If the Microsoft Store won’t open on Windows 10 or 11, the fastest first step is to run wsreset.exe to clear the Store cache — it takes under a minute and fixes most cases. If the Store still won’t open, uninstall it through PowerShell and reinstall it cleanly via the Xbox app. As a last resort, an in-place upgrade or using Winhance to reinstall the Store can bring it back without losing any files.
Applies to: Windows 10 (22H2) and Windows 11 (23H2, 24H2, 25H2) | Last updated: May 27, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Running wsreset.exe clears the Microsoft Store cache and resolves most “Store won’t open” issues in under a minute — try this first before anything else.
- If wsreset doesn’t help, resetting the Store through Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Microsoft Store > Advanced options > Reset wipes the app data without uninstalling it.
- The nuclear option is to uninstall Store via PowerShell with
Get-AppxPackage -allusers *WindowsStore* | Remove-AppxPackageand reinstall through the Xbox app — this clears fully corrupted installations. - If none of the above work, an in-place upgrade repairs core Windows components without wiping your files, and restores a working Microsoft Store in the process.
- Winhance has a built-in option to reinstall the Microsoft Store with one click, which is the easiest method if you already have it installed.
In This Guide
This guide covers four methods to fix the Microsoft Store not opening, starting with the quickest and least invasive:
- Method 1: Run wsreset.exe — Clears the Store cache in seconds. Try this first. (Recommended starting point)
- Method 2: Reset the Store via Settings — Wipes app data without uninstalling. Good middle step.
- Method 3: Reinstall Store via PowerShell + Xbox App — Full uninstall and clean reinstall for corrupted installations.
- Method 4: In-Place Upgrade or Winhance — Last resort options if everything else fails.
Quick Steps
- Press Win + R, type wsreset.exe, press Enter — wait for Store to reopen automatically
- If that fails: Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Microsoft Store > Advanced options > Reset
- If that fails: Open PowerShell as Administrator and run Get-AppxPackage -allusers *WindowsStore* | Remove-AppxPackage
- Download the Xbox app from Xbox.com, install it, click Browse the catalog
- Click “Review now” on the missing components banner, find Microsoft Store, click Install
- Restart your PC once installation completes
Why Microsoft Store Stops Opening
In my years running a computer repair shop, the Microsoft Store refusing to open was one of the most common app complaints I dealt with. It almost always came down to corrupted app files or a stuck cache. This can happen after a Windows update goes wrong, after an interrupted Store update, or after using certain debloating scripts that accidentally strip out files the Store depends on.
The good news is there are multiple fixes that escalate from a 30-second cache clear to a full reinstall. Work through them in order — most people only need the first or second method.
Method 1: Run wsreset.exe (Start Here)
The wsreset.exe tool is built into Windows specifically to clear the Microsoft Store cache. It runs silently, clears the cache files, then automatically relaunches the Store. On Windows 10 and 11, this fixes the “Store won’t open” issue roughly half the time.
Press Win + R to open the Run dialog, type the command below, and press Enter:
wsreset.exeA blank Command Prompt window will appear and stay open for about 10-15 seconds while the cache clears. Don’t close it. When it’s done, the Microsoft Store will launch automatically. If the Store opens normally, you’re done — no further steps needed.
Tip: You can also search for “wsreset” in the Start menu and run it from there — same result.
Method 2: Reset the Store via Settings
If wsreset didn’t fix it, the next step is to reset the Microsoft Store app through Windows Settings. This wipes the app’s local data and resets it to defaults without fully uninstalling it — a deeper clean than wsreset but less drastic than a full reinstall.
Open Settings and navigate to Apps > Installed apps. Find Microsoft Store in the list (you can search for it), click the three-dot menu next to it, and select Advanced options. Scroll down to the Reset section and click Reset, then confirm. The reset takes a few seconds. Once it’s done, try opening the Microsoft Store again.
Note: On Windows 10, the path is Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Microsoft Store > Advanced options > Reset.
Method 3: Reinstall Store via PowerShell and Xbox App
When the Store’s installation is genuinely corrupted — not just cached data but the actual app files — resetting it won’t be enough. The fix is to fully uninstall the Microsoft Store via PowerShell, then reinstall a clean copy through the Xbox app. The Xbox app is the cleanest path because Microsoft Store is listed as one of its required dependencies, giving you a one-click reinstall option from inside the app.
Step 1: Uninstall Microsoft Store via PowerShell
Right-click the Start button and select PowerShell (Admin) or Terminal (Admin). If you don’t see either option, search for PowerShell in the Start menu, right-click it, and choose “Run as administrator.”
Once PowerShell is open, paste in this command and press Enter:
Get-AppxPackage -allusers *WindowsStore* | Remove-AppxPackageWait for the command to finish, then close PowerShell. The Microsoft Store is now uninstalled. You won’t be able to open it until you complete the reinstall steps below.
Step 2: Download and Install the Xbox App
Open your browser and go to Xbox.com (or search for “Xbox app for Windows”). Scroll down to find the “Download the app” button and click it. Once the installer downloads, run it, accept the terms, and click Install. When installation finishes, click “Let’s go” to open the Xbox app.
Step 3: Reinstall Microsoft Store Through the Xbox App
In the Xbox app, click Browse the catalog. Near the top of the screen, you should see a banner that says there are missing components for the Xbox app. Click Review now to see the full list of dependencies, which includes Microsoft Store. Click Install next to Microsoft Store.
If you don’t see the missing components banner, click the sign-in button in the top-right corner of the Xbox app, then go to Settings > General. The dependency list will be there even without the banner. Find Microsoft Store in the list and click Install. It may take a few minutes. When it’s done, you’ll get a notification confirming the Store was installed. Try opening it normally now.
Tip: If the Xbox app itself won’t install, make sure Windows is up to date via Settings > Windows Update. Missing system updates can occasionally block app installations.
Method 4: In-Place Upgrade or Winhance (Last Resort)
If the reinstall via Xbox app didn’t fix things, the issue likely goes deeper than just the Store files — something in the underlying Windows component infrastructure may be broken. At this point there are two solid options.
Option A: In-Place Upgrade
An in-place upgrade reinstalls Windows over itself, repairing all core system files and restoring default apps including the Microsoft Store — without wiping your personal files, apps, or settings. I have a full guide on how to perform an in-place upgrade on Windows that walks through the process step by step. It takes about 30 minutes and is one of the most thorough repair options available without doing a clean install.
Option B: Reinstall Store via Winhance
If you have Winhance installed, it includes a built-in option to reinstall the Microsoft Store with a single click. Open Winhance, go to the Apps section, find Microsoft Store under Windows Apps, and use the reinstall option. This handles the PowerShell commands in the background so you don’t have to do them manually. If you previously used Winhance to remove the Store and now want it back, this is the easiest restoration path.
You can also check the consolidated guide on reinstalling a missing Microsoft Store for additional methods and scenarios, including cases where the Store was removed intentionally through debloating and needs to be restored.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will uninstalling Microsoft Store delete my installed apps?
No. Uninstalling the Microsoft Store app itself does not remove any apps you already have installed on your PC. Your games, tools, and apps stay exactly where they are. You just lose access to the Store interface until you reinstall it.
Why did the Microsoft Store stop opening in the first place?
The most common causes are corrupted app files from a failed Windows update, an interrupted Store update, or third-party cleanup tools that accidentally removed files the Store depends on. It can also happen after using certain debloating scripts that strip out core app components without accounting for dependencies. Running Winhance instead of unverified scripts is a safer way to debloat because it tracks what’s removed and provides restore options.
Can I install apps while the Store is broken?
Yes. Most apps can be downloaded directly from the developer’s website or installed using WinGet from the command line. WinGet is a package manager built into Windows 10 and 11 that lets you install thousands of apps without needing the Store at all. If you need apps that are Store-exclusive, the reinstall steps above are the way to go.
What if the PowerShell uninstall command returns an error?
The most common cause is not running PowerShell as Administrator. Right-click the PowerShell or Terminal icon and confirm you selected “Run as administrator” before entering the command. If you see an access denied error even as admin, try restarting Windows first and then running the command again from a fresh admin terminal.
Does Microsoft Store not opening affect other Windows features?
In most cases, no. The rest of Windows continues working normally even when the Store is broken. However, some built-in Windows apps (like the Xbox Game Bar) do rely on Store infrastructure and may behave unexpectedly if the Store’s underlying components are corrupted. Fixing the Store usually resolves those secondary issues too.
