# Anki 26.09.3 crashes on Windows 11 – Smart App Control blocks .pyd files

**URL:** <https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/anki-26-09-3-crashes-on-windows-11-smart-app-control-blocks-pyd-files/74155>\
**Category:** Help\
**Created:** [November 3, 2026, 4:37am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/anki-26-09-3-crashes-on-windows-11-smart-app-control-blocks-pyd-files/74155 "2026-11-03T04:37:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rey.jhn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@rey.jhn](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/rey.jhn)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 4:37am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/anki-26-09-3-crashes-on-windows-11-smart-app-control-blocks-pyd-files/74155/1 "2026-11-03T04:37:49Z")

</div>

Hello,

I recently installed Anki 26.09.3 on my personal Windows 11 PC for the first time, but the application crashes immediately on startup.

The error message is:

```auto
ImportError: DLL load failed while importing _rsbridge:
This file was blocked by an application control policy.

```

I checked Windows Event Viewer under:

Microsoft → Windows → CodeIntegrity → Operational

I found the following:

- Event ID: 3077

- Blocked file: `anki_rsbridge.pyd`

- Reason: The file did not meet the required signing level or violated a code integrity policy.

Windows Security also reported that another file, `cd.cp313-win_amd64.pyd`, was blocked because its publisher could not be verified.

Additional information:

- Anki version: 26.09.3 (Windows x64)

- Operating system: Windows 11

- Smart App Control: On

- Installation: First-time installation

- Windows Update: No further updates currently offered

- Result: The same crash occurs after updating and restarting Windows.

I would prefer to keep Smart App Control enabled for security reasons.

Is this a known compatibility issue with Anki 26.09.3? Is there a recommended solution that does not require disabling Smart App Control?

Thank you for your help.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Danika\_Dakika](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.ankiweb.net/danika_dakika/32/17815_2.png) [@Danika\_Dakika](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/Danika_Dakika)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 5:03am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/anki-26-09-3-crashes-on-windows-11-smart-app-control-blocks-pyd-files/74155/2 "2026-11-03T05:03:20Z")

</div>

Split this topic on November 3, 2026, 5:03am UTC

A post was merged into an existing topic: [Anki is not opening on my Windows 11 PC. Could Smart App Control be the issue?](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/anki-is-not-opening-on-my-windows-11-pc-could-smart-app-control-be-the-issue/71476)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Danika\_Dakika](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.ankiweb.net/danika_dakika/32/17815_2.png) [@Danika\_Dakika](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/Danika_Dakika)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 5:03am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/anki-26-09-3-crashes-on-windows-11-smart-app-control-blocks-pyd-files/74155/3 "2026-11-03T05:03:20Z")

</div>

Closed on November 3, 2026, 5:03am UTC