MicrosoftEdge / MicrosoftEdge/WebView2Feedback

[Problem/Bug]: Microsoft Edge can't read and write to its data directory.

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@prija-microsoft is already working on this.

Since Nov 13, 2025.

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Description

What happened?

I have a WinUI3 C# app that can run elevated or unelevated, WebView2 elements are incorporated in several parts of it. Users are reporting that they get an error with the title: Microsoft Edge can't read and write to its data directory..

It appears that it's related to the Administrator protection feature introduced recently in Windows 11. Elevated main process directs edge to use folder from admin protection account. Edge tries to run without elevation, gets given the non admin protection account, can't access folder.

Importance

Blocking. My app's basic functions are not working due to this issue.

Runtime Channel

Stable release (WebView2 Runtime)

Runtime Version

142.0.3595.69

SDK Version

1.0.3595.46

Framework

WinUI3/WinAppSDK

Operating System

Windows 11

OS Version

26200

Repro steps

For repro steps, here is one of the implementations in my app: https://github.com/HotCakeX/Harden-Windows-Security/blob/main/Harden%20System%20Security/Pages/LinkPreview.xaml.cs

Repros in Edge Browser

No, issue does not reproduce in the corresponding Edge version

Regression

Don't know

Last working version (if regression)

No response

Contributor guide

No contributing guide indexed for this repository

First steps

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  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Assessment

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