AddaxAI 7.8.0 – Windows Smart App Control blocking Python components

Bugs
1

I’m running AddaxAI 7.8.0 on Windows 11. Addax worked successfully yesterday with MDv5a, but today video detection fails with ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'utils' / Could not import YOLOv5 functions.

Windows simultaneously reports “Smart App Control has blocked part of this app.” In Event Viewer → CodeIntegrity → Operational, Event ID 3077 shows Smart App Control blocking at least these two files in Addax’s environment:

...\AddaxAI\envs\env-addaxai-base\Lib\site-packages\matplotlib\ft2font.cp311-win_amd64.pyd

...\AddaxAI\envs\env-addaxai-base\Lib\site-packages\kiwisolver\_cext.cp311-win_amd64.pyd

The policy is VerifiedAndReputableDesktop, and Addax’s python.exe is the process attempting to load them.

Is this a known issue with AddaxAI 7.8.0’s analysis environment, and is there a recommended way to rebuild/update that environment so its compiled Python components work with Windows Smart App Control?

I have the diagnostic report. Being rather new to Addax, I’m unclear on how to get help, since Peter’s email comes back saying he’s out of the office, but suggests posting here or emailing Tim, which I will also do if I don’t see replies here. Thanks for any guidance. :slight_smile: Matt

2

Hi @umpquamatt, we solved this one by email in the meantime, but I post the answer here also for others who run into it.

This is Windows Smart App Control, not a bug in AddaxAI. The analysis environment is standard open source Python that is downloaded during setup, and most of those files are not signed. Smart App Control blocks unsigned files and has no way to make an exception for one app. So rebuilding the environment does not help, it just downloads the same files again.

The fix is to turn Smart App Control off, under Windows Security > App & browser control. Your computer is not unprotected after that, Defender and SmartScreen stay active. And since the April 2026 Windows update you can turn it back on later, so it is not a one way switch anymore. The full explanation is now in the docs: Install on locked-down computers and networks | AddaxAI

The next release will also name Smart App Control in the error message when it is turned on. Thanks for the detailed report!

Cheers,

Peter

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