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If Microsoft Store shows “Something bad happened. Unknown layout specified in manifest,” first install available Windows updates and restart, check that your region and date/time are correct, then run wsreset.exe. If the error remains, repair the Store before trying more involved steps. The message usually points to a problem between the Store app and the content or package it is trying to display—not proof that you need to edit a manifest file or reinstall Windows.
What the error means
A manifest is package metadata used by Microsoft Store and Windows apps. “Unknown layout specified” indicates that the installed Store client could not interpret something in a Store page or package. It may appear on the Store home page, an app listing, the Library, or during an installation or update.
Reports connect the error with an outdated or damaged Store installation, failed Store updates, and mismatches between the Store client and current content. Region, language, account, cache, and Windows components may also be involved. There is no confirmed single cause that explains every case. The message does not, by itself, mean that all your installed apps are damaged. Some reports pair it with “The thing you’re looking for isn’t here” and error code 0x00000005. Winhelponline’s error overview discusses that variant.
The error was reported around the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update in October 2017, and later reports describe it after fresh Windows 10 installations, including 22H2. It is not safe to assume the issue affects only one Windows version: Store behavior and Settings labels change over time, and an old Store package can behave differently from a current one. Historical Windows 10 coverage and later clean-install reports describe these different contexts.
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Before troubleshooting: work out what is failing
- One app or listing only: The Store may be working; the app could be unavailable in your region, have a licensing problem, or be affected by a service-side issue.
- Store pages, Library, and installs all fail: Start with the general fixes below.
- The problem began after a clean Windows install: Install Windows updates first. Older installation media can leave a Store version that cannot readily update itself.
- This is a work- or school-managed PC: Ask your administrator whether Store access is restricted by policy. Do not try to bypass an intentional organization setting.
1. Install Windows updates and restart
Open Settings → Windows Update and install available updates, then restart the PC—even if Windows does not explicitly require a restart. On Windows 10, use Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update. This is especially important after a clean installation, when Windows components or the Store package may be behind the versions expected by current Store services.
2. Check region, language, date, and time
- Open Settings → Time & language → Language & region. On older Windows 10 releases, this may be called Time & Language → Region & language.
- Confirm Country or region is set to the country where you actually live and use the Store.
- Check that your Windows display language and installed language settings are appropriate for your device.
- Open the date and time settings and enable automatic time and time-zone synchronization where available. Confirm the displayed date, time, and time zone are correct.
- If Store availability depends on location, check that location settings have not been disabled or misconfigured.
Some users have reported that changing the region to the UK or US restored the Store, but this is an anecdotal workaround, not a general diagnosis. Keep your real country selected unless you are testing briefly and understand the consequences: a different region can change the app catalog, prices, subscriptions, or licensing. See the Microsoft Q&A reports for examples, not a universal guarantee.
3. Run the Store apps troubleshooter, if Windows includes it
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- Windows 10: Go to Settings → Update & Security → Troubleshoot → Additional troubleshooters → Windows Store Apps → Run the troubleshooter.
- Some newer Windows builds: Check Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters.
Follow any suggested repair and test the Store again. The troubleshooter can detect some common app or configuration problems, but it may not be available and cannot guarantee a fix. Do not download a purported troubleshooter executable from an unverified site.
4. 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. Microsoft Store should open automatically.
- Restart Windows and try the Store again.
This clears the Store cache; it does not normally remove purchased apps or your Microsoft account, though you may need to refresh your Store sign-in. Microsoft Q&A responses for this error also recommend wsreset.exe. If the Store still fails, continue—the cache reset does not replace a missing or incorrectly registered Store package.
5. Repair Microsoft Store, then reset it if necessary
On Windows 11 and many current Windows 10 builds, open Settings → Apps → Installed apps, find Microsoft Store, open its three-dot menu, and select Advanced options. Choose Repair first. If that does not help, return to the same screen and choose Reset.
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On older Windows 10 releases, the path is usually Settings → Apps → Apps & features → Microsoft Store → Advanced options.
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- Reset clears Store-local app data and may require you to sign in again. It does not reset Windows or remove your Windows user account.
Restart after the repair or reset and test the Store. If Microsoft Store is missing from Settings, do not delete anything in C:Program FilesWindowsApps; proceed to the package and account checks below or seek support.
6. Repair Windows system files with DISM and SFC
Use this step if the earlier Store-specific fixes did not work. These commands can repair Windows components, but they are not guaranteed Store fixes. Open Terminal (Admin), Command Prompt (Admin), or PowerShell (Admin), approve the prompt, and run these commands in order:
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DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealthWait for it to complete, then run:
sfc /scannowRestart Windows after both commands finish, then test Microsoft Store. DISM may need Windows Update access and can take time; check internet connectivity and available disk space if it fails.
- SFC found no integrity violations: Windows system files may be fine; the fault could be specific to the Store or user profile.
- SFC repaired files: Restart and check whether Store works.
- SFC could not repair some files: Running it again after DISM may help. If it still cannot repair them, preserve the exact result and seek Windows repair support rather than repeating commands indefinitely.
7. Re-register the existing Store package
If Microsoft Store is installed but its registration may be broken, re-register its existing package. Open PowerShell as Administrator and paste this command exactly:
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsGet-AppxPackage -AllUsers *WindowsStore* | ForEach-Object { Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml" }Restart Windows after it completes and test the Store. The command registers the package already on the PC; it does not download a new Store installer. If the package is missing or damaged, re-registration may not help. Deployment errors are a reason to note the exact code and stop, not to keep repeating the command blindly. If you see error 0x80073D02, close Microsoft Store and other Store-related apps, restart, and try once more. Do not remove or edit files under C:Program FilesWindowsApps.
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8. If the Store package is too old to update
When the problem follows a clean install, especially one made from older installation media, the Store package itself may be too old to update successfully. A 2023 troubleshooting report describes that pattern. If you reach this point, use a Microsoft-controlled Store page or another supported Microsoft installation route to obtain or update the package. Avoid software mirrors and unofficial package download sites.
Manual .appx, .msix, or .msixbundle installation is not a universal fix. The package must match Windows architecture and edition, and it may require dependencies, licensing, or servicing components. Windows S mode and organization-managed devices have additional restrictions. If Microsoft’s supported route does not provide a compatible installation method for your device, contact Microsoft support or your organization’s administrator rather than sideloading an unverified bundle.
9. Use the failure pattern to decide what to try next
- Store works from another Windows account: This points toward a profile-specific problem. Back up important files and consider creating a fresh local or Microsoft-connected user profile, then test Store there. Avoid resetting the whole PC just to fix one profile.
- Store fails in every account: Consider Store package registration, Windows servicing, network filtering, or a broader service issue. On managed devices, ask IT about policy restrictions.
- Only one app fails: Check that app’s regional availability and account/licensing status. Reinstalling or repairing that app may be more appropriate than repairing Windows.
- Multiple Microsoft services are unavailable: Check Microsoft’s service-status information before making system changes; a service-side problem is not fixed by editing local packages.
- The command returns a deployment error: Record the full message and code. Close Store apps and restart before a single retry; repeated package commands cannot fix a missing or incompatible package.
Only consider a Windows repair install or Reset this PC after these checks, when the issue affects all accounts and appears system-wide. Back up personal files first and understand the selected recovery option’s data-retention consequences. Reinstalling Windows is not a normal first-line fix for this message.
Quick Recap
Sources and further reading
- Microsoft Q&A: troubleshooting this Store error
- Microsoft Q&A: region and language reports
- Microsoft Q&A: fresh-install report
- Microsoft Q&A: Store pages and install/reset reports
- Winhelponline: error code and old Store package discussion
- Windows Central: historical Windows 10 reports
- Kapil Arya: Store re-registration and account testing
- MiniTool: system-file and Store repair options
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