Microsoft Stores won't open

Question

I've tried the four suggestions listed on the website but none of them helped. When I try to do the Windows Logo Key + R thing I get the following message: "The application cannot be started. Try reinstalling the application to fix the problem." The application is both downloaded and updated.

I tried two other suggestions from this website that didn't work, involving doing something as an admin on my laptop.

What else can I try?

Answer 1

Hi Matthew,

Click Start, type "store". Right-click Microsoft Store, and click App Settings. Click Reset, and click Repair.

This repairs the Microsoft Store app.

Press Win + R, and type the following command:

Wsreset

Click OK. The command resets the Store cache and attempts to launch the Store app.

If you get the "The application cannot be started" error or a similar error, we need to check the services configuration and the Event logs.

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Answer 2

Hi Matthew,

Since Microsoft Store still won't open and running wsreset.exe gives an application startup error, I'd try re-registering the Store app for your Windows account next.

1. Open Start, type PowerShell, and open it normally. Do not select Run as administrator for this step.

Copy and paste the following command, then press Enter:

Get-AppxPackage -Name Microsoft.WindowsStore | ForEach-Object { Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml" }

Wait for the command to finish, restart your laptop, and try opening Microsoft Store again.

If that doesn't work, open Settings → Apps → Apps & features → Microsoft Store → Advanced options. Select Repair first. If the issue remains, select Reset.

If PowerShell returns an error, please share the exact error message rather than repeatedly running the same commands. It can help determine whether the Store package is missing, corrupted, or failing to register correctly.

I would avoid using unofficial scripts to uninstall or reinstall Microsoft Store, as that can create additional problems.Hi Matthew,

Since Microsoft Store still won't open and running wsreset.exe gives an application startup error, I'd try re-registering the Store app for your Windows account next.

Open Start, type PowerShell, and open it normally. Do not select Run as administrator for this step.

Copy and paste the following command, then press Enter:

Get-AppxPackage -Name Microsoft.WindowsStore | ForEach-Object { Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml" }

Wait for the command to finish, restart your laptop, and try opening Microsoft Store again.

If that doesn't work, open Settings → Apps → Apps & features → Microsoft Store → Advanced options. Select Repair first. If the issue remains, select Reset.

If PowerShell returns an error, please share the exact error message rather than repeatedly running the same commands. It can help determine whether the Store package is missing, corrupted, or failing to register correctly.

I would avoid using unofficial scripts to uninstall or reinstall Microsoft Store, as that can create additional problems.

Answer 3

Run the correctly spelled command wsreset.exe—the command entered previously, wreset.exe, is missing the s and is not the Microsoft Store reset utility.

1. Run the correct Store reset command

1. Press Windows logo key + R.
2. Enter exactly:

      wsreset.exe
   

3. Select OK.
4. A blank Command Prompt window should appear. Leave it open; after about ten seconds, it should close and Microsoft Store should start automatically.^1^

Because the troubleshooter, Store Repair/Reset, DISM/SFC, Windows Update, and regional settings have already been tried, do not repeat those steps. If the correctly spelled command produces the same error, repair the Store’s registration next.

2. Re-register Microsoft Store for your account

The first commands must run under your normal Windows account, not as administrator, so the Store is registered to the account that needs to open it.^2^

1. Open Start, type PowerShell, and select Windows PowerShell normally—do not select Run as administrator.
2. Check whether Store is registered:

      Get-AppxPackage *Microsoft.WindowsStore*
   

3. If package information appears, run:

      Add-AppxPackage -RegisterByFamilyName `
        -MainPackage Microsoft.WindowsStore_8wekyb3d8bbwe
   

4. Restart the computer and try opening Microsoft Store.

If the first command returns nothing

1. Open PowerShell as administrator and run:

      Get-AppxPackage *Microsoft.WindowsStore* -AllUsers
   

2. If package details appear, close the administrator window.
3. Open PowerShell normally and run the Add-AppxPackage command shown above.
4. Restart Windows.

Do not use instructions that remove or completely uninstall Microsoft Store; Microsoft states that removing the Store is unsupported.^2^

3. If Store still cannot start

If re-registration succeeds but Store still produces the startup error—or the Store package cannot be found even with -AllUsers—perform an in-place Windows repair installation. This reinstalls Windows system components while allowing personal files, applications, and settings to remain.

Back up important files first, then:

1. Create Windows installation media matching the installed Windows edition.
2. Connect or mount the media while signed into Windows.
3. Open the media in File Explorer and run setup.exe.
4. Select Change what to keep.
5. Choose Keep personal files and apps.
6. Select Install.

Do not boot from the media for this procedure; running setup.exe from within Windows is what provides the in-place repair option. Microsoft documents that Keep personal files and apps preserves data, installed applications, and settings.^3^

Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, so after recovering the Store, move to Windows 11 if the computer is eligible; Windows 10 no longer receives free security fixes or technical assistance.^4^

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References

1. Microsoft Store doesn't open | Microsoft Support
2. Troubleshoot Microsoft Store app download failures
3. Reinstall Windows with the installation media | Microsoft Support
4. Go back to the previous version of Windows | Microsoft Support