Cannot use "\" as Extension Alias for Extensions Installed from Microsoft Store

[Ruizhi-Deng]

Microsoft PowerToys version

0.97.2

Installation method

PowerToys auto-update

Area(s) with issue?

Command Palette

Steps to reproduce

Just set the alias to be "" for an extension, e.g. "Everything for CmdPal", will case the app to crash

✔️ Expected Behavior

No response

❌ Actual Behavior

No response

Upload Bug Report ZIP-file

PowerToysReport_2026-03-16-11-42-38.zip

Additional Information

OS Build 26200.8037

.Net Version:
Microsoft.AspNetCore.App 8.0.12 [C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.AspNetCore.App]
Microsoft.NETCore.App 6.0.16 [C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App]
Microsoft.NETCore.App 6.0.32 [C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App]
Microsoft.NETCore.App 8.0.12 [C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App]
Microsoft.NETCore.App 8.0.15 [C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App]
Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App 6.0.32 [C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App]
Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App 8.0.15 [C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App]

Other Software

No response

[jiripolasek]

This is an error report generated by Windows Command Palette.
If you are seeing this message, it means the application has encountered an unexpected issue.
You can help us fix it by filing a report at https://aka.ms/powerToysReportBug.
============================================================
😢 An unexpected error occurred in the application.

Summary:
  Message:    An item with the same key has already been added. Key: \ 
  Type:       System.ArgumentException
  Source:     <unknown>
  Time:       2026-03-16 11:32:55.2366841
  HRESULT:    0x80070057 (-2147024809)

Stack Trace:
   at System.Collections.Generic.Dictionary`2.TryInsert(TKey, TValue, InsertionBehavior) + 0x28b
   at Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.ViewModels.AliasManager.UpdateAlias(String, CommandAlias) + 0x23f
   at Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.ViewModels.TopLevelViewModel.SetAlias() + 0x80
   at Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.ViewModels.TopLevelViewModel.set_IsDirectAlias(Boolean) + 0x1c
   at ABI.Microsoft.UI.Xaml.DependencyPropertyChangedCallback.Do_Abi_Invoke(IntPtr, IntPtr, IntPtr) + 0x64
--- End of stack trace from previous location ---
   at WinRT.ExceptionHelpers.<ThrowExceptionForHR>g__Throw|38_0(Int32) + 0x39
   at ABI.Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.Primitives.ISelectorMethods.set_SelectedIndex(IObjectReference, Int32) + 0x61
   at Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.Settings.ExtensionPage.ExtensionPage_obj23_Bindings.Update_(TopLevelViewModel, Int32) + 0xe7
   at ABI.Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Markup.IDataTemplateComponent.Do_Abi_ProcessBindings_1(IntPtr, IntPtr, Int32, Int32, Int32*) + 0x89
--- End of stack trace from previous location ---
   at WinRT.ExceptionHelpers.<ThrowExceptionForHR>g__Throw|38_0(Int32) + 0x39
   at ABI.Microsoft.UI.Xaml.IFrameworkElementOverridesMethods.MeasureOverride(IObjectReference, Size) + 0x80
   at ABI.Microsoft.UI.Xaml.IFrameworkElementOverrides.Do_Abi_MeasureOverride_0(IntPtr, Size, Size*) + 0x58
--- End of stack trace from previous location ---
   at WinRT.ExceptionHelpers.<ThrowExceptionForHR>g__Throw|38_0(Int32) + 0x39
   at ABI.Microsoft.UI.Xaml.IFrameworkElementOverridesMethods.MeasureOverride(IObjectReference, Size) + 0x80
   at ABI.Microsoft.UI.Xaml.IFrameworkElementOverrides.Do_Abi_MeasureOverride_0(IntPtr, Size, Size*) + 0x58

------------------ Full Exception Details ------------------
System.ArgumentException: An item with the same key has already been added. Key: \ 
   at System.Collections.Generic.Dictionary`2.TryInsert(TKey, TValue, InsertionBehavior) + 0x28b
   at Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.ViewModels.AliasManager.UpdateAlias(String, CommandAlias) + 0x23f
   at Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.ViewModels.TopLevelViewModel.SetAlias() + 0x80
   at Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.ViewModels.TopLevelViewModel.set_IsDirectAlias(Boolean) + 0x1c
   at ABI.Microsoft.UI.Xaml.DependencyPropertyChangedCallback.Do_Abi_Invoke(IntPtr, IntPtr, IntPtr) + 0x64
--- End of stack trace from previous location ---
   at WinRT.ExceptionHelpers.<ThrowExceptionForHR>g__Throw|38_0(Int32) + 0x39
   at ABI.Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.Primitives.ISelectorMethods.set_SelectedIndex(IObjectReference, Int32) + 0x61
   at Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.Settings.ExtensionPage.ExtensionPage_obj23_Bindings.Update_(TopLevelViewModel, Int32) + 0xe7
   at ABI.Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Markup.IDataTemplateComponent.Do_Abi_ProcessBindings_1(IntPtr, IntPtr, Int32, Int32, Int32*) + 0x89
--- End of stack trace from previous location ---
   at WinRT.ExceptionHelpers.<ThrowExceptionForHR>g__Throw|38_0(Int32) + 0x39
   at ABI.Microsoft.UI.Xaml.IFrameworkElementOverridesMethods.MeasureOverride(IObjectReference, Size) + 0x80
   at ABI.Microsoft.UI.Xaml.IFrameworkElementOverrides.Do_Abi_MeasureOverride_0(IntPtr, Size, Size*) + 0x58
--- End of stack trace from previous location ---
   at WinRT.ExceptionHelpers.<ThrowExceptionForHR>g__Throw|38_0(Int32) + 0x39
   at ABI.Microsoft.UI.Xaml.IFrameworkElementOverridesMethods.MeasureOverride(IObjectReference, Size) + 0x80
   at ABI.Microsoft.UI.Xaml.IFrameworkElementOverrides.Do_Abi_MeasureOverride_0(IntPtr, Size, Size*) + 0x58

ℹ️ If you need further assistance, please include this information in your support request.
ℹ️ Before sending, take a quick look to make sure it doesn't contain any personal or sensitive information.
============================================================

[Ruizhi-Deng]

The thing is that I have assigned "" for File Search but I have turned it off before assigning "" to ECP, and CmdPal crashes.
This shouldn't be the correct way...

[jiripolasek]

I think this is already fixed... but I can't find that fix 😅 so, please, bear with me 🐻

Edit: found it, the PR was closed without merging changes :(

[niels9001]

I think this is already fixed... but I can't find that fix 😅 so, please, bear with me 🐻

Edit: found it, the PR was closed without merging changes :(

@jiripolasek can you point me to that PR? wonder why it was closed?

[jiripolasek]

I think this is already fixed... but I can't find that fix 😅 so, please, bear with me 🐻
Edit: found it, the PR was closed without merging changes :(

@jiripolasek can you point me to that PR? wonder why it was closed?

#45744; toaster-based