Archicad does not start when Windows Smart App Control is activated

Issue

Archicad cannot start and the following message appears:

Archicad Starter.exe - Invalid Image

C:\Program Files\Graphisoft\ARCHICAD 2_\______.dll is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error. Please reinstall the program using the original installation media, or contact your system administrator or software vendor for support. Error status 0xc0e90002

In some cases, a Windows Security pop-up also appears:

Windows Security

A part of this app was blocked.

Some features of Archicad _ Component may not work because we cannot verify who published OverwatchServer.exe, which the app tried to load.

Solution

In most of these cases, the cause is Smart App Control on Windows 11, which blocks Archicad or some of its functions.

Smart App Control is a built-in, optional security feature in Windows 11. Before an app starts, it checks the app's cloud reputation and digital signature. Apps with a valid signature are considered trustworthy. If a signature is missing, the app may be blocked. In some cases, this can also prevent programs and their components from being installed or run, even if they come from trusted sources. (Microsoft Support)

At the moment, Smart App Control may prevent certain Archicad components from starting. Smart App Control cannot be set to allow a single app; it can only be turned on or off for the whole system. 

We are investigating this behavior and looking into possible solutions. We will update this article as soon as more information is available.

Turn off Smart App Control

If Archicad is blocked by Smart App Control, you can turn the feature off in Windows Security to install or use Archicad:

1. Open the Start menu, type Windows Security and open the app.
2. Go to App & browser control > Smart App Control settings.
3. Set Smart App Control to Off.
4. Start Archicad.

Note: Turning off Smart App Control reduces the protection Windows provides against potentially unwanted or harmful apps. Only do this if your software comes from trusted sources and an up-to-date security solution (for example antivirus and firewall) is in place.

According to Microsoft, recent Windows updates let you turn Smart App Control back on without reinstalling Windows.

If your computer is managed by your company, please check with your IT department before changing this setting.

More information from Microsoft: Smart App Control Frequently Asked Questions