The Microsoft Store is an important app that comes pre-installed on Windows devices. It allows you to download apps, games, movies, TV shows, and books. Sometimes, you may need to reinstall the Microsoft Store app if it has become damaged or unresponsive.
What is the Microsoft Store app?
The Microsoft Store, previously known as the Windows Store, is Microsoft’s digital distribution platform. It was introduced alongside Windows 8 in 2012 as a means of distributing apps for Windows devices. The Microsoft Store comes pre-installed on Windows 10, Windows 11, and Xbox One consoles.
Through the Microsoft Store, users can browse and download apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, and books. Both free and paid content is available. Paid content can be purchased directly within the app. The Microsoft Store also includes Microsoft’s own first-party apps, such as Office, OneDrive, OneNote, and more.
The Microsoft Store is the only way to install Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps on Windows devices. UWP apps can run across various Windows device types and platforms. Traditional Win32 desktop programs cannot be distributed through the Microsoft Store.
When would you need to reinstall the Microsoft Store?
There are a few common scenarios in which reinstalling the Microsoft Store app may become necessary:
- The app is missing from your Start Menu and cannot be opened.
- You receive an error message when trying to open the Microsoft Store.
- The app interface is unresponsive, slow, or buggy.
- Apps, games, or other content from the Microsoft Store will not download or open.
- You want to reset the app to default settings due to issues or performance problems.
- A Windows update, system restore, or other change caused the Store app to become damaged or unusable.
Essentially, if the Microsoft Store is not functioning properly or has disappeared altogether, reinstalling the app can often fix the problem. Reinstalling will replace any missing or corrupted files related to the app.
How to reinstall the Microsoft Store app
There are a couple different methods to reinstall the Microsoft Store. The easiest way is through the Settings app if the Store app is still visible on your computer:
- Open Settings and go to Apps > Apps & features
- Locate the listing for “Microsoft Store” in the list of apps
- Click the “Advanced options” link next to it
- Click “Repair” and follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall the app
If the Microsoft Store listing is not visible here, you can reinstall it through Powershell:
- Open the Start menu and search for “Powershell”
- Right-click on Windows Powershell and select “Run as administrator”
- Paste the following command and press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"} - The Microsoft Store will be reinstalled
- You may need to restart your computer
This Powershell command essentially re-registers the Microsoft Store’s app manifest file to reinstall it from the system image.
Clean reinstall of the Microsoft Store
In some cases, you may want to do a clean reinstallation of the Microsoft Store to completely reset the app and any associated data or cached files. Here is how:
- Open Settings, go to Apps > Apps & features
- Click on the “…” next to the Microsoft Store listing
- Click “Uninstall”
- Confirm that you want to uninstall when prompted
- Now open Powershell as administrator
- Enter this command:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"} - The Microsoft Store will be freshly installed
This completely removes the Store app and related files before reinstalling it from scratch. If you were having issues with corrupt data or were unable to reset the app through other methods, a clean install may resolve the problems.
Use Windows recovery environment
If the Microsoft Store is missing or cannot be reinstalled through Settings or Powershell, you may need to use the Windows recovery environment:
- Open Settings and go to System > Recovery
- Under “Advanced startup”, click “Restart now”
- After restarting, your PC will boot into the recovery environment
- Choose “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Command Prompt”
- Enter the command:
Dism /online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth - Restart your computer again
This will scan your Windows image for corruption and replace any missing system files, which should restore the Microsoft Store. Keep in mind this process can take some time to complete.
Refresh or reset your PC
If no other method works, performing a full refresh or reset of your Windows installation will reinstall a clean working version of the Microsoft Store.
To refresh your PC:
- Go to Settings > System > Recovery
- Under “Recovery options”, select “Get started” under “Refresh this PC”
- Follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall Windows without deleting your personal files
Or, to fully reset your PC:
- Go to Settings > System > Recovery
- Under “Recovery options”, select “Get started” under “Reset this PC”
- Choose “Remove everything” to fully wipe your PC and do a clean Windows install
Refreshing or resetting Windows will remove any corrupted system files and reinstall the Microsoft Store.
Other Microsoft Store troubleshooting
Here are some other things to try if reinstalling the Microsoft Store did not resolve your issues:
- Make sure your Windows is fully updated. Outdated system files can prevent the Store from working.
- Check for any pending Windows updates related to the Microsoft Store under Settings > Update & Security.
- Restart your PC and check if the Microsoft Store works properly after rebooting.
- Delete the cache and data folders for the Microsoft Store app:
- %LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsStore_*\
- %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\AppRepository\
- Use the Windows Update Troubleshooter to scan for and apply any fixes.
- Use the System File Checker tool (SFC /scannow) to verify all system files are intact.
- Check that you have proper administrative rights to install apps from the Store.
- Make sure your date, time, and region settings are accurate.
Contact Microsoft Support if you continue having persistent issues with the Store app after trying these steps.
Conclusion
The Microsoft Store provides important functionality for app management on Windows devices. If the Store app becomes damaged or unusable, reinstalling it can often resolve common problems. There are a few different methods to reinstall the app depending on your specific situation.
Following the steps in Settings, Powershell, or the recovery environment allows you to restore the Store app when needed. Refreshing your PC or performing a clean reset offers last resort options as well. With the proper troubleshooting, you can get the Microsoft Store working again.
