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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchIf Microsoft Store shows error 0x80131505, stays on a loading screen, closes unexpectedly, or will not download apps, work through the fixes below in order. Microsoft does not document one confirmed cause for this specific code, so treat it as a symptom: the cause may involve Store data, your account, Windows components, network access, or device policy.
Start with checks that do not remove data, then move to Store repair and reset. Leave PowerShell commands and Windows recovery for later. These steps apply to Windows 10; some labels may vary by build.
What error 0x80131505 means
Microsoft does not publish a definitive consumer-facing explanation that maps 0x80131505 to one root cause. The code can appear when Microsoft Store will not initialize, access its local data, authenticate, or complete an app operation. A blank Store window, an endless loading screen, a generic “Try that again” message, or a failed download can all accompany the problem.
Use what happens to choose the next test. If only one app fails, troubleshoot that app first; if Store works on a different network or Windows account, focus on the original network or profile rather than assuming the Store itself is universally broken.
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Before changing Store settings
- Restart Windows: select Start > Power > Restart, then test opening Store and downloading a free app.
- Confirm the device is online by opening an unrelated website. In Store, select the account icon and check that you are signed in with the intended Microsoft account.
- Check Start > Settings > Time & Language > Date & time. Enable automatic time and select Sync now if available. Under Time & Language > Region, confirm your actual country or region. Do not change region to bypass availability restrictions; it can affect apps, purchases, subscriptions, and media licensing.
- If permitted, briefly disconnect a VPN or manually configured proxy to test. Do not permanently disable antivirus or firewall protection.
- If this is a work- or school-managed PC, check with its administrator before changing policy or running package commands. Store access may be intentionally restricted.
Update Windows and Microsoft Store
Install available Windows updates
- Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
- Select Check for updates, install updates offered for your device, and restart if prompted.
Microsoft includes Windows updating in its general Microsoft Store troubleshooting guidance. Windows Update does not necessarily install every Store app update; consumer Store updates are handled inside the Store, as Microsoft notes in its Windows 10 update documentation.
Update Store itself
- Open Microsoft Store.
- Select See more (the three-dot menu), then Downloads and updates.
- Select Get updates and let Store components finish updating.
These are the Windows 10 labels in Microsoft’s guidance; wording can differ in some Store versions. If Store will not open, skip this step and continue.
Clear the Store cache with wsreset.exe
- Press Windows key + R.
- Type
wsreset.exeand press Enter. - Wait for the blank Command Prompt window to close. Store should open automatically; open it manually if it does not.
- Restart Windows and test Store again.
Microsoft says the blank window may remain open for about ten seconds before closing and reopening Store in its guidance for Microsoft Store error 0x80131500. The command clears Store cache data; it does not repair account, network, policy, or all AppX registration problems. If it fails or changes nothing, move on instead of running it repeatedly.
Repair, then reset Microsoft Store
Try Repair first
- Open Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
- Find and select Microsoft Store, then select Advanced options.
- Select Repair if available, restart Windows, and test Store.
Repair is the less disruptive option. Microsoft’s Windows app guidance distinguishes Repair from Reset and advises trying Repair first where available.
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Use Reset only if Repair did not help
- Return to Microsoft Store > Advanced options.
- Select Reset and confirm.
- Restart Windows, reopen Store, and sign in again if prompted.
Reset removes the Store app’s local data and settings. You may need to sign in or reconfigure Store preferences. It is not the same as resetting Windows, and it is not guaranteed to fix the error. Microsoft recommends Repair or Reset as part of its Store app troubleshooting.
Run the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter
- Open Start > Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
- Select Additional troubleshooters, if shown.
- Choose Windows Store Apps, select Run the troubleshooter, and apply any suggested fix.
- Restart Windows and test Store.
Microsoft still documents this option for Windows 10 in its Store troubleshooting guidance, but availability varies: older troubleshooters are being retired, and some installations may redirect to newer help mechanisms. It may not identify or automatically repair 0x80131505.
Re-register Store for the affected Windows user
Use this advanced step only after the ordinary fixes. It re-registers an existing Store package; it does not download or reinstall a missing one.
- Sign in to the Windows account where Store fails.
- Right-click Start and open Windows PowerShell if available. Avoid choosing an elevated administrator prompt unless a specific instruction requires it; registration in the wrong user context may not fix the affected account.
- Run:
Get-AppxPackage -Name Microsoft.WindowsStore | ForEach-Object {
Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml"
}- Close PowerShell, restart Windows, and test Store.
Microsoft’s Store download troubleshooting guidance emphasizes package registration for the affected user and cautions that an elevated prompt can target the administrator context. If Get-AppxPackage returns nothing, the package may be missing, blocked, damaged, or unavailable to that account.
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Do not use Remove-AppxPackage to remove Microsoft Store or run scripts that remove built-in apps broadly. Microsoft says Store removal is unsupported in its advanced inbox and Store app troubleshooting guidance. Avoid manually deleting WindowsApps or Store folders, changing registry permissions, or registering every AppX package globally; these steps can affect unrelated apps and make diagnosis harder.
Repair Windows system files with DISM and SFC
These commands can address underlying Windows component or protected system-file damage, but they do not specifically diagnose error 0x80131505.
- Open Start, type
cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator. - Run the following command and wait for it to finish:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth- Then run:
sfc /scannow- When both commands finish, restart Windows and test Store.
DISM repairs the Windows component store; SFC checks and repairs protected system files. The process can take several minutes or longer, and progress may appear paused. If DISM says source files cannot be found, there is no universal source path: matching installation media or professional help may be needed, particularly on modified or organization-managed Windows installations.
Check network access and device policy
Store downloads can fail when a proxy, VPN, firewall configuration, or organization policy blocks required access. Microsoft’s download troubleshooting guidance notes Store access may depend on Windows Update endpoints.
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- Check Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy for an unexpected manual proxy. Do not remove a work-managed setting without authorization.
- Test with a different network, such as a phone hotspot, if available. If Store works there, the original network’s proxy, DNS, firewall, or endpoint access is a stronger suspect.
- Do not open random firewall ports or turn off security software permanently.
- On a work or school device, ask IT whether Store is blocked and whether apps must be installed through the organization’s deployment system.
Separate a one-app problem from a Store-wide problem
If Store opens but one app alone will not install or update, do not start by resetting Store.
- In Store, select See more > My Library.
- Find the affected app and select Install or reinstall it.
- If needed, open Settings > Apps > Apps & features, select that app, and use its Advanced options to Repair or Reset if offered.
- Check whether the app supports your installed Windows 10 version.
Microsoft distinguishes an issue with an individual Store app from a Store-wide failure and recommends reinstalling the affected app from the library in its app troubleshooting guidance.
Test a new Windows user profile
A fresh account can help distinguish a per-user problem from a system-wide one. Go to Start > Settings > Accounts > Family & other users, add a local test account, sign in to it, and try Store.
- If Store works there, the original profile, its Store cache, account token, or per-user package registration may be involved.
- If Store fails in both accounts, investigate system components, network access, or device policy next.
Do not abandon the original profile on this test alone. Moving profiles can affect files, app settings, encryption keys, and credentials.
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If the error still appears
On a modified, debloated, custom, or LTSC Windows installation, Store dependencies or services may have been intentionally removed. Generic commands cannot be relied on to restore components absent from the image. If Store itself was deliberately removed, avoid unofficial Store installers and removal-script reversals; Microsoft’s guidance says removing the Store package is not supported.
For an otherwise standard installation, consider a supported in-place Windows repair or upgrade before Reset this PC. Back up personal files, confirm access to your Microsoft account, and locate the BitLocker recovery key if device encryption is enabled. Microsoft’s Reset this PC guidance explains that Windows is reinstalled; depending on the option, apps, settings, and personal files may be removed. Keep my files and Remove everything have different consequences, so do not choose either without understanding them.
Standard Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. The PC continues to run, but normal technical assistance, feature updates, and security updates for standard installations ended. Microsoft says eligible Windows 10 22H2 devices may upgrade to Windows 11 if they meet its hardware requirements, and its consumer Extended Security Updates program can extend security coverage for eligible devices through October 12, 2027. ESU does not restore normal feature support or guarantee a Store fix. See Microsoft’s current Windows 10 support status. If advanced repair is outside your comfort level, consult Microsoft Support or a qualified technician rather than using a third-party “Store fixer.”
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