Windows 10 App Store Icon Missing? Fix It

If the Microsoft Store icon has vanished from your Windows 10 taskbar, Start menu, or desktop, you can usually restore it by re-pinning the Store app from the Start menu or by running the built-in Windows Store troubleshooter. In most cases the app itself is still installed, so the fix takes less than a minute. Below are the exact steps, plus what to do if the Store app is truly gone or won’t open.

Why the Icon Disappears

The Microsoft Store icon can disappear for several reasons, and most are harmless:

• Accidental unpinning – Right-clicking a taskbar icon and choosing “Unpin from taskbar” removes it without uninstalling the app. This is the most common cause.
• Start menu tile removed – If you unpinned the tile from Start, the icon no longer appears there, but the app remains installed.
• Corrupted app cache – A damaged Store cache can make the app fail to launch, which sometimes makes the icon appear missing or unresponsive.
• Windows update glitch – After a feature update, certain Start menu layout changes can hide the Store tile.
• Group Policy or registry changes – On managed or modified systems, the Store can be disabled entirely, which removes its icon everywhere.

Knowing the cause helps you pick the right fix. For most users, the icon is simply hidden, not gone.

Quick Fix: Re-pin from Start Menu

The fastest way to get the icon back is to search for the Store and pin it again:

1. Click the Start button (Windows logo) and type “Microsoft Store”.
2. In the search results, you should see the Store app. Right-click it and choose Pin to taskbar and/or Pin to Start.
3. If you don’t see it in search, click All apps in the Start menu and scroll down to Microsoft Store. Drag it to the taskbar or right-click to pin.

This works even if the Store is already running – the icon may just have been unpinned. If the app doesn’t appear in search or All apps, move on to the next steps.

Use the Windows Store Troubleshooter

Windows 10 includes a dedicated troubleshooter for Store apps. It can repair broken shortcuts and cache issues automatically:

1. Open Settings (Win + I) and go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
2. Select Additional troubleshooters (or “Other troubleshooters” on newer builds).
3. Choose Windows Store Apps and click Run the troubleshooter.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions. It may take a few minutes.

This tool checks for common problems like corrupted cache, missing permissions, or broken registration. If it finds an issue, it will attempt to fix it. After it finishes, restart your PC and check if the Store icon is back.

Reset the Microsoft Store Cache

If the Store icon appears but the app won’t open, a corrupted cache is often the culprit. The wsreset.exe command clears the cache without affecting your installed apps or settings:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type wsreset.exe and press Enter.
3. A blank Command Prompt window will open – this is normal. Wait for it to finish and close automatically.
4. The Store will launch once the reset is complete. If it doesn’t, open it manually from Start.

This process can take a minute or two. It doesn’t delete your Microsoft account or any apps you’ve installed from the Store.

Re-register the Store App via PowerShell

If the Store app is still missing or won’t launch, you can re-register it using PowerShell. This reinstalls the app’s core files without downloading anything:

1. Right-click the Start button and choose Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Terminal (Admin).
2. Copy and paste this command, then press Enter:

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

3. Wait for the command to finish. It may take a few minutes.
4. Restart your PC.

This command re-registers the Store app for all user accounts. If you get an error, make sure you’re running PowerShell as administrator. This method also works for other built-in apps like Calculator or Mail.

Check if the Store Is Disabled by Policy

On some systems, especially managed work or school PCs, the Store may be disabled by Group Policy. If you’re on a personal PC, this is unlikely, but it’s worth checking:

1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter. (Not available on Windows 10 Home.)
2. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Store.
3. Double-click Turn off the Store application. If it’s set to Enabled, change it to Not Configured or Disabled.
4. Click OK and restart your PC.

If you don’t have gpedit.msc (Windows 10 Home), you can check the registry instead: navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsStore and look for a value named RemoveWindowsStore. If it’s set to 1, change it to 0 or delete it. Be careful when editing the registry – back it up first.

Alternative: Access Store via Website or Command

If you can’t restore the icon immediately, you can still open the Store without an icon:

• Press Win + R, type ms-windows-store:, and press Enter. This launches the Store directly.
• Visit www.microsoft.com/store in your browser. You can browse and buy apps, but you’ll need the Store app to install them.
• Right-click the Start button and choose Windows PowerShell, then type start ms-windows-store: and press Enter.

These methods work even if the icon is missing, as long as the app itself is installed and functional.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my Store icon disappear after an update?

Windows updates can sometimes change the Start menu layout or reset taskbar pins. The app itself is usually still installed. Re-pin it from Start or use the search method described above.

Is the Microsoft Store the same as the Windows Store?

Yes. Microsoft renamed the Windows Store to Microsoft Store in 2017, but the app is the same. You may see either name in settings or troubleshooting tools.

Can I reinstall the Microsoft Store if it’s completely gone?

Yes. Use the PowerShell re-register command in the section above. If that fails, you can download the Store app from the Microsoft website, but that’s rare – the app is usually just hidden or corrupted, not uninstalled.

Will resetting the Store cache delete my apps or games?

No. wsreset.exe only clears the cache files that store temporary data like thumbnails and search history. Your installed apps, games, and purchases remain untouched.

My Store icon is missing but I can open the Store from the Run dialog – why?

That means the app is installed and working, but the shortcut is gone. Re-pin it from Start or All apps. If it still doesn’t show up, the Start menu database may be corrupted – try restarting your PC or creating a new local administrator account to test.

What if the Store icon is missing on the taskbar but present in Start?

Right-click the icon in Start and choose “Pin to taskbar”. If that option is grayed out, restart Windows Explorer (right-click the taskbar, select Task Manager, find Windows Explorer, right-click and choose Restart).

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