How to Fix Microsoft Store Not Opening on Windows
The Microsoft Store app refuses to open. You click the icon and nothing happens, or it opens briefly and closes immediately, or it shows a blank screen that never loads content. The Store app is essential for installing and updating apps from Microsoft, and when it stops working you cannot download new applications or receive updates for existing ones. Store problems are typically caused by a corrupted cache, account issues, or damaged app components rather than a system-wide Windows problem.
Run the Windows Store troubleshooter
- Windows includes a built-in troubleshooter specifically for Store problems. Open Settings, System, Troubleshoot, Other Troubleshooters, and find Windows Store Apps. Click Run. The troubleshooter checks the Store service, resets components, and fixes common configuration problems automatically
- The troubleshooter may ask you to sign in with your Microsoft account or reset certain settings. Follow the prompts and let it complete all steps. After it finishes, try opening the Store again
- If the troubleshooter reports it found and fixed problems but the Store still does not open, the underlying issue may require manual intervention. Proceed with the steps below
Clear the Store cache
- The Microsoft Store maintains a local cache of data that can become corrupted. The quickest fix is to reset this cache. Press Windows plus R to open the Run dialog, type wsreset.exe, and press Enter. A blank Command Prompt window appears briefly while the cache clears, then the Store should open automatically
- If wsreset does not work, clear the cache manually. Open File Explorer, navigate to C colon Users your-username AppData Local Packages Microsoft.WindowsStore_8wekyb3d8bbwe LocalCache. Delete everything inside the LocalCache folder. You may need to close any Store-related processes in Task Manager first
- After clearing the cache, restart the computer before testing. The Store rebuilds its cache on the next launch, which may take longer than usual for the first open
Repair or reset the Store app
- Windows allows you to repair or reset built-in apps. Open Settings, Apps, Installed Apps, find Microsoft Store (you may need to search for it), click the three dots, and select Advanced Options. First try Repair — this fixes the app without deleting data
- If Repair does not work, click Reset. This deletes the Store app data and restores it to its default state. You will need to sign in again with your Microsoft account after resetting. Your purchased apps and subscriptions are tied to your account and will still be available
- After resetting, wait a minute before trying to open the Store. The reset process needs time to complete in the background. If you try to open it immediately, it may appear to still be broken
Check the date, time, and region settings
- The Microsoft Store validates your system clock against its servers. If your date, time, or time zone is incorrect, the Store may refuse to connect or open. Open Settings, Time and Language, Date and Time. Enable Set Time Automatically and Set Time Zone Automatically
- Also check your region settings. Open Settings, Time and Language, Language and Region. Ensure your Country or Region is set correctly. The Store displays different content based on region, and an incorrect setting can cause connection failures
- After correcting date, time, or region settings, restart the computer. The Store may need a fresh connection with the correct credentials to function properly
Re-register the Store app with PowerShell
- If the Store app files are corrupted, re-registering reinstalls the app package without affecting other applications. Open PowerShell as Administrator (right-click the Start button, select Terminal as Administrator or Windows PowerShell as Administrator)
- Run the following command: Get-AppXPackage Microsoft.WindowsStore | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"} and press Enter. This re-registers the Store package using the existing files on disk
- If re-registering fails with an error, the Store package files themselves may be damaged. In that case, run: Get-AppxPackage -allusers Microsoft.WindowsStore | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"} which registers for all user accounts and can fix per-user corruption
Check and restart Windows services
- The Store depends on several Windows services. Press Windows plus R, type services.msc, and press Enter. Find the following services and ensure each is running with the correct startup type: Windows Update (Manual or Automatic), Background Intelligent Transfer Service (Automatic Delayed Start), Microsoft Store Install Service (Manual)
- If any service is stopped, right-click it and select Start. If a service fails to start, check its dependencies. Right-click the service, select Properties, and go to the Dependencies tab to see what other services it requires
- Also check the Windows Update service specifically. The Store uses the same update infrastructure, and if Windows Update is broken, the Store cannot download or install apps. Open Settings, Windows Update, and check for updates. If updates fail, fix the update system first
Sign out and sign back in
- Account authentication problems can prevent the Store from loading content. Open the Store (if it opens to a blank screen), click your profile icon in the top right, and select Sign Out. Close the Store, reopen it, and sign back in with your Microsoft account
- If you cannot access the profile icon because the Store is completely blank, try signing out through Settings. Open Settings, Accounts, Email and Accounts. Remove your Microsoft account, restart the computer, then add the account back
- Ensure your Microsoft account password has not been changed on another device. If you changed your password recently, Windows may be using the old credentials. Signing out and back in forces it to use the current password
Check your internet and proxy settings
- The Store requires an internet connection to load content and install apps. Verify your connection by opening a web browser and loading a website. If the browser works but the Store does not, the Store may be blocked by a proxy or firewall
- Check proxy settings: open Settings, Network and Internet, Proxy. If you do not use a proxy server, ensure Use a Proxy Server is turned off. Some software installs proxy settings that interfere with the Store
- If you are on a corporate or school network, the network administrator may have blocked access to the Microsoft Store. Try connecting to a different network (such as a phone hotspot) to test whether the Store works outside the restricted network
Reinstall the Store using PowerShell
- If nothing else works, completely remove and reinstall the Store. Open PowerShell as Administrator and run: Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.WindowsStore | Remove-AppxPackage and press Enter. This removes the Store app
- Then reinstall it by running: Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers Microsoft.WindowsStore* | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"} and press Enter. If this command fails because the package was fully removed, run: wsreset -i which triggers a Store reinstallation through the Windows Update infrastructure
- After reinstalling, restart the computer. The fresh installation includes a clean cache and default settings. Sign in with your Microsoft account to restore your app library
Need help with the Microsoft Store?
If the Microsoft Store is not opening and the troubleshooting steps above have not resolved the issue, LuxuriousComputers Repair can diagnose Store app problems, repair corrupted Windows components, reset app packages, and restore Store functionality on your computer.