Enhancement: Get Program plugin DLL signed so it doesn't get blocked by Smart App Control on Windows 11

[Cuervino]

Checks

• I have checked that this issue has not already been reported.

• 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\<user>\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<user>\AppData\Local\FlowLauncher\app-2.1.0\Plugins\Flow.Launcher.Plugin.Program\

to something like:
Flow.Launcher.Plugin.Program-disabled

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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

Details

Replace this line with the important log contents.

[danilomdamiani]

Same here, in my end it doesn't even point to the DLL causing the error and renaming the folder didn't do anything.

Managed to downgrade through winget install Flow-Launcher.Flow-Launcher --version 2.0.3 --force

[deefrawley]

Running Flow on a Windows 10 Pro PC and a Windows 11 Pro laptop and not seeing this. I wonder if it's Pro vs Home though would think if it was widespread we would get a deluge of issues here so there must be something about your particular security settings though I'm not sure what that would be.

[Cuervino]

Yes, I think it might be rather limited, otherwise there would probably be a lot more reports here.

It might also fix itself if Smart App Control ends up allowing this program’s DLL in the future (I don't know how it's decided).

I’m not really sure what specific security setting I could check though, it’s just a pretty standard fresh install. Only a couple of unbloating tweaks and some telemetry limitations.

[deefrawley]

I've investigated further and Smart App Control is an optional level of security in Windows. If you turn it on, then it will block unknown DLLs such as the one Flow uses given it most likely uses some low level OS hooks. Based on that this is not a bug. I will convert it to an enhancement to see if we can get the DLL signed

[Cuervino]

I updated to version 2.1.1, and the DLL issue no longer appears on this version.
I'll check again after the next reboot to confirm it doesn't come back, but it seems like it may have been a very environment-specific issue.

It may still be worth investigating DLL signing, though.