Does anyone running multiple user accounts have app update issues?

Scottyboy99 · 20 Mar 2019

We use several user accounts on a single pc. We have a second pc with similar setup (and this happens on both). In recent weeks whenever I log in to my account and a native app updates we run into a issue. As an example, Photos may update on my acc and then open fine but we find that going into another user account such as my wife’s afterwards will run into a problem opening the app. Blue box saying this app can’t open . I think one of the recent cumulative updates introduced this. It’s easily fixed as all need to do is open store app in my wife’s acc and check for app updates, the app will then update itself for this user too and all is fine. Opens no issues. It’s an annoying workaround as before this began opening a native app that has been updated on another user acc would usually just invoke a quick white install line under the app in the start menu and it would then either open or just require another click to open it.

Anyway annoying workaround aside I worry about something that may cause a bigger problem. What happens when the actual store app itself gets it’s next update (as I am sure will happen at some stage). If we run into this issue there is no way for the affected user to then open the store app to update itself. As the workaround to open the store app will be affected (if that makes sense). Any thoughts as I can see this possibly occurring in the future? Anyone else note the same recent behaviour with native app updates (I know running multiple user accounts on a single pc is prob not amazingly common). If so, what are your workarounds/approaches?

Scottyboy99 · 29 Mar 2019

Well store received an update tonight and as predicted this was a nightmare. Installed fine on my acc, I move to my daughters acc and try to launch. it just flashes and doesn’t open. Had to reset the app. Then it works. But it gets stuck in an update loop of store with failed error on install.
move to other user accounts and it actually opens fine. Back to my daughters where upon it seems ok, shows latest version in settings and no more trying to update itself and failing. But the whole thing is a bug riddled mess that makes me dread native app updates and the unpredictable outcome for other pc users! And to boot the exact same behaviour on our other pc. The whole saga wasted nearly an hour and left me fuming with MS as I wrestled with this. The above account of events watered down.

Anyway to others beware just in case you endure the same fun and games!

Rubi · 31 Mar 2019

I only have 2 accounts on my laptop, admin and local.

I noticed what I thought were some oddities, especially with Store apps so I turned off automatic updates for those.

Not sure if it helped but not had any problems recently.

What version are you on?

I am using 1803; perhaps it is build-related?

Scottyboy99 · 01 Apr 2019

The latest public 1809 (I don’t go in for any insider stuff - partly to avoid pain like this). Yeah I turn off automatic app updates too and use the manual check.

The app updates have always been unpredictable when going into our other user accounts. But the latest issue is the worst of all. Seen it in a few PCs. Can work round by going into store on each acc and checking for updates but it’s bad bad news when the store app itself updates. Tweeted ms support and Brandon Le Blanc but of course no response.

Try3 · 06 Apr 2019

Rubi said:

I only have 2 accounts on my laptop, admin and local.

Rubi,

Just to help you avoid any confusion in the future, user accounts can be any of these four combinations
- MSAccount, Admin
- MSAccount, Standard [i.e. not Admin]
- Local, Admin
- Local, Standard [i.e. not Admin]

In other words, 'Admin' / 'Local' are not opposites because they are both incomplete descriptions.

All the best,
Denis

Rubi · 06 Apr 2019

Try3 said:

Rubi,

Just to help you avoid any confusion in the future, user accounts can be any of these four combinations
- MSAccount, Admin
- MSAccount, Standard [i.e. not Admin]
- Local, Admin
- Local, Standard [i.e. not Admin]

In other words, 'Admin' / 'Local' are not opposites because they are both incomplete descriptions.

All the best,
Denis

Hi Denis,

I appreciate the clarification. I only recently purchased a Windows 10 machine and am still getting to know some of the nuances and differences from previous versions I was used to.

So, in that vein, I have on my laptop:

Local, Admin
Local, Standard

Regards.