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- Outdated version of Windows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.