whenever i try to open exe files on windows 11 it says i need to install an app on the appstore for this and if i click to go on the app store it says that there are no results.

Question

how can i execute exe files because without them i cant install anything.

Answer 1

I had the same issue. A workaround/solution, I guess, that I found is to right click the app, go to properties and hit the unblock check mark right at the bottom.

Answer 2

Hello! My name is Mostafa, and I’m an independent advisor and a long-time Microsoft user.

I’m sorry that you are experiencing this issue, and I will try my best to assist you with this so that you find a satisfactory solution.

Please follow the steps below:

1. Click on the Windows icon in the bottom left of the screen, and select "Settings" (the gear icon).
2. In the Settings window, click on "Apps" and click on Advanced App settings
3. In the Choose where to get apps dropdown menu, choose "anywhere" option.

You will then see a warning message about the potential risks of installing apps from sources other than the Microsoft Store. Click "Yes" to confirm that you want to proceed.

I hope the above steps helped you. In case of additional questions, reach out back to me, and I will be happy to help and try my best to resolve your issue. Thank you.

Best,

Mostafa

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Please note: This is a user-to-user community forum. We are users just like you who help others. We are not employees of Microsoft.

Answer 3

how can i execute exe files because without them i cant install anything.

I tried both answers provided in this post and neither worked. My computer wasn't even in S mode (after searching for what in the world 's mode' was). What I did was right click on the .exe file, click on Properties, click on the Compatibility tab, and ran the Compatibility troubleshooter. Other sources suggested switching the compatibility mode to Windows 8, but that did not work for me. Once I ran the troubleshooter, it automatically tweaked settings (a mystery, I'm sure) and now it is working.

Answer 4

Hello! My name is Mostafa, and I’m an independent advisor and a long-time Microsoft user.

I’m sorry that you are experiencing this issue, and I will try my best to assist you with this so that you find a satisfactory solution.

Please follow the steps below:

1. Click on the Windows icon in the bottom left of the screen, and select "Settings" (the gear icon).
2. In the Settings window, click on "Apps" and click on Advanced App settings
3. In the Choose where to get apps dropdown menu, choose "anywhere" option.

You will then see a warning message about the potential risks of installing apps from sources other than the Microsoft Store. Click "Yes" to confirm that you want to proceed.

I hope the above steps helped you. In case of additional questions, reach out back to me, and I will be happy to help and try my best to resolve your issue. Thank you.

Best, Mostafa

Please note: This is a user-to-user community forum. We are users just like you who help others. We are not employees of Microsoft.

It was working until I got to 4. In the Choose where to get apps dropdown menu, choose "anywhere" option. That option is not there.

Answer 5

There is no "Choose where to get apps dropdown menu". There is a "How to install a programme" but this takes you to https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows so doesn't help either.

update ... found that it was in S mode but no thanks to Microsoft for pointing that out .. even the help states that the option is there to choose where to get apps from when it clearly isn't and doesn't mention that it could be in S mode. I didn't knowingly purchase a PC in S mode so was quite unexpected to find that couldn't install even the printer driver.

To remove S mode from Windows 11 see here:

https://www.techbout.com/switch-off-s-mode-windows-11-71395/