Alex Ruben
How To Resolve Microsoft Store Download and Launch Issues on Windows 10/11 (2025)
Been messing around with the Microsoft Store and it just refuses to open or gets stuck when you try to download something? Yeah, it happens more often than you’d think. Sometimes, it’s as simple as a quick reset, other times you gotta get a bit more hands-on with PowerShell or even check your Windows services. No worries, here are some methods that have actually helped—because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary.
Step 1: Use the WSReset Command
First, give this a shot. It’s a built-in reset for the Store that doesn’t touch your apps or account, just kinda refreshes everything behind the scenes. Why that helps? Well, a corrupted cache or temporary glitch can cause the Store to hang or not load at all.
- Press Windows + S to open the search bar.
- Type
wsresetand click the command that pops up. This will launch a command prompt window, and it’ll clear the Store cache automatically. - After it finishes, see if the Microsoft Store opens up and lets you download apps. Most of the time, this does the trick.
Note: On some setups, this process might fail the first time or need a reboot to fully clear the cache, so don’t get discouraged if it’s not instant.
Step 2: Reinstall the Microsoft Store with PowerShell
If the quick reset doesn’t work, it might be time to actually reinstall the app. Because of course, Windows keeps some parts stuck or corrupted, so a reinstall can fix stubborn issues.
- Open Start menu, type PowerShell.
- Right-click on Windows PowerShell and choose Run as administrator.
- To remove the Store, paste in:
Get-AppxPackage *windowsstore* | Remove-AppxPackageThis commands Windows to uninstall the Store app for your user account. Expect a moment of silence, then proceed.
- Next, to reinstall the Store, enter:
Get-AppxPackage -allusers Microsoft.WindowsStore | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}This should re-register the Store app so it’s back to normal. After that, reboot your PC—sometimes, that’s what it takes for all the pieces to pop back in place.
Heads up—on some machines, this process isn’t all that reliable until a restart. Also, if you have an enterprise setup or custom policies, it might not work as expected.
Step 3: Check for Windows Updates
Most of the time, keeping Windows updated can fix weird app glitches. The Store is part of the OS, so if it’s outdated, bugs can creep in.
- Click Start menu, type Settings.
- Navigate to Update & security.
- Hit Check for updates. Install anything available and reboot if prompted. Seems simple, but it works quite often.
If your system is lagging behind on updates, that could be why the Store acts up. Weird stuff like missing features or apps not downloading usually get resolved this way.
Step 4: Verify Windows Services
This step feels kinda ‘techy,’ but it’s worth doing if the Store refuses to start or download.
- Search Services and open it.
- Look for these services and ensure they’re set to Automatic and running:
- Windows Update
- Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)
- Microsoft Store Install Service
Trust me, if these services aren’t running, the Store might just sit there saying “loading” forever. On some setups, this alone fixed the issue.
Step 5: Reset the Store App Settings
If nothing else works, resetting the Store to defaults can iron out misconfigurations. Basically, it clears all the customization and cache for the app, restoring it to a fresh state.
- Open the Start menu, type Microsoft Store.
- Right-click, then choose App settings.
- Scroll down and click Reset. You might see the Store close and restart with default settings. Sometimes, that’s the magic fix.
Note: Resetting deletes stored preferences, but your downloads won’t be affected unless they’re corrupt.
Step 6: Correct Date & Time Settings
This one might seem odd, but if your clock’s out of whack, the Store can freak out over secure connections or license checks.
- Right-click the clock on the taskbar, pick Adjust date/time.
- Turn on Set time automatically and verify the zone is correct.
- Close the window and check if the Store starts behaving.
Basically, if your system thinks it’s 1985 in some timezone, that can mess up authentication or downloads. This fix’s cheap, so worth a shot.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
Beyond these methods, keep an eye on your internet connection because nothing kills a download faster than flaky Wi-Fi or VPN issues. Also, try flushing DNS—sometimes, DNS cache corruption interferes with Store servers:
ipconfig /flushdns
Run that in an elevated Command Prompt or PowerShell. Also, if your account is weird or corrupted, creating a new user profile might help test if the problem’s account-specific.
Summary
- Try WSReset to clear cache first—usually fixes minor glitches.
- If that fails, reinstall the Store via PowerShell — it’s a bit more involved but worth it.
- Always make sure Windows is up to date; outdated OSs cause headaches.
- Check if needed Windows services are running and set to auto.
- Reset app settings if all else fails.
- Ensure your date/time are spot-on; weird system clocks can cause authentication issues.
- Clear DNS cache if downloads or server communications act funky.
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Because let’s face it, troubleshooting Windows can be a nightmare sometimes.