How to Fix Microsoft Store Apps Not Installing

Published 2026-10-16 · LuxuriousComputers Repair

The Microsoft Store shows a spinning download indicator that never completes, displays a vague error code, or the Install button does nothing at all. Meanwhile, the app you need will not install, and the Store gives you no useful information about why. Store installation failures come from a handful of causes: a corrupted Store cache, broken Windows services, insufficient permissions, or a date and time mismatch that makes the Store think your security certificates are invalid.

Quick fixes to try first

Restart the computer

A background Windows Update, a locked file, or a stuck Store process can all prevent installations. Restarting clears these temporary states and is the simplest fix that works more often than expected.

Check your internet connection and date/time

The Microsoft Store requires an internet connection to download apps. Load a website in your browser to confirm your connection works. Also check that your system date and time are correct: right-click the clock in the taskbar, select Adjust date/time, and make sure Set time automatically is on. An incorrect date or time causes certificate validation failures that prevent Store downloads without a clear error message.

Sign out and back in

Open the Microsoft Store, click your profile icon in the top right, and click Sign out. Close the Store, reopen it, and sign back in with your Microsoft account. This refreshes your account authentication tokens, which can expire or become corrupted.

Clear the Microsoft Store cache

The Store cache stores temporary download data that can become corrupted, causing downloads to stall or fail silently. Microsoft provides a built-in tool to clear it:

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog
2. Type wsreset.exe and press Enter
3. A blank Command Prompt window opens for a few seconds while the cache clears, then the Microsoft Store opens automatically
4. Try installing the app again

If wsreset does not fix the problem, you can manually clear the cache for a deeper reset:

1. Close the Microsoft Store completely
2. Press Windows + R, type %localappdata%\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsStore_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache and press Enter
3. Delete everything inside the LocalCache folder
4. Reopen the Microsoft Store and try again

Run the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter

1. Go to Settings, System, Troubleshoot, Other troubleshooters
2. Find Windows Store Apps and click Run
3. The troubleshooter checks for common issues including corrupted cache, disabled services, and incorrect permissions. Follow any prompts it provides

The troubleshooter can fix many issues automatically, including re-registering the Store app and resetting its permissions.

Check Windows Update

The Microsoft Store depends on Windows being up to date. An outdated Windows installation can cause Store compatibility issues:

1. Go to Settings, Windows Update, and click Check for updates
2. Install all available updates, including optional updates if listed
3. Restart the computer after updates are installed
4. Try the Store installation again

Some Store apps require a specific Windows version. If an app says it is not compatible, check its listing for minimum requirements — you may need a feature update that has not been installed yet.

Reset or repair the Microsoft Store app

Windows lets you reset the Store app itself, which clears all its data and reinstalls it to a clean state:

1. Go to Settings, Apps, Installed apps (or Apps and features)
2. Search for Microsoft Store
3. Click the three-dot menu next to it (or click on it), then Advanced options
4. First try Repair — this fixes the app without losing data
5. If Repair does not help, click Reset. This clears all Store data and signs you out, but does not uninstall apps you have already installed

Re-register the Microsoft Store with PowerShell

If the Store is deeply broken — it will not open at all, or it opens but every action fails — re-registering it can fix corrupted registration data:

1. Right-click the Start button and select Windows Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin)
2. Run this command: Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers Microsoft.WindowsStore | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
3. Wait for the command to complete (it may take a minute), then try opening the Store and installing apps

If that does not work, you can re-register all built-in Windows apps at once: Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}. This takes longer but fixes issues where the Store depends on other system apps that are also broken.

Common error codes

• 0x80070005: Access denied. Run the Store as a different user, or check that your Windows user account has administrator privileges. This also occurs when Group Policy blocks Store installations (common on work computers)
• 0x80073D0A: Windows Firewall is blocking the Store. Make sure Windows Defender Firewall is enabled (the Store requires it even if you use a third-party firewall). Go to Control Panel, Windows Defender Firewall, and turn it on for both private and public networks
• 0x80073CF9: Not enough disk space, or a system file is missing. Free up space on the C: drive and run sfc /scannow from an admin Command Prompt
• 0x80131500: Network connection issue. Check your internet, clear the DNS cache with ipconfig /flushdns, and try switching to a different DNS server (8.8.8.8)
• 0x803F8001: The app is not licensed for your account. Sign out of the Store, sign back in, and try again. If the error persists, the app may have been removed from the Store or your license expired

Check for proxy, VPN, or Group Policy blocks

• VPN: Disconnect any VPN and try again. Some VPNs interfere with the Store's connection to Microsoft servers
• Proxy: Go to Settings, Network and Internet, Proxy. Make sure no proxy is configured unless you specifically need one. Malware sometimes installs proxy settings that redirect traffic
• Group Policy (work/school computers): IT administrators can disable the Microsoft Store via Group Policy. If you see a message saying the Store is blocked by your organization, contact your IT department. This cannot be overridden without admin access to Group Policy

Create a new Windows user profile

If the Store works for other users on the same computer but not for you, your user profile may be corrupted:

1. Go to Settings, Accounts, Other users, and add a new local account
2. Sign in to the new account and try installing the app from the Store
3. If it works on the new account, you can migrate your data to the new profile. The old profile has corrupted data that is easier to work around than to repair

Microsoft Store help in Marion

If the Microsoft Store will not install apps after trying these steps, LuxuriousComputers Repair in Marion can diagnose whether the issue is a corrupted Store installation, a system file problem, or a policy restriction, and get your Store working again.