Windows update problems: Rollback with Citrix agent installed

The Windows updates released by Microsoft on January Patchday cannot be installed on systems with certain Citrix software. However, there is a workaround for those affected, which requires them to take action.

Microsoft acknowledges the problem in the release announcement for the Windows Update for Windows 10 22H2. “Devices that have certain CItrix components installed may not be able to complete the installation of the January 2025 security update,” Microsoft writes.

Cause of the problem Citrix Session Recording Agent

The developers continue: “The issue was observed on devices running Citrix Session Recording Agent version 2411. Version 2411 was released in December 2024”. Affected devices can initially download and apply the January 2025 Windows security update correctly, for example via the Windows update in the system settings. “When restarting the device to complete the update installation, an error message appears with a message similar to 'Something did not work as expected. Don't worry, changes will be rolled back' – and the device will revert to the previously installed Windows updates on the device”.

Since version 2411 of the Citrix Session Recording Agent is a new version, Microsoft estimates that only a few organizations are affected. Home users are also not expected to be affected.

Citrix has published a guide with countermeasures to help those affected. However, according to Citrix, various other operating system versions are affected, contrary to what Microsoft claims: Windows Server 2019, 2022 and 2025 as well as the Windows 10 22H2, Windows 11 22H2, 23H2 and 24H2 desktop systems.

To install the Windows security updates anyway, those affected should stop the “Citrix Session Recording Monitor” service, set the startup type to “Disabled” and then install the security updates. After the restart, they should start the service again and reset the startup type to “Automatic”. In the instructions, Citrix also presents Powershell commands and those for the command line. These steps should also be necessary to uninstall the update if necessary.

Microsoft also adds that the company is working with Citrix on a solution to the problem. Until an automatic solution is available, the aforementioned manual countermeasures will help.

(dmk)