dotnet/maui · error · System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception

ActivateApplication failed (HRESULT=0x{0:X8})

Error message

ActivateApplication failed (HRESULT=0x{0:X8})

What it means

Thrown by PackagedAppLauncher.Launch when the COM call IApplicationActivationManager.ActivateApplication returns a non-zero HRESULT, wrapped as a Win32Exception. This means Windows could not activate (launch) the packaged app identified by the given Application User Model ID (AUMID).

Source

Thrown at eng/devices/Run-PackagedAppAndWait.ps1:48

using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
[ComImport, Guid("2e941141-7f97-4756-ba1d-9decde894a3d"),
 InterfaceType(ComInterfaceType.InterfaceIsIUnknown)]
public interface IApplicationActivationManager {
    int ActivateApplication([In, MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string appUserModelId,
        [In, MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string arguments,
        [In] uint options,
        [Out] out uint processId);
}
[ComImport, Guid("45BA127D-10A8-46EA-8AB7-56EA9078943C")]
public class ApplicationActivationManager { }

public static class PackagedAppLauncher {
    public static uint Launch(string aumid, string arguments) {
        var mgr = (IApplicationActivationManager)(new ApplicationActivationManager());
        uint pid;
        int hr = mgr.ActivateApplication(aumid, arguments ?? string.Empty, 0, out pid);
        if (hr != 0) {
            throw new System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception(hr,
                string.Format("ActivateApplication failed (HRESULT=0x{0:X8})", hr));
        }
        return pid;
    }
}
"@ -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Out-Null

[uint32]$procId = 0
try {
    $procId = [PackagedAppLauncher]::Launch($aumid, $AppArguments)
} catch {
    Write-Error "ActivateApplication threw: $_"
    exit 3
}
if ($procId -eq 0) {
    Write-Error "ActivateApplication returned PID 0"
    exit 3
}

View on GitHub (pinned to f377ff1c5e)

Solutions

1. Confirm the package is installed and registered: `Get-AppxPackage <packageFullName>` and check the AUMID via `Get-StartApps` or the manifest.
2. Re-register or reinstall the appx/msix package if registration is corrupt: `Add-AppxPackage -Register ...AppxManifest.xml`.
3. Decode the HRESULT (e.g. 0x80073CFC = APPMODEL_ERROR_NO_PACKAGE) to pinpoint the cause.
4. Verify the AUMID string passed matches the package's Application Id from its AppxManifest.

Example fix

# before
$procId = [PackagedAppLauncher]::Launch($wrongAumid, $AppArguments)
# after
# confirm correct AUMID first
Get-AppxPackage *TestCases* | Select-Object PackageFamilyName
$procId = [PackagedAppLauncher]::Launch("$correctPackageFamilyName!App", $AppArguments)

# Validate package registration + AUMID before launching
$pkg = Get-AppxPackage -Name $packageName
if (-not $pkg) { throw "Package '$packageName' is not installed/registered." }
$aumid = "$($pkg.PackageFamilyName)!$applicationId"
if (-not (Get-StartApps | Where-Object { $_.AppID -eq $aumid })) { throw "AUMID '$aumid' not found." }

try {
    $procId = [PackagedAppLauncher]::Launch($aumid, $AppArguments)
} catch [System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception] {
    Write-Error "Launch failed HRESULT=0x$($_.Exception.NativeErrorCode.ToString('X8')) for AUMID '$aumid'"
    throw
}

When it happens

Trigger: mgr.ActivateApplication(aumid, arguments, 0, out pid) returns hr != 0. Common HRESULTs include 0x80073CFC (app not registered/installed), 0x80070002 (file not found), or registration/policy errors.

Common situations: The AUMID is wrong or the app package is not installed/registered for the current user; the packaged app was uninstalled or its registration is corrupt; running on a non-packaged build; the app requires a runtime/dependency not present.

Related errors

• Cert {certificateThumbprint} exists in LocalMachine\TrustedP
• Failed to install signing cert into LocalMachine\TrustedPeop
• Error: Couldn't find .cer or .msix file
• Failed to install app MSIX (exit code {installExit}): {msixP
• Unable to find Visual Studio!

AI-assisted analysis of dotnet/maui@f377ff1c5e (2026-08-13). Data as JSON: /api/errors/34627d1e1a499b7c. Report an issue: GitHub.