Windows Store: Claude desktop fails to update due to CoworkVMService file lock and stuck WindowsApps\Deleted #46179

Environment

• OS: Windows 11 Pro 10.0.26200
• Claude Desktop: 1.1617.0.0 (Microsoft Store / MSIX package)
• Package: Claude_1.1617.0.0_x64__pzs8sxrjxfjjc

Problem

Claude desktop installed from the Windows Store fails to update. The app closes for update (beforeQuitForUpdate handler fired, going down for update in main.log) but never restarts. Subsequent manual launch attempts fail with:

"Файл занят другой программой" (File is in use by another program)
Path: C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Claude_1.1617.0.0_x64__...

Root cause

Two issues combine to block the update:

1. CoworkVMService holds file locks on the package directory

The Windows service CoworkVMService runs cowork-svc.exe from inside the MSIX package folder (C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Claude_1.1617.0.0_x64__pzs8sxrjxfjjc\app\resources\cowork-svc.exe). When the app closes for update, the service keeps running and auto-restarts if the process is killed (Stop-Process). This locks the package files, preventing the Store from replacing them.

Stop-Service CoworkVMService -Force is required before the package can update, but the update mechanism does not do this automatically.

2. WindowsApps\Deleted cleanup failures (secondary)

Old package versions from other apps get stuck in C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Deleted\ with recurring Event ID 493 errors ("Cannot delete files from Deleted directory") every 6 minutes in Microsoft-Windows-AppXDeploymentServer/Operational. While not Claude-specific, this further jams the Store update pipeline.

Expected behavior

The auto-updater should stop CoworkVMService before attempting to replace the package files, or the service should gracefully exit when the main app signals beforeQuitForUpdate.

Workaround

Migrated to standalone install via winget install Anthropic.Claude which uses Squirrel auto-updater and installs to %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\ — avoids WindowsApps entirely. AppData (%APPDATA%\Claude\) is preserved across migration.

Steps to reproduce (Store version)

1. Install Claude desktop from Microsoft Store
2. Use the app normally (CoworkVMService starts automatically)
3. Wait for an auto-update trigger
4. App closes with "going down for update" but CoworkVMService keeps running
5. Update fails, app won't relaunch — "file in use" error

Manual fix sequence (if still on Store)

Stop-Service CoworkVMService -Force
Set-Service CoworkVMService -StartupType Disabled
Stop-Process -Name cowork-svc -Force
Stop-Process -Name chrome-native-host -Force
# Then update/reinstall from Store, or better: switch to winget