Flow-Launcher / Flow-Launcher/Flow.Launcher
Enhancement: Get Program plugin DLL signed so it doesn't get blocked by Smart App Control on Windows 11
- Dominant language
- C#
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Description
### Checks
- [x] I have checked that this issue has not already been reported.
- [x] I am using the latest version of Flow Launcher.
- [ ] I am using the prerelease version of Flow Launcher.
### Problem Description
### Problem Description
On Windows 11 with Smart App Control enabled, Flow Launcher 2.1.0 fails to start because Windows blocks the plugin DLL:
`Flow.Launcher.Plugin.Program.dll`
Windows Security reports that it cannot confirm the publisher and prevents the DLL from loading.
Interestingly, the previous version (2.0.3) works correctly on the same machine.
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### To Reproduce
1. Enable Smart App Control on Windows 11
2. Install Flow Launcher 2.1.0
3. Launch Flow Launcher
**Result:**
Flow Launcher fails to start because Windows blocks the Program plugin DLL.
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### Technical details
Blocked file:
Flow.Launcher.Plugin.Program.dll
Path:
C:\Users\\AppData\Local\FlowLauncher\app-2.1.0\Plugins\Flow.Launcher.Plugin.Program\
PowerShell signature check:
Get-AuthenticodeSignature Flow.Launcher.Plugin.Program.dll
Status: NotSigned
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### Workaround
1. Downgrading to **Flow Launcher 2.0.3** resolves the issue.
2. Alternatively, disabling the Program plugin allows Flow Launcher to start.\
For example by renaming:
C:\Users\\AppData\Local\FlowLauncher\app-2.1.0\Plugins\Flow.Launcher.Plugin.Program\
to something like:
Flow.Launcher.Plugin.Program-disabled
------------------------------------------------------------------------
### Flow Launcher Version
2.1.0
Installation method: **winget**\
Package: `Flow-Launcher.Flow-Launcher`
Flow.Launcher.Plugin.Program.dll file hash: `40E7B0817D1B0BF7149AFA3DFF135FC509DD3966A53678A38A0E21A2F91CE65B `
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### Windows Version
OS Name: Microsoft Windows 11 Home
OS Version: 10.0.26200 N/A Build 26200
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### Notes
The issue appeared recently. Flow Launcher 2.1.0 worked correctly on this system since Feb 12 2026, but started being blocked by Smart App Control on March 5 2026.
This seems related to Smart App Control requiring either code signing or sufficient reputation for DLLs.
Signing the plugin DLLs might prevent this issue for users with Smart App Control enabled.
### To Reproduce
1. ...
2. ...
3. ...
### Screenshots
### Flow Launcher Version
2.1.0
### Windows Build Number
10.0.26200 N/A Build 26200
### Error Log
```shell
Replace this line with the important log contents.
```
Contributor guide
No contributing guide indexed for this repository
Research direction
Start by tracing how Flow.Launcher.Plugin.Program.dll is produced and packaged into the Plugins\Flow.Launcher.Plugin.Program directory for version 2.1.0. Check the resulting artifact with Get-AuthenticodeSignature and verify that Flow Launcher starts with Smart App Control enabled; done means the distributed DLL is signed and no longer blocked.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- csharp
- Domain
- build-system, desktop, security
- Issue type
- Feature
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Quiet
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 48/100