Fix Microsoft Store Not Working Windows 11 PC

Although popular, the Microsoft Store isn’t free from bugs and temporary glitches. Many users have complained about Microsoft Store not working Windows 11. For example, the thread named “Can’t open Microsoft Store” shows that 666 users have already reported the issue.

Don’t want this problem to slow down your work or personal productivity on your PC? Read this article until the end! We tested and tried 8 solutions and provided step-by-step instructions for each. Ready?

Why Is Microsoft Store Not Working?

Find below the most common reasons that could make the Microsoft Store app on your Windows 11 PC unresponsive:

1. Issues with your internet connection or proxy settings can disrupt the store’s access to the internet.
2. Accumulated cache and temporary files can lead to malfunctions.
3. Outdated or pending Windows updates may affect the proper functioning of the Microsoft Store.
4. Problems with your Microsoft account or local user account settings can hinder access to the app.
5. Corrupted or missing Windows 11 operating system files can trigger the issue.

8 Ways to Fix Microsoft Store Not Working on Windows 11

Solution 1: Check the Internet Connection and System Date

First, you should ensure your internet network isn’t blocking the Microsoft Store from your PC. Try to access the same app from another connected device and see if the issue persists.

If it does, you should contact your ISP’s support desk and ask them to unblock the Microsoft Store.

Additionally, you should make sure your system date and time are up to date for your PC to properly connect to the Microsoft Store. Here’s how:

1. Press the Windows + I keys to open the Windows 11 Settings application.
2. Click the Time & language menu on the left side navigation panel.
3. Select Date & time on the right side.
4. On the right, scroll down to the Additional settings section.
5. There, click on the Sync now button.
6. Wait for the checkmark indicating a successful sync to show up.

Now, reboot your PC. When you’re back on the home screen, launch the Microsoft Store app from the Start menu and it should open now.

Solution 2: Update the Microsoft Store

1. Open the Microsoft Store app.
2. Click the Library icon on the bottom left corner of the app.
3. Now, click the Get updates option in the top right corner.

Once it’s done, reboot your PC so that the changes can become effective across the system.

Solution 3: Re-register the Microsoft Store App

1. Right-click on the Start button or press Windows + X on your keyboard.
2. From the menu that appears, select Windows Terminal (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
3. In the Windows PowerShell window, type the following command and press Enter:Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.WindowsStore | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
4. The command will re-register the Microsoft Store app, and you may see some processing messages in the PowerShell window.
5. Once the process is finished, you can close the PowerShell window.

Now check if you can open the app or not.

Solution 4: Perform Repair and Reset

You can fix Microsoft Store not working Windows 11  with the repair and reset features. Simply follow these instructions:

1. Click on the Start button or press the Windows key, then click on the gear-shaped Settings icon in the Start menu.
2. In the Windows Settings window, select Apps from the list of categories on the left-side navigation pane.
3. Scroll down the list of installed apps and locate Microsoft Store.
4. Tap the ellipses icon and choose Advanced options from the context menu.
5. In the next window, scroll down and find the Repair option in the Reset section.
6. Click on it.
7. Follow any on-screen prompts or instructions to complete the repair process.

Restart the PC so that the changes can take effect.

If this doesn’t fix the issue, you can also try resetting the app. You can find the Reset button just below the Repair button, so follow the above steps again.

Solution 5: Update Windows 11

When you update your Windows 11 OS to its latest version, you’ll also install all the bug fixes for native apps, including the Microsoft Store. Here’s how:

1. Press the Windows and I keys together to launch the Settings app.
2. On the left side panel of Settings, click Windows Update.
3. Now, hit the Check for updates button to update your PC.

Once the update process is complete, restart the device. Then, try to launch Microsoft Store and see if it’s working.

Solution 6: Disable VPN

Sometimes VPNs can interfere with the normal functionalities of the Microsoft Store. Many VPN users have trouble accessing the service. Since it’s a region and country-specific marketplace, its server-side security system can detect and prevent VPN connections.

So, you’ll have to disable it before attempting to visit the store. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Go to the Windows Settings app by pressing the Windows and I keys together.
2. Click the Network & internet menu on the sidebar to the left of the window.
3. There, you’ll see a VPN option on the right sidebar.
4. Click on it.
5. In the right pane, you’ll see a list of configured VPN connections if you have any.
6. To disable the VPN, simply click on the toggle switch next to the connection you want to turn off.

Now, try to open the Microsoft Store and it should work.

Solution 7: Clear Microsoft Store Cache Using CMD

First, you’ll need to launch the Windows Command Prompt interface by following these steps:

1. Click the Start menu button.
2. Type CMD.
3. Click on the Run as administrator button.
4. You should now get the CMD interface on your PC screen.

Now, copy and paste the following CMD commands on the above console one by one:

net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver

You must hit Enter after entering each.

Then, copy and paste the following command into the same CMD console and hit Enter:

rmdir /s /q "%CtOS%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsStore_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache"

Replace the code element CtOS with the user name of the PC. This should clear the cache of the Microsoft Store.

Now, restart the previously stopped services by running these commands one after another:

net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver

Solution 8: Use the Windows 11 Troubleshooter

If the Microsoft Store app is faulty, you should see it as an option in the Windows 11 Troubleshoot tool. Here’s how to find it:

1. Click on the Start button or press the Windows key.
2. Click on the gear-shaped Settings icon in the Start menu to open Windows Settings.
3. In the Windows Settings window, select System from the list of categories on the left side panel.
4. On the right side menu, scroll down and click on Troubleshoot.
5. Hit the Other troubleshooters button.
6. Look for the Microsoft Store app under the Most frequent and the Other section.
7. Click the Microsoft Store troubleshooter and follow the on-screen guidance.

Conclusion

So, now you know how to fix the Microsoft Store not working Windows 11 error. Try the above steps in order to solve the problem as soon as possible. Do check the status of the app after trying each method to avoid unnecessary troubleshooting steps.

Also, feel free to write a comment below if the article helped or if you want to share different tips.