Fix: Can’t install apps from Microsoft Store on Windows 10
The Windows Store app has a modest library of apps. Many of the apps in the store have desktop versions that users prefer over the UWP version. That said, you will still find plenty of apps that you can only get from the Microsoft Store.
Can’t install apps from Microsoft Store
The Microsoft Store app is a stock UWP app. It’s installed when Windows 10 and it uses the Microsoft account that you’ve added to Windows 10 to download apps. The store app isn’t the most stable app that Microsoft has developed. It runs into problems and sometimes app don’t download at all. If you’re unable to download an app from the Microsoft Store, try the fixes below.
1. Run the Store troubleshooter
Microsoft knows that store app acts up from time to time. It has a built-in troubleshooter for the Store app.
- Open the Settings app with the Win+I keyboard shortcut.
- Go to Update & security.
- Select the Troubleshoot tab.
- Click Additional troubleshooters.
- Run the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter.
- Apply all fixes that it recommends.
2. Enable Windows Defender firewall
You must have Windows Defender firewall enabled in order to download apps from the Microsoft Store.
- Open Control Panel.
- Go to System and security>Windows defender firewall.
- In the column on the left, click Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.
- Turn the firewall on for both public and private networks.
3. Check date and time
Make sure the date and time on your system is correct. If it isn’t, you will have trouble installing apps from the Microsoft Store.
- Open the Settings app with the Win+I keyboard shortcut.
- Go to Time and Language.
- Go to the Date and Time tab.
- Enable Set time automatically.
4. Reset Store app
You can reset the Windows Store app. You won’t lose any data in the process and you won’t have to add your Microsoft account to the store app again.
- Tap the Win+R keyboard shortcut to open the run box.
- In the run box, enter
wsresetand tap Enter. - A Command Prompt window will open and close.
- The Microsoft Store app will open and close.
- Once the app closes, you can open it again and install apps from it.
Conclusion
The Microsoft Store app takes little time to actually start downloading an app. This doesn’t have anything to do with your connection speed but with the store app and its connection to Microsoft’s servers. You may see the app stuck in the ‘acquiring license’ state for a while but you generally have to wait it out. The download will start eventually.
