dialog (with log path): Administrator access is required to install Claude with full features. You can try again or install without Cowork.

Steps to Reproduce

Steps to Reproduce:

Download the Claude desktop installer from claude.ai/download Right-click the installer (Claude Setup.exe) and select Run as administrator Accept the UAC prompt when prompted Observe that Claude installs and launches successfully Open the Claude desktop app Note that Cowork is absent — it does not appear anywhere in the app To confirm the failure, check the install log at: C:\Users[username]\AppData\Local\Temp\ClaudeSetup.log Repeat steps 1–7 — the same result occurs consistently across multiple attempts

Additional context: The installer self-elevates to full admin (Elevation type: Full, Is elevated: true confirmed in logs), downloads and verifies the MSIX successfully, but fails specifically at the AddPackage (current-user) step for the Cowork component every time.

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

No, this never worked

Last Working Version

No response

Claude Code Version

Version: Claude Desktop App – latest (installed April 16, 2026)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

PowerShell

Additional Information

Here's your Additional Information section:

Additional Information: Misdirected Support Response: Anthropic support responded to this issue and directed me to submit this bug report at https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues, which is the repository for the Claude Code CLI tool — not the Claude desktop app. This suggests there may be an internal routing or documentation issue on Anthropic's end regarding where desktop app bugs should be reported. I am submitting here as the most appropriate alternative. Support Response Received: Anthropic support confirmed the following:

HRESULT 0x80073CF6 is a Windows AppX install failure Cowork requires administrator privileges to install Despite running with full administrator privileges (confirmed via logs), Cowork still fails to install Support acknowledged this as a Windows install bug worth investigating

Key Log Findings:

Installer confirms full elevation: Elevation type: Full / Is elevated: true Sideloading is enabled: Sideloading enabled: true Claude MSIX installs successfully every time — failure is isolated specifically to the Cowork component Error occurs consistently across 3+ separate install attempts on the same machine A 4th install attempt succeeded for Claude but silently skipped Cowork entirely

System Details:

Windows 11 Professional, build 10.0.26200, x64 Not in S Mode No conflicting services detected by installer User account has elevation capability confirmed by installer logs

Full install log attached: ClaudeSetup.log

ClaudeSetup.log

extent analysis

TL;DR

The most likely fix for the Cowork installation failure is to investigate and resolve the Windows AppX install failure associated with HRESULT 0x80073CF6, potentially involving modifications to the installation process or system configuration to properly handle administrator privileges.

Guidance

  • Verify System Configuration: Ensure that the system is properly configured for sideloading and that there are no conflicts with other installed applications or services that could interfere with the Cowork installation.
  • Investigate HRESULT 0x80073CF6: Research the specific error code to understand its common causes and potential solutions, which may involve registry settings, user account permissions, or Windows update issues.
  • Elevation and Permissions: Double-check that the installer is correctly elevating to administrator privileges and that these privileges are being applied correctly during the installation of the Cowork component.
  • Log Analysis: Carefully analyze the provided install log (ClaudeSetup.log) for any clues about the failure, focusing on entries related to the AddPackage step and elevation.

Example

No specific code snippet can be provided without more details on the installation script or the exact nature of the HRESULT 0x80073CF6 error in this context. However, ensuring that the installation command or script properly handles elevation and that all prerequisites for the Cowork component are met is crucial.

Notes

The issue seems to be related to a Windows-specific installation failure rather than a problem with the Claude desktop app itself. The fact that Claude installs successfully while Cowork fails suggests a component-specific issue that may require adjustments to the installation process or system settings.

Recommendation

Apply a workaround by attempting to install Cowork manually or investigating alternative installation methods that do not rely on the AddPackage step, as the standard installation process is not working as expected due to the Windows AppX install failure.

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claude-code - 💡(How to fix) Fix [BUG] Cowork fails to install on Windows 11 Pro – HRESULT 0x80073CF6 [1 participants]