topic Re: Survey123 Connect Won't Open in Windows 11 Using Start Menu in ArcGIS Survey123 Questions

Survey123 Connect Won't Open in Windows 11 Using Start Menu

JasminePrater — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 18:10:26 GMT

I upgraded to Windows 11 a month or so ago and have used Survey123 Connect without issue since the upgrade and had it pinned it to my Start Menu. Last week, I was suddenly unable to open the app from the Start Menu shortcut and also from the Start Menu list of applications. I uninstalled and reinstalled it from the Microsoft app store and that didn't work. My IT colleague was able to add a shortcut on my desktop that works, but I don't see a reason the Start Menu won't let me open the app. I click on it and nothing happens. I received a message that the file the shortcut is pointing to cannot be found, but I haven't made any changes to it and I save it in the default location. Has anyone experienced this and been able to fix it?

Re: Survey123 Connect Won't Open in Windows 11 Using Start Menu

JasminePrater — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 18:06:54 GMT

I was able to resolve this issue by uninstalling the Microsoft Store version and installing the standalone application that is listed at the bottom of the page. I'm not sure why there is an issue with the Store app, but this was the easiest solution.

Re: Survey123 Connect Won't Open in Windows 11 Using Start Menu

JosephSimora — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 16:37:34 GMT

Had the same problem. I resolved by running ArcGIS Survey123 Connect with "Run as Administrator". Seemed to resolve the issue.

Re: Survey123 Connect Won't Open in Windows 11 Using Start Menu

JasminePrater — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 17:09:24 GMT

I had tried that method when I was having the issue, but did not have any luck. I'm glad you did!

Re: Survey123 Connect Won't Open in Windows 11 Using Start Menu

JohnNergeBrooklynPark — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 18:50:21 GMT

I just ran into the same issue with a new PC (Windows 10). The Run as administrator trick worked for me, but yeah it'd be nice to know if there's a registry or other setting that can be updated so that's not necessary.

Re: Survey123 Connect Won't Open in Windows 11 Using Start Menu

JasminePrater — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 19:41:51 GMT

I tried to run it as admin to no avail. Fortunately, I never had issues on Windows 10. I downloaded the app from Esri instead of through the Microsoft store and that version worked for me. Thanks for the info about Windows 10, in case someone else has that issue.

Re: Survey123 Connect Won't Open in Windows 11 Using Start Menu

DavidMedara — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 02:58:56 GMT

I am having this issue too, but "run as an administrator" will not work and to further complicate the issue I cannot uninstall the program as windows is now telling me that Survey 123 connect is a system file. It does not even show up in the uninstall/repair program dialog. I can't start when I navigate directly to the file not can I delete the .exe file. I get a message saying I need permission from "system". Waiting to hear back from Microsoft on this one.

Re: Survey123 Connect Won't Open in Windows 11 Using Start Menu

JasminePrater — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 17:12:21 GMT

Are you using the application you downloaded from Esri or the one from the Microsoft Store? I found the one from the Microsoft Store did not work for me, but the one I downloaded from Esri does work.

Re: Survey123 Connect Won't Open in Windows 11 Using Start Menu

DavidMedara — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 21:15:57 GMT

I am using the one from microsoft store. Unfortunately, what ever corruption to the Survey123 Connect files took place, Windows 11 now sees the Survey 123 connect program as a system file and I cannot delete or uninstall it. What a mess, waiting to hear back from Microsoft on this issue...

Re: Survey123 Connect Won't Open in Windows 11 Using Start Menu

JasminePrater — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 21:42:54 GMT

You could pose this question on the Survey123 Community page and you might get assistance sooner than from Microsoft.

Re: Survey123 Connect Won't Open in Windows 11 Using Start Menu

trashbaby — Tue, 07 May 2024 02:43:22 GMT

I'm also having this issue and it is very frustrating to say the least. please update us if you hear back from Microsoft!

After a few weeks of not using Connect, I tried to open it up to make a small change to a survey and was very confused as to why it was all of a sudden not working. Glad to know I'm not the only one.

Re: Survey123 Connect Won't Open in Windows 11 Using Start Menu

trashbaby — Tue, 07 May 2024 02:45:08 GMT

does this delete all of your files? I worry that if I uninstall the microsoft version to use the Esri store version in its place that I will lose all of my survey files.

Re: Survey123 Connect Won't Open in Windows 11 Using Start Menu

JasminePrater — Tue, 07 May 2024 13:34:05 GMT

No, the files are stored in a folder in the default location C:\Users\[username]\ArcGIS\My Survey Designs. It did not overwrite or delete mine. If you want to be extra careful, you could make a backup of the form on your desktop in case you have issues. I did that, but did not need it.

Re: Survey123 Connect Won't Open in Windows 11 Using Start Menu

Ade_Bruijn — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 08:54:47 GMT

Same problem here. With Survey123 and Connect nothing happens via the start menu. I use Survey almost daily and Connect about once a month. Since last Wednesday they won't start. When I try to start them as administrator I get the message can't reach or insufficient rights. I installed Win11Pro last August.

Re: Survey123 Connect Won't Open in Windows 11 Using Start Menu

JasminePrater — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 16:05:40 GMT

Did you download Survey123 Connect from the Microsoft Store or directly from Esri? I originally downloaded it from the Microsoft Store and could not get it to work. Once I downloaded a version from the Esri website, I had no further issues. If you did download it directly from Esri, perhaps you could repair it or uninstall/reinstall. While my surveys folder did not get removed when I reinstalled, I would create a backup of the folder on your desktop or other location that is outside of the parent folder.

Re: Survey123 Connect Won't Open in Windows 11 Using Start Menu

Marc_Patti — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 17:26:48 GMT

Just struggled with this myself. I managed to get my start menu connection back using the following workflow:

1.) Open Survey123 Connect (I couldn't find the .exe on my comp, so I opened a survey form page in AGOL and clicked on the "Edit in Survey123 Connect" option;

2.) Open task manager, click on the "details" tab, and scroll down to the Survey123 Connect .exe file;

3.) Right-click on the .exe file and select the "Open file location" option;

4.) Right-click on the highlighted .exe file and select "Show More Options";

5.) Select the "Pin to Start" option.

This should allow you to open Survey123 Connect from a start menu shortcut as normal.

Re: Survey123 Connect Won't Open in Windows 11 Using Start Menu

MattWilkie3 — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 16:22:44 GMT

for one of our users the workaround was to go to Start>> Add or Remove Programs>> select Survey123 Connect >> Advanced options >> [Reset].

None of the other workarounds posted worked, including re-installing.

Re: Survey123 Connect Won't Open in Windows 11 Using Start Menu

Paco_VanSistine — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 14:22:58 GMT

This worked for me. my shortcut/exe connection went missing this morning, went thru the AGOL page to 'Edit in Survey123 Connect' to get the program open, then followed the shortcut steps.

thankyou

Re: Survey123 Connect Won't Open in Windows 11 Using Start Menu

HollyTorpey_LSA — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 23:55:27 GMT

This worked for me too, after Connect (seemingly) spontaneously stopped opening for me after regular recent use. Downloading and installing from the Microsoft store didn't solve the problem, but downloading from that Windows x64 link at the bottom of this page did: ArcGIS Survey123 Downloads.

Re: Survey123 Connect Won't Open in Windows 11 Using Start Menu

Woosh_AP — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 06:28:46 GMT

The only solution that worked for me was removing the version I'd downloaded from the Microsoft Store and downloading the version from Esri.