You may be unable to access the Microsoft store interface due to the missing elements from your Windows 11 install. You need to know everything to fix the Microsoft Store that opens on Windows 11 PCs.
Microsoft Store is a marketplace where you can download and purchase various apps and games. It works the same way as the Apps Store for iOS and the Play Store for Android, but it is optimized to work on your Windows 11 computer. You can download a good selection of apps and other games from the Store.
Although the Microsoft Store is a safe and convenient way to download and install apps, its reliability has been poor since October 2012. The Microsoft Store is prone to crashing, not opening, or being unable to download apps.
Causes Not Working or Opening Microsoft Store on Windows 11?
Many factors could be responsible for the “Microsoft Store Not Opening” issue. The app is dependent on specific services or settings. This issue could be caused by:
- Wrong Date & Time settings Faulty internet connection
- Outdated version of Windows
- Windows update services being disabled
- Wrong Country or Region settings
- Broken or corrupted cache date
- Having Anti-virus or VPN enabled
Now you have a better knowledge of the causes and can move on to the solutions. If the basic solutions fail, we will move to more advanced options.
Check the Internet Connection
Accessing the Microsoft Store requires an internet connection. It will not connect to the Microsoft servers if your internet connection is poor or slow. Before you make any modifications, check to make sure the internet is not causing the problem.
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
- Select Network & internet from the left panel. Now make sure that it says Connected next to the blue globe icon under the bold Wi-Fi text.
- Note: If you use Ethernet, the bold text shows Ethernet in place of Wi-Fi, but the rest will be the same.
Use Command Prompt to ping any IP, such as google.com, to check if you make consistent and reliable pings. If you don’t get constant pings or see messages like “Request time-out,” this is a sign that your internet connection is not running correctly.
- Type cmd in the Search menu and tap Enter key.
- Paste the below command and tap the Enter key.
- ping google.com
- It should show 0% loss, which is the percentage of packet loss. If your average ping time is greater than 80-100ms, you will likely have a slow internet connection. It could be causing the Microsoft Store not to open. If this happens, you should contact your internet provider.
Reset Microsoft Store Cache
It is a fast and straightforward way to reset the Store cache. It will remove any corrupted or broken files in your cache data that might be preventing you from opening the store.
- Type “wsreset” in the Search Menu and hit Enter key.
- It will now appear as a black console window. It is normal. Wait for the process to complete, and then it will automatically close itself.
- After the console closes, the cache data will be deleted. The Microsoft Store will then open.
Re-register Microsoft Store Using PowerShell
The Microsoft Store is a system program that cannot be removed or reinstalled using normal methods. We do not recommend Windows PowerShell to re-register your application to the system. It might fix any bugs or glitches.
- Right-click on the Start button menu and go to Windows Terminal (Admin).
- Copy & paste the below command and hit Enter key.
- PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command “& {$manifest = (Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.WindowsStore).InstallLocation + ‘AppxManifest.xml’ ; Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $manifest}
- Now, try to access the Microsoft Store to see if it works.
Use Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter
Microsoft is conscious that the Store application is breaking. Windows 11 includes a built-in troubleshooter to help you with Microsoft Store.
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
- Scroll down and select Troubleshoot from the right panel.
- Under the Options section, choose Other troubleshoots.
- Scroll until you see Windows Store Apps and hit the Run button next to it.
- After that, Wait for the troubleshooter to detect the problems.
- If the troubleshooter can find the problem, you’ll be notified and given options for how to fix it.
Reset or Repair the Microsoft Store Application
- Open Settings by right-clicking on the Start menu.
- Select Apps from the left panel and then click on Apps & features from the right-hand side.
- Scroll down until you see Microsoft Store, and click on the three vertical dots to the right of the text.
- After that, select the Advanced option.
- Scroll down to see the options to repair and reset the Microsoft Store app. You can try both to see if it fixes the “Microsoft Store is not opening” issue.
Ensure Windows Update Services are Enabled
Microsoft Store depends on several internal services, including the Windows Update service. This service can cause many problems in the Microsoft Store if it is disabled.
- Type Services in the Search menu and hit Enter key.
- Find ‘Windows Update‘ in the list. Double-click the Windows Update service.
- A dialog box called Windows Update Properties will now appear. Be sure that the Startup is set to ‘Automatic.’ It will also say ‘Running‘ next to Service status. If not, then click on the Start.
- Lastly, hit OK.
Check and Install any Pending Windows Update
Windows updates provide new features and include bug fixes, performance enhancements, stability improvements, and many other improvements. Hotfixes are also available via updates when Microsoft detects bugs or other issues in the OS. Keeping your Windows 11 computer current can resolve the problem automatically.
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
- After that, choose Windows Update and click on Check for updates from the right panel.
- After the system has finished searching for updates, it will automatically download any available update and install it. Wait for the process to complete. Depending on what type of update you are installing, your computer might or might not need to reboot.
Ensure You Sign in to Microsoft Account
You shouldn’t be surprised to know that you must sign in to your Microsoft Account to download or buy anything from the Microsoft Store.
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
- Now, select Accounts, then go to Your info.
- If it says “Microsoft account” under the Account settings section, you have successfully logged in to your Microsoft account. If it doesn’t, then you will need to sign in to your Microsoft account.
Fix Date and Time Settings
Microsoft Store may not open if you have the wrong date or time set on your computer. Microsoft Store will not sync your computer’s date and time with the server, leading to it being closed constantly.
- Open Settings menu by pressing Windows key + I.
- After that, select Time & language, then click on Date & time from the right panel.
- Set the toggles for ‘Set Time Automatically‘ and Set Time Zone Automatically‘ to ‘ON.’ Click on the “Sync Now” button in the Additional settings section. Your time and date will automatically be updated.
Set Correct Region on your PC
Microsoft Store app will not work well if it is not set in the right region. Microsoft Store has different versions depending on your location. Connect to the proper regional server to access features like regional currency, payment options, pricing content censorship, and more. The store application must connect to the appropriate regional server.
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings on your keyboard.
- After that, select Time & language, then go to Language & region.
- Scroll down to the Region section,” click on the country or region drop-down menu, and choose your region. Now it’s done.
Turn Off Proxy Servers
Although Proxy servers can be used to strengthen privacy, they can also interfere with the Microsoft Store’s connectivity and prevent it from opening.
- Open the Settings by pressing Windows key + I on your keyboard.
- After that, select Network & internet from the left-hand panel and then click on Proxy from the right-hand panel.
- First, ensure that the ‘Automatically detect Settings‘ is turned off. Click the “Set up” button in the Manual proxy setup section to open manual proxy settings.
- After clicking on Set up, a dialog box appears. Turn off the toggle “Use a proxy server” and hit the Save button.
Use a custom DNS server
The Microsoft Store may not open because your DNS blocks the application’s access to the servers. You can fix it by changing your DNS. We recommend Google’s DNS as it is compatible with all internet providers and doesn’t block access to any websites.
Change DNS settings
- Open the Search menu, then type Control panel and hit Enter key.
- Below the Network & Internet, click on View network status and tasks.
- Select the “Change adapter settings” option from the left panel.
- A new window appears, then Right-click on your network adapter and choose Properties.
- Choose Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), and click on Properties.
- Another dialog box opens up. Tick mark the Use the following DNS server addresses, put 8.8.8.8 & 8.8.4.4, respectively, and tap OK.
Uninstall your Antivirus Software
You may have an Antivirus running that is causing the Microsoft Store not to open. Antiviruses can sometimes not distinguish between system processes and other network activity and interrupt many system applications such as Microsoft Store.
It is best to remove the Antivirus from your computer. It can be done via the Control Panel.
- Open the Search menu, then type Control panel and hit Enter key.
- After that, click on Uninstall a program.
- Right-click on your antivirus and select Uninstall.
Disable VPN on your PC
VPNs are a great way to surf the web safely and bypass content moderation. However, VPNs may not connect to Microsoft Store servers due to how they function. However, some users may only connect to Microsoft Store via VPN.
It is impossible to specify which VPNs can access Microsoft Store servers. It all depends on the variety of VPN you use and how it connects to Microsoft Store servers. You can try to turn off your VPN and then open the Store.
These are the steps you can take to fix the “Microsoft Store Not Opening” issue in Windows 11.
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