How to Fix the Microsoft Teams 0xc0000020 Error in Windows 11 – MUO – MakeUseOf
Get the Microsoft Teams 0xc0000020 error fixed on Windows 11 and get chatting to your co-workers in no time with this guide.
Microsoft Teams is the built-in messaging app included with Windows 11. It even has a Chat taskbar icon users can click to open that app. However, some users see a "Bad Image Error status 0xc0000020" message whenever they try to launch Microsoft Teams with its taskbar button.
That error means users can’t open and utilize Microsoft Teams within Windows 11. When error 0xc0000020 occurs, you can either start using Slack or Skype as alternatives or try to get that issue fixed. You can try fixing Microsoft Teams’ 0xc0000020 error with these potential resolutions.
Firstly, try resolving Microsoft Teams’ 0xc0000020 error with Windows 11’s built-in Reset option. That’s a troubleshooting button you can press to clear data for apps that aren’t working right. This is how you can select to reset Microsoft Teams within Windows 11:
This possible resolution involves renaming a MicrosoftTeams data folder within the WindowsApp directory. As that’s a protected directory, you’ll need to take ownership of WindowsApp to open it. Then you can rename the MicrosoftTeams as follows:
Some users have also fixed error 0xc0000020 by deleting the specified MicrosoftTeams data folders instead of renaming them. Deleting or renaming those folders by adding .old will reset them. So, deleting the folders is the same method.
Some Microsoft Teams users have said in forum posts they’ve fixed error 0xc0000020 by disabling that app from the Windows startup. Try disabling the Microsoft Teams startup item like this:
Microsoft Edge Webview2 is a backend web app for Microsoft Teams. Some users might need to repair issues with that backend app to resolve the 0xc0000020 error. This is how you can repair the Microsoft Edge WebView2 app:
Microsoft Teams’ 0xc0000020 error might be due to a user account corruption issue. In which case, you might be able to utilize that app fine in a different user account. Try setting up a different local user account with a method in our guide for creating new user accounts in Windows 11. Then sign in to that different account to see if you can open MS Teams there.
The new account won’t include all your user files and software. If Microsoft Teams works ok in that Windows account, however, you will at least be able to utilize the app from there. You can migrate your user profile data to the new account if essential.
The Bad Image 0xc0000020 error message suggests that users try reinstalling the app. Doing so will likely fix corrupted Microsoft Teams files, and it won’t take long to reinstall the software. This is how you can reinstall Microsoft Teams:
The System Restoration utility is one with which you can roll Windows 11 back a previous time. If you can select a restore point that predates the 0xc0000020 error on your PC, System Restore can "go back in time" to a point where the error wasn't around. For instance, rolling back Windows might fix a user account issue causing the error.
However, note that restore points remove software installed after it was set up. As such, be aware that there might be some data loss.
Here are the steps for restoring Windows 11:
Resetting Windows 11 is the most drastic way to fix error 0xc0000020. Reinstalling Windows 11 with the Reset this PC utility will remove user-installed apps and restore the platform to its default setting configuration. However, you can select to keep user files.
You may not need to reset Windows 11 to get the 0xc0000020 error fixed. If other fixes don’t work, however, then this resolution could be your best bet. You can perform a reset as covered within the first method of our guide to factory resetting Windows PCs.
So, don’t abandon Microsoft Teams for alternative apps too soon when you need to fix error 0xc0000020. Those user-confirmed resolutions will probably get that app’s error 0xc0000020 fixed on most Windows 11 PCs. With that issue resolved, you can start chatting on MS Teams again.
Jack has been a freelance tech journalist for more than a decade. He has covered Windows Vista, 7, 10, and 11 topics within a multitude of guides for Make Use Of and numerous other websites.
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