Windows cannot find wt.exe; Windows Terminal not opening

Some users have come across the error message Windows cannot find ‘wt.exe’. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. The problem is mainly common among Windows 11 users, but there are a couple of cases from the Windows 10 side as well. The error message indicates that the associated file is not found or has been corrupted for some reason. Worry not if you are also facing the same error pop-up; we got you covered. This post features different solutions you can try to fix the mentioned error message.

What causes Windows cannot find wt.exe error message?

Users come across the mentioned error while downloading the Windows update, specifically upgrading to Windows 11 from Windows 10. It mainly occurs during the installation process, and the main reason is that Windows Terminal or Windows OS files have been corrupted for some reason.

Windows cannot find wt.exe; Windows Terminal not opening

If you see the error popup Windows cannot find wt.exe; here are some suggestions to fix this Windows Terminal issue:

1. Perform an SFC scan
2. Change this Windows Terminal setting
3. Repair or Reset Windows Terminal app
4. Reinstall Windows Terminal

Now let’s take a look at all the effective solutions in detail.

1] Perform an SFC scan

The first thing you can try is to run an SFC scan. System File Checker or sfc.exe is used to scan and restore corrupted Windows system files. And as mentioned, the problem can be caused due to corrupted system files; performing an SFC can be an ideal solution in the situation. Here’s how it’s done.

1. Open the Start Menu by pressing the Windows key.
2. In the search bar, type cmd and press the enter key.
3. From the result, right-click on cmd and select Run as administrator option.
4. In the Command Prompt window that pops up, type sfc /scannow and press the enter key.

Now, the commands will take a few seconds to execute. And if any corruption is found, it will be replaced upon reboot. Check if it solves the problem or not. If not, try the next solution on the list.

2] Change this Windows Terminal setting

Another thing that causes the problem is this setting. Here are the changes you need to make to solve the problem.

1. Open the Settings window by pressing the Windows + I shortcut key.
2. Click on Apps present on the left panel of the screen.
3. Choose Apps & features.
4. Click on the drop-down icon present next to More settings.
5. Choose App execution aliases.
6. Locate the Windows Terminal and toggle off the option; it was on.
7. Toggle the option on again.
8. Now, exit the window.
9. Open the Run dialogue box by pressing the Windows + R shortcut key.
10. Navigate to the below mentioned location.

%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps

Check if you can see wt.exe there or not. If not, try the next solution on the list.

3] Repair or Reset Windows Terminal app

You may consider repairing or resetting Windows Terminal as follows:

• Open Settings
• Open Apps
• Locate Windows Terminal
• Select Advanced options
• Press Repair or Reset button.

4] Reinstall Windows Terminal

Reinstalling the Windows Terminal is another effective solution in the situation. But make sure you are following this step if none of the above-mentioned solutions were helpful. Here’s how it’s done.

1. Open the Microsoft Store on your system and search for Windows Terminal.
2. Open the official app and click on the Get button.
3. Wait until the installation process is complete; once done, restarts your system.

Now check if the problem is fixed.

How do I reset Windows Terminal settings to default?

To reset Windows Terminal settings, first off, open Windows Terminal, and access the Settings page. Now, open the Settings file of Windows Terminal, and delete all its content. That’s it, now save the settings file, and re-launch the Windows Terminal.

How do I open Windows Terminal as an administrator?

It’s very easy to open Windows Terminal as an administrator. First off, press Win + X to open the control center. Select Windows Terminal (admin) from the list. Alternatively, you can go with: Start menu > Windows Terminal > Run as an administrator.