Reinstall Windows 10 Store: Full Fix

If the Microsoft Store won’t open, keeps crashing, or shows errors when downloading apps, reinstalling it can restore the app and its services without affecting your files. This guide walks through the built-in reset, PowerShell re-registration, and a full reinstall using Windows PowerShell, with troubleshooting for common failures.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows 10 PC with administrator access (you’ll need to confirm a User Account Control prompt).
• An internet connection — the reinstall process downloads the Store package from Microsoft’s servers.
• About 10–15 minutes of time. Most steps are quick, but the final reinstall can take a few minutes.

Step-by-Step

1. Close the Microsoft Store completely. Right-click the Start button and select Task Manager. Under Processes, find Microsoft Store. If it’s listed, right-click it and choose End task. This prevents file locks during the reset.
2. Try the built-in reset first. Press Windows + I to open Settings. Go to Apps > Apps & features. Scroll to Microsoft Store, click it, then select Advanced options. Scroll down and click Reset. Confirm if prompted. This clears the Store’s cache and data without removing the app. After it finishes, reopen the Store and test it.
3. If the reset didn’t help, clear the Store cache manually. Press Windows + R, type wsreset.exe, and press Enter. A blank Command Prompt window will appear for a few seconds, then the Store should open automatically. If it doesn’t open, run it again and wait.
4. Re-register the Store app using PowerShell. Right-click the Start button and select Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Terminal (Admin). Click Yes on the User Account Control prompt. Copy and paste this command, then press Enter:
   Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers Microsoft.WindowsStore | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
   Wait for the command to finish. It should complete without error messages. Reopen the Store.
5. If re-registering didn’t work, fully reinstall the Store. In the same admin PowerShell window, run this command to remove the Store:
   Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers Microsoft.WindowsStore | Remove-AppxPackage
   This uninstalls the Store for all user accounts. Do not worry — your apps and files remain intact.
6. Reinstall the Store from Microsoft’s servers. In the same PowerShell window, run:
   Start-Process "ms-windows-store://downloads"
   This opens the Store’s download page. If the Store doesn’t open (because it was just removed), instead run:
   Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers Microsoft.WindowsStore | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
   If that fails, the most reliable method is to use the Microsoft Store link in the Start menu’s search results — Windows will prompt you to reinstall it. Alternatively, open a web browser and go to the Microsoft Store website, search for “Microsoft Store,” and click Get to push the install to your PC.
7. Verify the reinstall. Once the Store is back, open it and sign in with your Microsoft account. Try downloading a free app (like Spotify or Netflix) to confirm purchases and downloads work.
8. Restart your PC. A reboot clears any lingering service issues. After restarting, test the Store again.

Common Mistakes

• Skipping the built-in reset. Many Store issues are just corrupted cache files. The reset in Settings fixes most problems without needing PowerShell.
• Running PowerShell without admin rights. The re-register and remove commands will fail with “Access denied” if you don’t launch PowerShell as administrator.
• Using the wrong command. The re-register command must be typed exactly — including the quotes and dollar sign. Copy and paste it to avoid typos.
• Removing the Store without a plan to reinstall. If you remove the Store and the reinstall command fails, you may be left without a Store. Always try the reset and re-register steps before removing.
• Forgetting to close the Store first. If the Store is running, the reset or removal may hang or partially complete.

Tips

• Back up your Microsoft account credentials. You’ll need to sign in again after the reinstall. Make sure you know your password or have the Microsoft Authenticator app ready.
• Use a wired internet connection. The reinstall downloads a large package. A stable connection reduces the chance of a corrupted download.
• Check for Windows updates first. Some Store errors are fixed by cumulative updates. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and install any pending updates before attempting the reinstall.
• Run the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Windows Store Apps. Run it — it can automatically fix common issues.
• Create a system restore point. Before removing the Store, create a restore point (search “Create a restore point” in Start). If something goes wrong, you can roll back.

Troubleshooting

• The reset button is greyed out. This happens if the Store is running or if the app is corrupted. Close the Store via Task Manager, then try again. If still greyed, restart your PC and retry.
• PowerShell says “The specified package was not found.” This means the Store isn’t installed for the current user. Run the command without -AllUsers: Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.WindowsStore | Remove-AppxPackage then reinstall via the Microsoft Store website.
• The reinstall command fails with “Deployment failed with HRESULT: 0x80073CF9.” This indicates a corrupted package. Try clearing the Windows Store cache again, then run the re-register command. If it still fails, restart your PC and try again.
• The Store opens but shows error 0x80072EFD. This is a network error. Check your internet connection, disable any VPN or proxy, and make sure the date and time are correct (Settings > Time & Language > Date & time).
• After removal, the Store doesn’t reappear. Open a web browser, go to the Microsoft Store website, search for “Microsoft Store,” and click Get. If that doesn’t work, run the Windows Update troubleshooter, then restart and try again.
• You get “This app can’t open” after reinstall. This often means the app is registered but not properly installed. Run the re-register command one more time, then restart your PC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will reinstalling the Store delete my installed apps?

No. Reinstalling the Microsoft Store only affects the Store app itself. Your installed apps, games, and personal files remain untouched.

Do I need to be signed in to my Microsoft account?

You need to be signed in to download apps, but the reinstall process itself doesn’t require it. You can reinstall the Store while signed in or out.

Why does the Store keep crashing after reinstall?

If the Store crashes immediately after reinstall, it’s usually a corrupted cache or a pending Windows update. Run wsreset.exe again and install all pending updates.

Can I reinstall the Store without admin rights?

No. The PowerShell commands require administrator privileges. If you don’t have admin rights, contact your system administrator.

Will this fix error 0x80073CF3?

That error often appears when the Store can’t update. Reinstalling the Store frequently resolves it, but first try the built-in reset and the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter.

Is there a way to reinstall the Store using Command Prompt instead of PowerShell?

No, the re-register and removal commands are PowerShell-specific. You can open PowerShell from within Command Prompt by typing powershell, but it’s easier to use PowerShell directly.

Related

• CSS Animation Visual Regression Testing Guide
• Fix Installation Error 0xca00a009
• How to Make a Google Sheets Button