Microsoft Store Not Working in 2026? Here Is How to Fix It

If the Microsoft Store is not working on your Windows PC, you are not alone. This is one of the most common Windows problems, and the good news is that most causes are fixable in under ten minutes. This guide covers every real fix, from the simplest reset to deeper system-level repairs.

What Causes Microsoft Store to Stop Working?

Before jumping into fixes, it helps to understand why this happens. The Store breaks for a few main reasons:

• Corrupted cache files built up over time
• A Windows Update that introduced a bug
• Wrong date, time, or region settings on your PC
• Your Microsoft account is signed out or stuck
• A background service is disabled or crashed
• The Store app itself is damaged or missing components

Knowing the cause helps you pick the right fix first.

Quick Fixes to Try First

These take less than two minutes each. Start here before doing anything complex.

Restart your PC. This sounds obvious but fixes a surprising number of Store issues caused by stuck background processes.

Check your internet connection. Open a browser and load any website. If the internet is down, that is your problem, not the Store.

Check date and time settings. Go to Settings > Time and Language > Date and Time. Make sure “Set time automatically” is turned on. An incorrect clock blocks the Store from connecting to Microsoft servers.

Sign out and sign back into the Microsoft Store. Open the Store, click your profile icon in the top right, sign out, then sign back in.

Fix 1: Clear the Microsoft Store Cache

This is the most effective fix for most people. The Store builds up a cache over time, and when it gets corrupted, everything breaks.

How to do it:

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog
2. Type wsreset.exe and press Enter
3. A black command window will appear and close on its own
4. The Microsoft Store will open automatically when the reset is done

This process clears the cache without deleting your apps or data. It takes about 30 seconds.

Fix 2: Run the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter

Windows has a built-in tool specifically for Store problems.

Steps:

1. Open Settings (Windows + I)
2. Go to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters
3. Find Windows Store Apps and click Run
4. Follow the prompts and apply any fixes it suggests

This tool catches common issues like broken permissions and misconfigured settings automatically.

Fix 3: Reset or Repair the Microsoft Store App

If the cache clear did not work, try a full app reset.

Steps:

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps
2. Search for Microsoft Store
3. Click the three dots next to it and select Advanced options
4. Scroll down and click Repair first
5. If Repair does not fix it, click Reset

Note: Reset will clear your Store login and local app data. You will need to sign back in.

Fix 4: Re-register the Microsoft Store

Sometimes the Store app gets de-registered from Windows. This fix re-registers it using PowerShell.

Steps:

1. Right-click the Start button and select Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Terminal (Admin)
2. Paste this command and press Enter:

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

3. Wait for it to finish. You will see some red text, that is normal.
4. Restart your PC.

This re-registers every built-in app including the Store. It is safe and does not delete anything.

Fix 5: Check Windows Update

A pending or failed Windows Update can break the Store.

Steps:

1. Go to Settings > Windows Update
2. Click Check for updates
3. Install all available updates
4. Restart your PC

Also check for optional updates and driver updates under the Advanced options section.

Fix 6: Make Sure Required Services Are Running

The Microsoft Store depends on background services. If they are disabled, the Store will not load.

How to check:

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter
2. Find these services and make sure they are set to Automatic and are Running:
   • Windows Update
   • Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)
   • Cryptographic Services
   • Windows Installer

To start a stopped service: Right-click it and select Start. To change startup type, right-click > Properties > change Startup type to Automatic.

Fix 7: Check Your Region and Language Settings

Microsoft Store availability depends on your region. If the settings are wrong, the Store may show errors or fail to load.

Steps:

1. Go to Settings > Time and Language > Language and Region
2. Set your Country or region to the correct one
3. Make sure your language matches your region
4. Restart the Store

Fix 8: Disable Proxy or VPN Temporarily

If you use a VPN or have proxy settings enabled, they can interfere with the Store.

To disable proxy:

1. Go to Settings > Network and Internet > Proxy
2. Turn off “Use a proxy server”

If you use a VPN, disconnect it and try the Store again. If it works without the VPN, the VPN is the issue. You may need to whitelist Microsoft Store domains in your VPN settings.

Fix 9: Reinstall the Microsoft Store Using PowerShell

If the Store is completely gone or broken beyond repair, you can reinstall it.

Steps:

1. Open Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin)
2. Run this command:

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

3. Restart your PC

If that does not work, you can also try:

winget install --id=9WZDNCRFJBMP --source=msstore

Fix 10: Run System File Checker and DISM

If none of the above fixes work, your Windows system files may be corrupted. These two tools scan and repair them.

Step 1: Run SFC

1. Open Terminal (Admin)
2. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter
3. Wait for it to complete (can take 10 to 15 minutes)
4. Restart

Step 2: Run DISM

If SFC finds errors it cannot fix, run DISM next:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

This connects to Windows Update servers to download clean system files. It may take 20 minutes or more.

For more detail on using SFC and DISM together, Microsoft’s own support documentation at support.microsoft.com is accurate and regularly updated.

Common Microsoft Store Error Codes and What They Mean

Error Code	Meaning	Best Fix
0x80072EFD	No internet connection	Check network, disable proxy
0x80131500	General Store error	Run wsreset, reset the app
0x80073CF0	App package issue	Re-register Store via PowerShell
0x8024402C	Proxy or DNS issue	Disable proxy, flush DNS
0x803F8001	App not available in your region	Check region settings
0xC002001B	Licensing issue	Sign out and back in
0x80070005	Access denied	Run troubleshooter as admin

Microsoft Store Loads But Apps Won’t Download

This is a different problem from the Store not opening. If the Store opens but downloads fail:

• Make sure you have enough disk space (at least 2 to 3 GB free)
• Check that your Microsoft account has no billing issues if buying paid apps
• Try pausing and resuming the download
• Sign out of the Store, restart, and sign back in
• Go to the Store’s Downloads and updates section and clear any stuck downloads

Microsoft Store Opens But Shows a Blank Screen

A blank white or black screen usually means a rendering issue.

Fixes:

• Press Ctrl + W to close any open tabs inside the Store
• Disable hardware acceleration: Some GPU driver conflicts cause this
• Run wsreset.exe as described in Fix 1
• Update your graphics drivers via Device Manager or your GPU manufacturer’s site

Microsoft Store Not Working After Windows Update

If the Store broke right after a Windows Update, the update may have introduced a bug.

What to do:

1. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Update History
2. Click Uninstall updates
3. Find the most recent update and uninstall it
4. Restart and test the Store

When to Do a Windows Reset

If every fix above has failed and the Store is still broken, a Windows Reset may be the last option.

Go to Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC. Choose Keep my files to preserve your personal data. This reinstalls Windows and resets all apps including the Store.

This is a last resort. Most users fix the Store well before reaching this step.

Summary

Problem	Fastest Fix
Store won’t open	Run wsreset.exe
Store crashes immediately	Reset the app in Settings
Apps won’t download	Check disk space and sign in status
Error code appears	Match code to fix in the table above
Store broke after update	Uninstall the recent update
Store completely missing	Re-register via PowerShell
Nothing works	Run SFC and DISM, then consider PC Reset

The Microsoft Store not working is almost always fixable without reinstalling Windows. Start with wsreset.exe, then work down the list. Most people solve it within the first three fixes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Microsoft Store keep saying “Try that again” error?

This usually means a connection problem between your PC and Microsoft’s servers. It can be caused by a bad cache, proxy settings, or incorrect date and time. Run wsreset.exe first, then check your time settings and proxy configuration. If the problem persists, run the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter.

Can I reinstall the Microsoft Store if I accidentally deleted it?

Yes. You cannot uninstall it the normal way, but if it is missing, open PowerShell as Administrator and run the re-registration command shown in Fix 9 above. If the files are truly gone, a Windows Reset or repair install is needed.

Does a VPN block the Microsoft Store?

It can. Some VPNs route traffic through servers in regions where certain Store apps are restricted, or they block the authentication servers Microsoft uses. Try disconnecting your VPN and opening the Store again. If it works without VPN, whitelist Microsoft Store URLs in your VPN app or use a split tunneling feature.

Why is Microsoft Store not working even though my internet is fine?

The Store uses specific Microsoft servers for licensing and authentication, separate from general internet traffic. If those servers are temporarily down, or if your firewall or antivirus is blocking them, the Store will fail even with a working internet connection. Check Windows Defender Firewall settings and temporarily disable third-party antivirus to test.

How do I fix Microsoft Store error 0x80072EFD?

This error means the Store cannot connect to the internet. Check your connection, disable any proxy (Settings > Network > Proxy), flush your DNS by running ipconfig /flushdns in Command Prompt, and restart the Store. If you are behind a corporate firewall, the network admin may need to whitelist Microsoft Store endpoints.