Why cant I download apps

Question

I have been trying to download apps for the past three hours and nothing is happening. my app installer wont load and when I exit out of it, all it say is that its not responding and they will contact me when they find the issue. I have never received an email nor a text.

Answer 1

Hello, thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

May I please confirm whether you are using Windows 10 or Windows 11? To check, type winver in the search bar on the taskbar, press Enter, and share a screenshot of the resulting dialog box.

Meanwhile, here are the troubleshooting steps you can try -

1

Reset Microsoft Store cache -

Click Windows + R, type wsreset.exe, and click Ok.

Wait until the Microsoft Store app opens.

Try installing the app.

2

Download and install any pending Windows updates -

Go to Start > Settings > Windows Updates > Check for updates.

Download and install all the available updates for your device.

3

Run the System File Checker Utility scan.

Open Command Prompt as administrator.

Run Sfc /scannow and click Enter.

Once the command has finished running, restart your computer and install apps from the Microsoft Store.

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Answer 2

This issue is usually caused by Microsoft Store or App Installer not working correctly or being stuck.

Here are some steps you can try to fix it:

1. Restart your PC

A simple restart can fix temporary glitches.

2. Reset Microsoft Store

• Press Windows + R
• Type: wsreset.exe
• Press Enter

This will clear the Microsoft Store cache.

3. Repair/Reset App Installer

• Go to Settings → Apps → Installed apps
• Find “App Installer”
• Click Advanced options
• Click Repair, then Reset

4. Check Windows Updates

• Go to Settings → Windows Update
• Install all pending updates

Outdated system files can cause this issue.

5. Reinstall App Installer (PowerShell)

• Open PowerShell as Administrator
• Run: Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller | Reset-AppxPackage

6. Check Internet connection

Make sure your connection is stable and not blocking downloads.

7. Sign out and back into Microsoft Store

Sometimes account sync issues can stop downloads.

Important:

Microsoft does not send emails for failed app installs, so not receiving an email is normal.

If the problem continues, it may be a temporary Microsoft Store service issue, so trying again later can also help.