Windows Smart App Control Is Breaking Armory Crate on Xbox Ally

Microsoft and ASUS are running into early software problems with their Xbox-branded handhelds, despite strong market performance and optimistic profit projections tied to the devices’ launch success.

The ASUS ROG Xbox Ally lineup, including the higher-end Ally X model, is now facing user-reported issues linked to Windows security features, potentially impacting core system functionality.

Smart App Control is blocking Armory Crate on Xbox Ally devices

According to reports shared by users on Reddit, the ASUS Armory Crate cannot be launched on affected systems. Armory Crate acts as a core system application, handling performance profiles, system controls, and device-level settings essential to the handheld experience.

Windows Defender reportedly flags Armory Crate as unverified, blocking it from running entirely. Users also report that they cannot update or uninstall the app once the issue occurs, leaving the system in a partially locked state.

The problem appears tied directly to Smart App Control, a Windows security feature designed to block applications from unverified or untrusted publishers. Smart App Control relies on a strict zero-trust model, meaning that once the feature blocks an app, users cannot create manual exceptions to allow it.

This behavior puts affected users in a difficult position. Smart App Control can be disabled through the Windows Security settings page, but once disabled, it cannot be turned back on without performing a full Windows reset. As a result, users must choose between waiting for an official fix or permanently disabling a major security feature to restore Armory Crate functionality.

At this stage, the full scale of the issue remains unclear, but reports continue to appear from multiple users across different systems, suggesting the problem may be more widespread than initially expected.

Neither Microsoft nor ASUS has issued an official statement or provided a workaround so far.

Outside of this situation, ASUS recently introduced its Level Sense feature aimed at protecting GPUs from physical damage, while Microsoft continues its broader shift toward multiplatform Xbox releases.

Via Neowin