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Some time ago, I started using FIDO2 keys (Yubikey 5 NFC, to be precise) as a form of second-factor authentication on a few sites that support it.

However, after some change in my system, most likely one of the Windows 11 updates in Autumn 2023, the nice GUI window was replaced by a console window of CredentialUIBroker.exe (screenshot later).

Repro steps:

  1. Go to a site where I have a FIDO2 key registered as a 2FA method. Example: https://dash.cloudflare.com/
  2. Sign in with proper username and password (the 1st factor)

Expected

A security prompt asking to "touch my security key" as a 2nd factor authentication:

Expected experience for a FIDO2 2FA key

Actual

Instead, my Windows 11 now shows this:

My current experience

Is anyone familiar with this area and has some idea how to restore the GUI version of the Windows Security prompt?

I find it confusing and not very usable in some scenarios.

Tim Taurit
  • 421

1 Answers1

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At some later point, the option to re-install Windows in-place (as suggested by @Ramhound in comments) became available in the Settings panel and it fixed the problem:

Option to upgrade Windows 11 in-place

I was pleasantly surprised that this way of re-installing Windows:

  • fixed the issue with 2FA windows - back to normal
  • also fixed my Windows Store issues where apps update or installation was always failing
  • my programs, documents, and even customizations like registry tweaks were preserved, so the system didn't require setup like after full reinstall
Tim Taurit
  • 421