How to Fix Microsoft Store Not Opening in Windows 11 and Resolve Launch Errors

Fixing the Microsoft Store on Windows 11 — It’s Not Always Obvious

If you’re reading this, chances are your Microsoft Store isn’t opening or behaving oddly on Windows 11, and I’ve been there myself. Like many others, I got stuck wondering why clicking the icon did nothing or why the store loaded but wouldn’t download anything. It’s pretty frustrating. Turns out, quite often it’s a simple fix—you just need to know where to look. Here’s what finally worked for me, and hopefully it’ll help you too.

First up: Repair the Store app using Windows’ built-in repair tools

A good starting point is repairing the app from Settings—no need to uninstall anything. Windows allows you to do this through the Apps menu, which lets you repair or reset individual apps. This approach tries to fix corrupted files without wiping everything clean.

Here’s what to do:

1. Press Windows key + I to open Settings. That shortcut gets you straight into the settings menu faster than clicking around.
2. Navigate to Apps. Depending on your Windows build, it might be labelled “Apps & features,” but it’s the same place. Click on it, then select Installed apps.
3. Scroll through the list to find Microsoft Store. It might be near the top or somewhere deeper — depends on how many apps you have installed. Once found, click the three-dot menu next to it and select Advanced options.
4. In the Advanced options menu, look for the Repair button. This is less drastic than a reset and should be your first attempt. It’ll try to fix issues without deleting your data. If problems persist, go back into that menu and click Reset. Note: resetting will wipe your app preferences and data, but sometimes it’s the kick needed to get things back on track.

Be patient—sometimes you need to run this process more than once or follow up with a reset if things are really broken. Also, note that the repair or reset options may be greyed out or unavailable if your system has restrictions—like if it’s managed by an organisation or has certain policies applied. In such cases, you might need to update your BIOS or contact your IT support.

Another handy tip: clear the Store cache

I discovered this late at night. The Store keeps a cache of temporary data, and sometimes it gets corrupted or stuck, leading to issues. The fix is simple and effective:

1. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. Think of it as Windows’ secret shortcut.
2. Type wsreset.exe and hit Enter. This command launches a built-in utility called “WSReset,” which clears the Store cache behind the scenes.
3. Watch a blank command window appear for a few seconds—that’s normal. When it disappears, the Store app should launch automatically, hopefully running smoother.

This quick trick often resolves problems related to loading or downloading in the Store, especially after Windows updates or if the app starts acting flaky. Plus, it doesn’t delete any personal data—just clears out temporary files.

What if that still doesn’t work?

If repairing the app and clearing the cache don’t do the trick, I’ve come across some pretty unusual cases where the Store is completely broken. In those situations, you might need to reinstall it manually via PowerShell. Don’t worry—it’s not as intimidating as it sounds. Here’s a simplified version:

Get-AppxPackage *WindowsStore* | Remove-AppxPackage

This command removes the Store app for your user account. To reinstall it, run:

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

This is a more forceful approach and should be used as a last resort. Make sure to back up anything important beforehand, as it can sometimes cause other glitches if your system is deeply troubled. Also, be aware that some systems—especially those heavily customised or managed by IT—may have restrictions that prevent you from doing this without admin support. Updating BIOS or consulting support might be necessary in those cases.

Final thoughts

To sum up: try repairing the app, clearing the cache, and if that doesn’t work, reinstalling via PowerShell. Most of the time, these steps will sort out the issue, especially if it’s a recent glitch or a minor hiccup. If problems keep persisting, you might need to look into deeper system repairs or consider rolling back to Windows 10 (if your hardware supports it), but that’s a matter for another day.

Hope this helps! It took me a fair while to figure out, and it seems Windows updates can sometimes mess with the store unexpectedly. Be sure your system’s up to date, your BIOS is supported, and if you’re on a managed device, check that policies aren’t blocking access. Good luck!