Have you been scratching your head trying to launch Microsoft Store, but still haven’t had any luck? Don’t panic, as we’ve got you covered. Microsoft Store is Microsoft's official store which helps you access all the official apps and services as a Windows user, all at a single place. Unfortunately, for a multitude of reasons, it can sometimes end up inaccessible.
In what follows, we’ve covered the exact steps you need to follow and get the Microsoft Store back on track. Let’s get started.
1. Check Your Date and Time Settings
The date and time on your PC are necessary for establishing secure connections. This holds especially true if there’s a strong interaction between a user and internet apps, such as at the time of using a web app like a calendar or a reminder.
Moreover, computers also have to synchronize among themselves to function properly. So if there’s any discrepancy between your PC and the ones at Microsoft, things will obviously falter. Here’s how you can do that:
- Go to Start menu search bar, type in ‘settings,’ and select the Best match. Alternatively, press Win + X.
- In the Settings menu, click on Time & language.
- Select Date & time to check your time settings.
In the above steps, if the date and time are incorrect, toggle the Set the time zone to automatically to Off. Then navigate to Set the date and time manually and click on Change to tweak your settings. Now make the relevant changes and bring your settings up to the correct standard. After everything is up-to-date, you can toggle your settings to automatic.
2. Check the Internet Connection
Let’s go over one of the most obvious culprits in anything involving tech and internet. We have seen over the years—both from personal experience and from that of others—that a variety of hiccups in Windows and internet can be fixed with little to no tinkering.
The problems caused by unstable or poor internet connection belongs in that camp of lightweight, quick-fix problems.
So whether you're using a Wi-Fi or a wired connection, make sure that you've actually connected your PC to the internet. If you suspect something is off, though, then maybe it's time to have a look under the hood. Have a go at our guide on fixing a lost internet connection, and see if it helps you fix things.
3. Reset Microsoft Cache
Clearing your computer's cache is another one of those solutions that gets thrown around, for what seems like every other Windows error. And, of course, it's not without reasons. It helps applications run better by clearing personal information from your browsers, and therefore improving the device's speed.
You can reset the cache of your Microsoft Store from the Run dialog box. To get started, press Win + R to launch the dialog box. There, type in ‘wsreset.exe,’ and hit Enter.
An empty Command prompt will pop open. Let it be for a few seconds and the command line will close automatically (after it has cleared the cache behind the background) and Microsoft Store will be launched in its place.
4. Reset the Microsoft Store App
A reset is a textbook trick that's often recommended whenever there’s a fault with the PC. We’d suggest you give it a go for fixing your Microsoft Store app as well. Here’s how:
- Press Win + I to open the Settings app, and click on Apps.
- Click on Apps & features, scroll down to Microsoft Store and click on app settings (three dots).
- Select Advanced options.
- Click on Reset.
You'll then be asked for a confirmation. Click on Reset again to begin the reset process. You can also try the Repair feature, placed just above the Reset option.
5. Check the Proxy Settings
A proxy, also known as a proxy server, is a server that acts as a medium between your computer and the internet. It is used as a way to ramp up your online security and also as a limiter to what can be accessed through your PC.
Like most things in life, using proxy settings comes at a cost. While it may help you become more anonymous online, on the other hand, it can also make your internet connection unstable. It, therefore, makes sense to turn them off and then see if the issue with Microsoft Store still stands. Follow the steps below for that:
- Go to Start menu search bar, type in 'settings,' and select the Best match.
- From there, select Network & internet > Proxy.
- Toggle Use a proxy server to Off.
Your proxy servers will be turned off. Reconnect your internet once again, and launch the Microsoft Store once again to see if the problem persists.
6. Use the Troubleshooter App
Windows comes with a free troubleshooter app that can help you fix a host of issues with your operating system and other different apps. Among the different troubleshooters it offers, there's a troubleshooter that is specific for Microsoft Store. To get started, launch the Windows Settings by pressing the Windows Key + I shortcut.
Once the Settings app is launched, follow the steps below:
- Select System > Troubleshoot.
- Click on Other troubleshooters and run the Windows Store Apps.
As soon as you follow the above steps, the app will start searching for issues with your Store app. If any problems are found, the troubleshooter will remove them, or point them out at the very least.
7. Update Microsoft Store
Updates are crucial for your software, so it's no surprise that things might go wrong with Microsoft Store if it hasn't been updated for a while. Apart from bringing up your application's security settings with the present security trends, updates also function as a way to fix random bugs.
So updating your app is worth a try. Here's how:
Go to Start, and select the Microsoft Store app. From the Microsoft Store, click on Library > Get updates. If an update is available, its installation will begin automatically.
8. Restore Your Old Settings
Making abrupt changes to your files can sometimes lead to odd behaviors in your PC. If your app was working before but has only now begun to crash down (after any sort of new changes), then doing a System Restore is your best bet.
System Restore is a free app in Windows that lets you restore your Windows setting to a previous point in time, and therefore, addresses different problems in this way. To restore your Windows to that old state, follow the steps below:
- Go to the Start menu search bar, type in 'system restore,' and select Create a restore point.
- Under the System Protection tab, click on System Restore.
- Choose the Recommended restore, and click on Next.
- Click on Finish to finalize the restoration process.
Do this and your system will be restored to its original settings. Note that you can't find a System Restore in the third step, then you probably haven't created a restore point before, in which case, this method won't work for you. If that's the case, it is best that you create restore points in the future.
Fixing Microsoft Store in Windows 11
Hopefully, one of the methods we've listed above did its work, and you can now run the Store app. If, however, none of them resolved the issue, then perhaps you should give a factory reset a try. Often used as a last resort for sticky bugs, a factory reset is a complete reset of your computer files, letting you start everything fresh.