If you have got Crowdstrike security software and just made the leap to Windows 11 24H2, brace yourself for some unplanned productivity breaks.

Microsoft has flagged an issue that is leaving Office apps like Word and Excel at a standstill on managed devices. The culprit? Probably Crowdstrike's Falcon sensor with the "Enhanced Exploitation Visibility" policy turned on.

In a mid-October announcement, Microsoft disclosed that the recent update can make Office apps stop responding when certain antimalware features are active.

Several apps may no longer work after the update

"After installing Windows 11, version 24H2, first and third-party apps might stop responding when antimalware security solutions enable certain features. Office applications such as Word and Excel might be affected.", Microsoft notes.

The issue primarily affects enterprise environments, and home or Pro users with unmanaged devices are in the clear. Affected organizations have reported the problem both after in-place upgrades and clean installations, sparking Microsoft to investigate if similar disruptions could appear on previous Windows versions or with other security software.

Crowdstrike quickly responded by temporarily disabling the "Enhanced Exploitation Visibility" policy on systems running Windows 11 24H2, but this is not the company’s first rodeo. Back in July, a Crowdstrike update caused widespread disruptions, affecting millions of devices worldwide.

Microsoft and Crowdstrike are now working together on a more robust solution, though no timeline has been given. Until then, Windows 11 24H2 users may need to hold tight - or plan for a few more coffee breaks.