If Microsoft Store won’t open, a built-in app has disappeared, or an app can’t be installed, you rarely need to reinstall Windows to fix it. The steps below run from the least disruptive fix to the most disruptive, so you can stop as soon as the problem is resolved. Each step notes what it changes and what it leaves alone.
Choose the right starting point
The correct first step depends on what is actually broken. Use this table to pick a starting point, then work down the steps in order only if the earlier ones fail.
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| Symptom | Start with | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Store app is missing from search, or installs fail | Step 2: wsreset.exe |
Resets the Store cache; does not guarantee that every app is available in your region |
| One installed app misbehaves | Step 3: Repair, then Reset | Repair is the gentler option; Reset may clear that app’s data and settings |
| One Store app is gone from your device | Step 4: Reinstall from Library | Installs only the selected app |
| Several components seem broken, or Windows features behave oddly | Step 5: DISM, then SFC | Repairs Windows component and protected system files |
| Problems persist after the steps above | Step 6: Fix problems using Windows Update | Reinstalls the current Windows version while keeping apps, files, and settings |
| Other recovery routes have failed | Step 7: Reset this PC | Reinstalls Windows; removes apps and settings even when you keep your files |
Step 1: Check your account, app, and updates
Microsoft’s own troubleshooting for “I can’t find or install an app from Microsoft Store” begins with these basics. Work through them in this order:
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →- Confirm you are signed in to the Microsoft account you use for the Store. Apps are tied to the account that acquired them.
- Close the affected app completely and open it again.
- Install any pending Windows updates through Settings > Windows Update.
- Open Microsoft Store, select Library, then choose Get updates.
If the problem clears up, you are done. If the Store itself is absent or will not open, skip ahead to Step 2 or Step 6, because Library may not be reachable.
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Step 2: Reset the Microsoft Store with wsreset.exe
Microsoft documents wsreset.exe as the Store reset step when an app cannot be found or installed. It is the right move when the Store opens but behaves unpredictably.
- Press Windows+R to open the Run dialog.
- Type
wsreset.exeand press Enter. - Wait. A blank Command Prompt window appears and closes after roughly ten seconds.
- Microsoft Store opens automatically. Search for the app again.
A successful reset does not override region restrictions, catalog changes, or family-safety settings. If the app still does not appear, it may simply be unavailable for your account or location.
Step 3: Repair or reset one app
Built-in and Store apps that expose these controls can be repaired from Settings, which is a per-app route rather than a way to restore every default app at once. Not all apps offer these options.
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Repair the app
- Open Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Select the More menu (the three dots) beside the app.
- Choose Advanced options.
- Select Repair if the control appears.
Reset the app
If Repair is missing or does not fix the problem, return to the same Advanced options page and choose Reset. Reset clears the app’s stored data and settings, so note any sign-ins or preferences you need to re-enter afterward.
Step 4: Reinstall the app from Microsoft Store Library
When one Store app has disappeared and the Store works, reinstalling it is the least disruptive way to bring it back.
- Open Microsoft Store and select Library.
- Find the app in the list.
- Select Install.
Make sure you are signed in to the same Microsoft account that originally installed the app. If the app is not listed in Library, it may have been removed from the Store or be blocked by policy; see the managed-device section below.
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Step 5: Repair Windows system files with DISM and SFC
DISM and SFC repair Windows components and protected system files. They are broader tools than the Store fixes above, and they do not replace a Store reinstall. Microsoft directs users to run DISM first and SFC second.
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- Open Command Prompt as administrator: right-click the Start button and choose Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin), depending on your Windows build.
- Run:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth - When DISM finishes, run:
sfc /scannow
DISM gets its repair files from Windows Update by default. Microsoft documents an alternate source argument for cases where the Windows Update client is itself broken; consult Microsoft’s DISM documentation for that syntax. Keep the window open until each command reports completion, and do not close it partway through.
Step 6: Try the Windows Update repair reinstall
If system components remain faulty, Windows 11 may offer an in-place repair that reinstalls the current version of Windows.
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- Open Settings > System > Recovery.
- Select Fix problems using Windows Update, then choose Reinstall now.
Microsoft says this process preserves your apps, files, and settings. Keep the PC plugged in and connected to the internet throughout. The option may be missing on work or school devices, or on systems that lack the required Windows 11 updates. If it is absent, install all pending updates first and check again.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Step 7: Reset this PC only when nothing else works
Reset this PC is the most disruptive option and sits last in Microsoft’s recovery guidance. It is reached from Settings > System > Recovery > Reset PC.
Keep my files
This option keeps your personal files but removes apps and settings. You will need to reinstall Store apps and reconfigure preferences afterward.
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Remove everything
This option removes personal files, apps, and settings. Back up everything important first.
Before you start
- Back up important files to external storage or cloud storage.
- If device encryption is enabled, have your BitLocker recovery key available. Without it, you may be locked out of the drive.
- Choose between a cloud download, which fetches a fresh copy of Windows, and a local reinstall, which uses files already on the device.
- Keep the PC on power and connected to the internet.
Recovery and installation media
Recovery media or Windows installation media is a further escalation route for severe, unresolved failures. A USB flash drive can serve as bootable media, but it is not needed for Store reset, app repair, or reinstalling apps from Library. OEM recovery media may include device-specific drivers and factory apps, so follow your device maker’s instructions and requirements for creating and using it.
Managed work, school, and enterprise devices
On Windows 11 Enterprise and Education configurations, an administrator can remove preinstalled Store apps through policy. Microsoft’s Support documentation describing this behavior was published in 2025, and rollout and management details may change.
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- After the policy is cleared, the app can be reinstalled from Microsoft Store or redeployed through the organization’s management tool.
- Personal troubleshooting steps may not override an organization’s policy. If the device belongs to your employer or school, ask your IT administrator before making changes.
If the Store itself is blocked on a managed device, the Store-specific steps above may not be available to you.
Why the order matters
Each step is more disruptive than the one before it. Starting with a full reset or repair reinstall means losing time, and sometimes data, on a problem that a Store reset would have solved. Working from single-app repair toward Windows-level repair keeps your apps, files, and settings intact for as long as possible.
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