Is your Windows Store not working? The quickest fixes are to restart your PC, check the date and time, and reset the Store cache by running wsreset. If it still fails, run the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter, reset the Store app in Settings, and make sure Windows is updated. This guide covers 10 proven fixes for Windows 10 and 11, in order from easiest to most thorough.
It is frustrating when the Windows Store is not working and you cannot install or update your apps.
The store may fail to open, get stuck loading, or show an error code, but most causes are simple to fix.
This guide works through the fixes in order, starting with the quick ones that solve most cases.
Why Is the Windows Store Not Working?
The store relies on several settings and services, and a problem with any of them can stop it.
A wrong date or time, a network issue, or a corrupted cache are the most common causes. It is also common for the store to stop working right after a Windows update, since updates can reset settings, clear caches, or briefly disable services the store needs.
A pending Windows update or a signed-out account can also break it. The fixes below cover each of these, so you do not need to know the exact cause to solve it.
None of the fixes in this guide put your installed apps at risk. wsreset, the troubleshooter, and even a full Store reset only touch the store app itself — your games, tools, and their data stay exactly where they are.
Fix 1: Restart Your PC
Always start with a restart, which clears temporary glitches affecting the store.
Save your work and restart the computer fully rather than sleeping it.
After it boots, open the Microsoft Store and see if it works.
This simple step fixes a surprising number of store problems.
Fix 2: Check the Date, Time, and Region
A wrong date or time is a common and easily missed cause of the Windows Store not working.
- Open Settings, then Time and language
- Turn on Set time automatically
- Confirm your time zone and region are correct
- Reopen the store
The store checks secure connections, and a wrong clock breaks them, so this fix is worth trying early.
Fix 3: Check Your Internet Connection
The store needs a working internet connection to load and download apps.
Open a website in your browser to confirm you are online.
If the connection is down, fix that first, then try the store again.
A weak or dropping connection can also cause the store to hang, so a stable network helps.
Fix 4: Sign Out and Back Into Your Microsoft Account
A signed-out or glitchy account can stop the store working.
- Open the Microsoft Store
- Click your profile picture at the top
- Sign out, then sign back in with your Microsoft account
- Try the store again
Refreshing your sign-in often clears account-related errors.
Fix 5: Reset the Store Cache With wsreset
A corrupted cache is one of the most common reasons the Windows Store is not working, and clearing it is quick.
- Press
Windows + Rto open the Run box - Type wsreset.exe and press Enter
- Wait as a blank window opens and then closes
- The Microsoft Store opens automatically when it finishes
This clears the store cache without removing any of your installed apps.
It is one of the most effective single fixes for store problems.
How wsreset Works and Why the Cache Corrupts
The wsreset command clears the Microsoft Store cache, where temporary and often corrupted data builds up over time — interrupted downloads, sudden shutdowns, and failed updates can all damage it.
Because it only touches the cache, wsreset is completely safe and keeps your apps and settings in place. After it runs, the store reopens fresh, which fixes a large share of problems on its own. Running it every so often keeps the cache clean and the store healthy.
Fix 6: Run the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter
Windows has a built-in troubleshooter just for store apps.
- Open Settings, then System, then Troubleshoot
- Choose Other troubleshooters
- Find Windows Store Apps and run it
- Follow the prompts and apply any fixes
It checks common settings and services automatically, fixing many issues without manual steps.
Store trouble is one of many everyday PC issues — here is how to fix the rest.
Fix 7: Reset the Microsoft Store App
If the store is still broken, resetting the app gives it a clean start.
- Open Settings, then Apps, then Installed apps
- Find Microsoft Store and open its Advanced options
- Click Repair first, then try the store
- If it still fails, click Reset
Repair keeps your data, while Reset clears the app’s data to fix deeper problems.
Repair vs Reset: Which Should You Use?
Repair fixes the app without touching its data, so always try it first. Reset clears the app’s data and settings, which fixes deeper issues but signs you out of the store.
Neither option removes your installed apps or their data, so both are safe to use — Repair is just the gentler first step.
Fix 8: Update Windows
A pending or missing update often fixes a store that will not work.
- Open Settings, then Windows Update
- Click Check for updates
- Install anything waiting
- Restart to finish
Keeping Windows current also prevents many store problems from returning.
Making Sure Windows Update Is Healthy
The store shares components with Windows Update, so a healthy update system helps the store too. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter if updates are also failing, and confirm the Windows Update service is running in the services list.
Fixing update problems often fixes the store at the same time.
Hitting a specific error code when Windows itself will not update? Here is how to fix it.
Fix 9: Re-Register the Microsoft Store
If nothing else works, re-registering the store reinstalls it cleanly using PowerShell.
Open PowerShell as an administrator from the Start menu.
Run the Get-AppxPackage command that re-registers the Microsoft Store for your account.
Restart your PC afterwards, and the store should be restored.
Fix 10: Check the Required Services
The store depends on a few background services being active.
- Press
Windows + R, typeservices.msc, and press Enter - Make sure Microsoft Store Install Service is running
- Check that Windows Update service is running too
- Start any that are stopped, then restart
If these services are off, the store cannot install or update apps.
Learn to check running services and processes with this essential tool.
- Skipping the simple date, time, and internet checks before jumping to deeper steps.
- Choosing Reset before Repair, which clears app settings unnecessarily.
- Ignoring a pending Windows update that would have fixed the problem on its own.
Still Stuck? More Fixes and Symptoms
If Fixes 1–10 did not solve it, a few less common causes and symptom-specific issues are worth checking.
- Clear or disable a proxy. A proxy or VPN can block the store’s connection to Microsoft — turn off any manual proxy in Settings, Network and internet, Proxy, disconnect any VPN, and try again.
- Run SFC and DISM scans. Corrupted system files can stop the store working. Open Command Prompt as an administrator, run
sfc /scannow, thenDISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, and restart when both finish. - Create a new user account to test. If the store fails only on your account, create a new local or Microsoft account in Settings, Accounts, and open the store there — if it works, the problem is with your original profile.
- Try a System Restore. If the store broke after a recent change, search for Create a restore point and roll back to before the problem started. Your files stay safe, though recently installed apps and updates may be removed.
A few symptoms point to a specific fix:
- Store icon missing entirely? Search for Microsoft Store in the Start menu first, as it may just be unpinned. If it is truly gone, re-register it with the PowerShell method from Fix 9.
- Downloads stuck or pending? Run wsreset to clear the cache, confirm you are not paused, and check you have enough storage — restarting the Microsoft Store Install Service can also get stalled downloads moving.
- Store opens but apps will not install? Confirm the Microsoft Store Install Service and Windows Update service are running, free up drive space if it is nearly full, then run wsreset and try again.
Error Codes, Managed PCs, and Preventing It Again
The store sometimes shows an error code or a generic message. Try again later usually means a temporary server or network issue — wait and retry. Check your connection points to an internet or clock problem, and a cache or account error is nearly always cleared by wsreset or by signing out and back in. Most codes are cleared by the same core fixes above; for more, Microsoft’s Windows support covers Store error codes in detail.
On a managed work or school computer, the store may be restricted by an administrator — if it is blocked or missing and settings are greyed out, contact your IT department rather than trying to force changes. On a personal PC, every fix in this guide is available to you.
A little maintenance keeps the Microsoft Store reliable: keep Windows, your apps, and your drivers updated, leave date, time, and region set automatically, and keep some storage free. After applying any fix, open the Microsoft Store, let it load fully, and try installing or updating a free app — if both succeed, your store is fixed and ready to use.
Why is my Windows Store not working?
Common causes are a wrong date or time, a network issue, a corrupted cache, a signed-out account, or a pending Windows update. Working through the fixes in order clears almost all of them.
How do I reset the Microsoft Store?
The quickest reset is to run wsreset.exe from the Run box, which clears the cache. For a deeper reset, open Settings, Apps, find Microsoft Store, and use Repair or Reset in its advanced options.
Does resetting the Store delete my installed apps?
No. Running wsreset or resetting the Store app clears its cache and settings but does not remove the apps you have installed. Your apps stay in place.
Why does the Store say check your connection?
Usually your internet is down or unstable, or the date and time are wrong, which breaks the store’s secure connection. Fix your connection and clock, then try again.
How do I fix the Store after a Windows update?
Restart your PC, run wsreset, and run the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter. If needed, reset the Store app or install the next Windows update, which often includes a fix.
Can I reinstall the Microsoft Store?
Yes. If it is badly broken, you can re-register it using a PowerShell command run as an administrator, which reinstalls the store cleanly for your account.
