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Is Your HCL Notes Broken After Windows 11 24H2 Update KB5055523? Powerful Fixes for This Annoying Problem!
A recent Windows 11 24H2 cumulative update (KB5055523, released April 8, 2025) has caused a significant issue for users of HCL Notes (formerly Lotus Notes/IBM Notes). After installing this update, many have reported that HCL Notes simply refuses to start, disrupting daily business operations and collaboration.
What’s Happening?
After installing KB5055523, HCL Notes versions 11.0.x, 12.0.x, and 14.x fail to launch on Windows 11 24H2.
Users typically encounter the error:
“Cannot complete the operation, Notes is running but not responding. Please close and restart Notes.”
This issue has been widely reported and confirmed by both users and HCL Software support.
Why Is This a Problem?
HCL Notes is a crucial tool for:
- Email communication
- Calendar and appointment management
- Task and project tracking
- Creating and managing business databases
- Developing custom business applications
- Facilitating team collaboration and shared document management
When HCL Notes won’t start, productivity and business workflows are severely disrupted.
Who Is Affected?
Any organization or individual running HCL Notes 11.0.x, 12.0.x, or 14.x on Windows 11 24H2 with the KB5055523 update installed.
Workarounds and Solutions
To restore access to HCL Notes, try these steps:
Run HCL Notes in Compatibility Mode:
- Right-click the HCL Notes shortcut or executable (.exe).
- Select Properties.
- Go to the Compatibility tab.
- Check Run this program in compatibility mode for: and choose an earlier Windows version.
- Optionally, enable:
-
- Run this program as administrator
- Disable display scaling on high DPI settings
-
If Compatibility Mode Fails:
Uninstall the KB5055523 update:
- Open Settings > Windows Update > Update history.
- Find and uninstall KB5055523.
What Is HCL Notes?
Originally known as Lotus Notes (then IBM Notes), HCL Notes is a robust, document-oriented, distributed database and collaboration platform.
It is widely used for:
- Email and calendar management
- Task and project organization
- Custom database and application development
- Team collaboration and document sharing
HCL Notes is a direct competitor to Microsoft Outlook and similar enterprise collaboration tools.
The KB5055523 update for Windows 11 24H2 has unfortunately broken HCL Notes for many users, causing frustration and productivity loss. However, running the application in compatibility mode or uninstalling the problematic update can help restore functionality. Stay tuned for an official fix from HCL Software or Microsoft.