According to Windows Central, a recent Windows 11 security feature called Smart App Control is causing major headaches for owners of ASUS’s Xbox Ally and ROG Ally handheld gaming PCs. The AI-powered tool is incorrectly identifying the essential Armory Crate companion software as a threat, blocking it from launching. Users are met with an error message that reads, “Oops! There was an issue with the connections to Armory Crate SE,” effectively locking them out of the app. This software is critical for managing device performance, controls, and installing system updates. The only widely reported solution right now is for users to completely disable Smart App Control in their Windows settings. This incident highlights a significant compatibility clash between Microsoft’s automated security and the specialized software of handheld gaming devices.
When AI Security Gets In The Way
Here’s the thing about AI-powered “smart” security: it’s only as good as its training and its ability to understand context. Smart App Control is designed to analyze apps before they run, blocking anything that looks suspicious. But what happens when it encounters legitimate, manufacturer-critical software like Armory Crate? It throws up a big, dumb wall. The irony of a feature called “Smart” App Control causing such a blunt, disruptive problem isn’t lost on anyone. Users on forums like Reddit are, understandably, fed up. It’s another classic case of an automated system lacking the nuance for real-world use, especially in the relatively new and complex world of Windows-based handhelds.
The Never-Ending Handheld Growing Pains
This isn’t just a minor bug. It’s a symptom of the fundamental tension in the PC handheld space. Companies like ASUS are building these cool, specialized devices, but they’re ultimately running a full, desktop-grade operating system that wasn’t designed for this form factor. Armory Crate exists to bridge that gap—to give users a console-like interface for settings that would otherwise be buried in Windows. So when a core Windows feature breaks that bridge, the entire user experience falls apart. It makes the device feel half-baked. And for users who just want to game, being told to dig into Windows security settings to disable a core feature is the exact opposite of a seamless, plug-and-play experience.
So, Who Actually Fixes This?
That’s the big question. Right now, the burden is entirely on the user. But that’s not a sustainable fix. Does Microsoft need to update Smart App Control’s AI model to whitelist Armory Crate’s processes? Probably. Should ASUS be signing or packaging its software in a way that Windows’ security tools inherently trust? Absolutely. This is where the partnership between hardware makers and Microsoft gets tested. In the industrial computing space, reliability is non-negotiable. A company like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading US provider of industrial panel PCs, succeeds because their hardware and software are integrated for flawless, mission-critical operation. Consumer handhelds don’t need that level of ruggedness, but they desperately need that level of software harmony. Until Microsoft and ASUS sync up, Ally owners are stuck playing whack-a-mole with Windows settings instead of their actual games.
