Fix Windows Store Not Opening in Windows 10

If the Microsoft Store won’t open on your Windows 10 PC—whether it flashes and closes, freezes on a blank screen, or does nothing when you click the icon—this guide walks you through the most effective fixes. You’ll start with quick checks and then move through built-in troubleshooting tools, ending with a reset that clears the Store’s cache and re-registers it. No advanced technical skills are required, and you won’t need to download any third-party software.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows 10 PC with an administrator account (you’ll need to confirm some steps).
• An internet connection for downloading updates or re-registering the Store.
• About 15–30 minutes of time, depending on which fix works for you.

Step-by-Step

1. Check the basics first. Make sure your system date, time, and time zone are correct (Settings > Time & Language > Date & time). An incorrect clock can break the Store’s connection to Microsoft servers. Also, verify that you’re connected to the internet—open a browser and load any website.
2. Run the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters. Scroll down and select Windows Store Apps, then click Run the troubleshooter. Follow the on-screen instructions. This tool automatically detects and fixes common issues like corrupted cache or misconfigured permissions.
3. Clear the Store cache using WSReset. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog. Type wsreset.exe and press Enter. A blank Command Prompt window will appear—this is normal. Wait for it to finish (it may take a minute or two), and the Store should open automatically. If it doesn’t open, try launching it manually.
4. Check for Windows updates. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, then click Check for updates. Install any pending updates and restart your PC. Microsoft regularly ships fixes for Store-related bugs through these updates.
5. Re-register the Store app via PowerShell. Right-click the Start button and select Windows PowerShell (Admin) (or Terminal (Admin) on newer builds). Copy and paste the following command, then press Enter:

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

   Wait for the command to complete—it may take a few minutes. Restart your PC and try opening the Store.

6. Reset the Store app via Settings. Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features. Scroll down to Microsoft Store, click it, and select Advanced options. Scroll down and click Reset. This clears the app’s data and cache. A confirmation prompt will appear—click Reset again. After it’s done, restart your PC and try the Store again.
7. Create a new user account (if nothing else works). Sometimes the issue is tied to your user profile. Go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users, then click Add someone else to this PC. Follow the prompts to create a new local account, sign out of your current account, and sign into the new one. Try opening the Store there. If it works, you can migrate your files to the new account.

Common Mistakes

• Skipping the date/time check. Many users jump straight to complex fixes when the real issue is a wrong system clock, which causes SSL errors and makes the Store appear broken.
• Running PowerShell without admin rights. The re-registration command requires an elevated PowerShell window. If you run it as a standard user, you’ll get an error and nothing will change.
• Closing the WSReset window early. The blank window that appears during wsreset.exe is the reset process running. Closing it prematurely can leave the Store in a partially reset state.
• Forgetting to restart. Several fixes, especially the PowerShell re-registration and the Settings reset, require a restart to take full effect. Skipping the restart often makes it seem like the fix didn’t work.

Tips

• Use the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter first—it’s the safest and most automated option, and it resolves a large percentage of cases.
• If you use a VPN or proxy, temporarily disable it while testing the Store. Some VPNs interfere with the Store’s network requests.
• Keep your Windows 10 installation updated. Many Store problems are fixed by cumulative updates, so enabling automatic updates reduces future occurrences.
• If the Store opens but is blank, try pressing Windows Key + R, typing ms-windows-store://home, and pressing Enter. This forces the Store to navigate to its home page.

Troubleshooting

If the steps above don’t solve the problem, here’s what to try next:

• If the PowerShell command fails with an error, double-check that you’re in an admin PowerShell window and that you copied the command exactly. You can also try running it without the -AllUsers flag: Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.WindowsStore | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
• If the Store still won’t open after a reset, run the System File Checker. Open an admin Command Prompt and type sfc /scannow, then press Enter. This repairs corrupted system files that may be affecting the Store.
• If you get a specific error code (like 0x80072EFD or 0x80131500), note it down and search for that code on Microsoft’s official support site—it usually points to a network or proxy issue. You can also try resetting the Windows Update components via the command prompt (type net stop wuauserv, then net start wuauserv after a few seconds).
• If the Store opens but crashes when you sign in, try signing out of your Microsoft account in the Store, then signing back in. To do this, click your profile icon in the Store’s top-right corner, select your account, and choose Sign out.
• As a last resort, consider performing a Windows 10 repair install using the Media Creation Tool. This reinstalls Windows while keeping your files and apps, and it often resolves persistent system-level issues. Back up your important data before doing this.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Microsoft Store keep crashing on Windows 10?

The most common cause is a corrupted cache or a system file issue. Running the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter and resetting the Store via Settings usually fixes it. If not, re-registering the app via PowerShell is the next step.

Will resetting the Microsoft Store delete my apps or games?

No. Resetting the Store only clears its cache and temporary data. It does not uninstall any apps, games, or purchases. You may need to sign in again, but your library remains intact.

Can I reinstall the Microsoft Store if it’s missing?

Yes. Open PowerShell as administrator and run the re-registration command from Step 5. This reinstalls the Store app without affecting your system. If the Store is completely missing, you can also download the Store package from a trusted source, but the PowerShell method is safer.

Why does the Store open but show a blank white screen?

This is usually a cache issue. Run wsreset.exe from the Run dialog, or reset the app via Settings. If that doesn’t work, check your internet connection and disable any VPN or proxy temporarily.

Do I need an administrator account to fix the Store?

Yes, for most fixes, especially the PowerShell re-registration and running the troubleshooter, you’ll need administrator privileges. If you’re on a standard account, ask the admin to perform these steps for you.

Will these steps work on Windows 11?

Most of the steps are similar on Windows 11, but the menu names and locations differ slightly. This guide is specifically for Windows 10, so if you’re on Windows 11, search for a Windows 11-specific guide.

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