How to Fix Windows 10 Microsoft Store Not Working- Best in 2023

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Windows 10 Microsoft Store Not Working

 How to Fix Windows 10 Microsoft Store Not Working

The Microsoft Store on Windows 10 allows you to download apps, games, music, movies and TV shows. It comes pre-installed with Windows 10 and is an important part of the operating system. However, sometimes the Microsoft Store may stop working properly. You may encounter errors like “Microsoft Store not working”, “Microsoft Store won’t open” or “Microsoft Store has stopped working”. Don’t worry, there are several things you can try to get the Microsoft Store working again on your Windows 10 computer.

Troubleshoot Microsoft Store Not Working

Here are some common troubleshooting steps to try when the Microsoft Store is not working correctly on your Windows 10 PC:

Restart Your Computer

The simplest initial troubleshooting step is to restart your computer. Sometimes restarting can clear up temporary glitches that are preventing the Store from working properly.

To restart:

  • Click on the Start button
  • Click on the Power button
  • Click on Restart

After your computer restarts, try opening the Microsoft Store again to see if the issue is resolved.

Check for Windows Updates

An outdated version of Windows can cause problems with the Microsoft Store. Check for any pending Windows updates and install them.

To check for updates:

  • Open Settings
  • Click on Update & Security
  • Click on Check for Updates
  • Install any available updates

Restart your PC after installing the updates and test if the Microsoft Store works.

Run Windows Store Troubleshooter

Windows 10 has a built-in troubleshooter that can automatically detect and fix problems with the Microsoft Store.

To run the troubleshooter:

  1. Open Settings
  2. Click on Update & Security
  3. Click on Troubleshoot
  4. Under Get up and running, click on Windows Store apps
  5. Click Run the troubleshooter and follow the on-screen directions

This will check for any issues with the Store and attempt to correct them automatically. Afterwards, try opening the Store to see if the issue persists.

 Reset the Microsoft Store

Resetting the Microsoft Store will revert back to its default settings and clear any corrupted files or data that could be causing problems.

To reset the Store:

  1. Open Settings
  2. Click on Apps
  3. Click on Apps & features
  4. Locate the Microsoft Store from the list and click on it
  5. Click Advanced options
  6. Click on Reset
  7. Click Reset again to confirm

The Store will reset and reopen automatically. Try accessing it now to see if the issue has been resolved.

 Reset Windows Update Components

Problems with Windows Update components can also prevent the Microsoft Store from working properly. Resetting the Windows Update component can help resolve this.

To reset Windows Update components:

 Open Command Prompt as Administrator

Type the following commands one by one and press Enter after each one:

Windows 10 Microsoft Store Not Working

This will stop the Windows Update service. Now type the following commands:

Windows 10 Microsoft Store Not Working

This will rename the Windows Update folders. Next type:

Windows 10 Microsoft Store Not Working

This restarts the Windows Update services. Restart your PC and check if the Microsoft Store works now.

 Clear Store Cache

Clearing the cache and data stored by the Microsoft Store can also help resolve issues with it.

To clear the Store cache:

  • Open the Run dialog by pressing Windows + R
  • Type `wsreset.exe` and click OK
  • Wait for the Store cache to clear
  • Try opening the Microsoft Store again

This resets the Store and clears any corrupted information that could be causing problems.

 Create a New User Account

Sometimes issues with the Microsoft Store may be limited to your user account. Creating a new user profile and testing if the Store works properly in it can help determine if this is the cause.

To create a new user:

  • Open Settings
  • Click on Accounts
  • Click on Family & Other Users
  • Click on Add someone else to this PC
  • Click I don’t have this person’s sign-in information > Add a user without a Microsoft account
  • Create a local account with a username and password
  • Switch to the new account and test if the Store works.

If the Microsoft Store functions properly in the new account, the problem lies within your main user profile. In that case, you can transfer your files and settings to the new account.

 

Also Read: Dism Online Cleanup Image Restorehealth

 

 Uninstall Recent Updates

If you start facing issues with the Microsoft Store after installing a particular Windows update, try uninstalling that update.

To uninstall updates:

  • Open Settings
  • Click on Update & Security
  • Click on View Update History
  • Click on Uninstall Updates
  • Select the suspected problematic update
  • Click Uninstall
  • Restart your PC and test the Store.

If the issue disappears after uninstalling an update, you can block it to prevent it from installing again.

Run SFC and DISM

System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tools can help fix corrupted system files that may be affecting the Microsoft Store.

To run SFC:

  • Open Command Prompt as Admin
  • Type- sfc /scannow and press Enter
  • Let the scan complete

To run DISM:

 Type- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter

Let the operation complete

Restart your computer once finished and check if the Microsoft Store works properly now.

Reset Your PC

If none of the above solutions work, you can try resetting your Windows 10 PC to factory settings as a last resort. This will reinstall Windows and erase all your personal files and installed apps.

To reset your PC:

  • Open Settings
  • Click on Update & Security
  • Click on Recovery
  • Under Reset this PC, click Get Started
  • Choose either Keep my files or Remove everything
  • Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reset process

Once your PC reboots, the Microsoft Store should be repaired. Make sure to reinstall any needed apps and restore your files from backup.

Fix Specific Microsoft Store Errors

Here are some common Microsoft Store error messages and how to fix them:

Microsoft Store Missing in Start Menu

If the Microsoft Store icon is missing from the Start Menu, try these fixes:

  • Right click on the Start button and click on Run
  • Type- exe and press Enter to reset the Store
  • Open Settings > Apps > Apps & features and check if the Microsoft Store is listed. If not, click Add a feature and install it
  • Use Powershell as Admin to run Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers| Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”} to re-register the Store

 Error 0x80073D06

This error indicates an issue connecting to the Microsoft servers. Try the following:

  1. Check your internet connection and firewall settings
  2. Restart your router and PC
  3. Flush the DNS cache by typing `ipconfig /flushdns` in Command Prompt
  4. Reset the Microsoft Store using the steps outlined above

 Error 0x8007000E / 0x80072EFD

This occurs when Windows is unable to properly install apps from the Microsoft Store. Fixes include:

  1. Open Command Prompt as Admin and run- sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  2. Reset the Microsoft Store app
  3. Make sure you have enough free disk space on your system drive
  4. Check for corrupt system files using the System File Checker tool

 Error 0x80073CF9

This error usually appears when trying to download apps from the Microsoft Store. Solutions are:

  1. Check your internet connection and restart your router
  2. Make sure date and time settings are correct on your PC
  3. Reset the Microsoft Store app
  4. Clear the download cache held by the Microsoft Store under C:\Program Files\WindowsApps
  5. Uninstall problematic app downloads and try again

Error 0x803F7000 or 0x803F8001

This occurs when trying to open the Microsoft Store and indicates an authentication failure. Fixes include:

  1. Resetting the Microsoft Store app
  2. Signing out and back into the Store using your Microsoft account
  3. Using the Troubleshooter to reset the Microsoft Account authentication
  4. Creating a new user profile as a test

 Microsoft Store White Screen

If the Microsoft Store opens but shows only a white screen, try these troubleshooting steps:

  1. Reset the Store app
  2. Restart your PC
  3. Check for any pending Windows updates and install them
  4. Open Task Manager and check for any unusual CPU or memory usage
  5. Use DISM and SFC scans to fix system file errors
  6. Reset your PC if nothing else works

 Microsoft Store Black Screen

A black screen when launching the Store could indicate graphics driver issues. Fixes are:

  1. Update your graphics drivers
  2. Toggle GPU acceleration for the Microsoft Store App under Settings > System > Display > Graphics settings
  3. Disable your anti-virus temporarily to check for conflicts
  4. Perform a clean boot to see if other apps are interfering
  5. Try updating DirectX using the DirectX Diagnostic Tool

 Microsoft Store Stuck Downloading or Installing

If the Microsoft Store gets stuck trying to download or install an app, here are some things to try:

  1. Pause the download and restart it
  2. Reset the Microsoft Store to clear any stuck updates
  3. Check your internet connection and restart your router
  4. Restart your PC
  5. Clear the Store cache located at C:\Program Files\WindowsApps
  6. Uninstall the stuck app and try downloading it again

 Conclusion

The Microsoft Store is an integral app on Windows 10 for managing and downloading applications. If you encounter cases where the Microsoft Store stops functioning, utilize the troubleshooting steps outlined in this guide to get it working again. Start with simpler solutions like restarting your PC or running the Store troubleshooter. For persistent issues, resetting the Microsoft Store cache, creating a new user account or resetting Windows may be required. This will resolve the majority of common Microsoft Store errors and get it back up and running smoothly.

 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  1. Why does the Microsoft Store stop working on my Windows 10?

There are a few common reasons for the Microsoft Store becoming unresponsive on Windows 10. These include corrupted system files, problems with Windows updates, outdated OS versions, account authentication issues, conflicts with other apps, insufficient storage space, and damaged Store files or data.

  1. How do I force close the Microsoft Store if it freezes?

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and go to the Details tab. Locate the Store or Windows Apps process, right-click on it and select End task. This will force close the frozen Microsoft Store app. Restart your computer and attempt to launch the Store app again.

  1. I get error code 0x80073D06. How do I fix this?

Error 0x80073D06 indicates an issue connecting to Microsoft servers. Check your internet connection, restart your router, flush the DNS cache using the ipconfig command, and reset the Microsoft Store app to resolve it. Also make sure your firewall or antivirus is not blocking access.

  1. The Microsoft Store is completely missing from my Start Menu. What should I do?

If the Microsoft Store shortcut is missing from the Start Menu, use the wsreset command to reset the Store, re-register it using Powershell commands, and check that it is listed under Apps & Features in Settings. Reinstall it if needed. This should reinstate the shortcut.

  1. I can’t install apps from the Microsoft Store. How can I troubleshoot this?

For installation errors, try resetting the Store app, running SFC and DISM scans to fix system files, checking for corrupt cached downloads, ensuring you have enough free disk space, and uninstalling then reinstalling the problem app.

  1. How do I reset the Microsoft Store cache and data?

To reset the Store cache, open the Run command and type wsreset.exe. You can also clear cached downloads by deleting the contents of C:\Program Files\WindowsApps folder. This will reset the Store to default settings.

  1. What should I do when I get a Microsoft Store error code?

Make note of the specific error code like 0x80073CF9 or 0x803F8001. Search for the code online to find specific troubleshooting tips related to that Store error. Follow the recommended steps which are typically similar to the solutions provided in this guide.

  1. Is it safe to reset my PC to fix Microsoft Store problems?

Resetting your Windows 10 PC can fix Store issues but will erase all your installed apps and personal data. Be sure to backup important files first. Reset as a last resort after trying all other troubleshooting methods to avoid data loss.

  1. Can I get help from Microsoft if I can’t get the Store working again?

If you still can’t get the Microsoft Store working after extensive troubleshooting, you can contact Microsoft Support for further assistance. Be ready with details of the issue, error codes encountered, and troubleshooting steps attempted.

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