Who is this article for?

  Users trying to install the application via ClickOnce.

This error occurs when a user attempts to launch a ClickOnce application link using Google Chrome. Chrome does not support ClickOnce links. The solution is to open the link using Microsoft Edge, which has built-in ClickOnce support.

This is the most common cause of ClickOnce-related install problems.

Issue

When you click a ClickOnce application link in Google Chrome, the following error message is displayed:

"Application cannot be started. Contact the application vendor."

If you click on 'Details' in the dialog box, Notepad will launch and you will see an error message like this:
 

PLATFORM VERSION INFO
	[...]
SOURCES
	Deployment url			: file:///C:/Users/[...]/Downloads/Vision.application

IDENTITIES
	Deployment Identity		: Pentana - PRD, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=2787f65b5ebefde1, processorArchitecture=x86

APPLICATION SUMMARY
	[...]
ERROR SUMMARY
	Below is a summary of the errors, details of these errors are listed later in the log.
	* Activation of C:\Users\[...]\Downloads\Vision.application resulted in exception. Following failure messages were detected:
+ Deployment and application do not have matching security zones.

ClickOnce is a Microsoft deployment technology that allows users to install and run Windows-based applications directly from a web link. Google Chrome does not support ClickOnce natively, which causes this error when the link is opened in Chrome. Microsoft Edge, however, includes built-in support for ClickOnce and is the required browser for launching these links.

Solution

To resolve this error, open the ClickOnce link using Microsoft Edge:

1. Close Google Chrome, or leave the current tab open.
2. Open Microsoft Edge.
3. Copy the ClickOnce link and paste it into the Edge address bar, then press Enter.
4. Follow any prompts to allow the application to launch.