Fix Microsoft Store Apps Not Updating on Windows 10
There is a very odd bug in Windows 10 that prevents users from getting the next version of a Microsoft Store app. This bug appears to have been around for at least a year. What happens is that apps you’ve downloaded from the Microsoft Store do not update to next version. You will see that an update is available but updating the app won’t get you the next version. Here’s how you can fix Microsoft Store apps not updating to the next version.
We should tell you that this fix takes one day to work. There are several things you need to do. Go through each one. It is possible, though the chances are slim, that you won’t have to wait a whole day for the problem to fix itself. You will be able to use your system regardless.
I personally encountered this bug with the Sticky Notes app that was stuck at version 2.1.18.0 and despite updating to Windows 10 1809, it was stuck on this version.
Run Microsoft Store Troubleshooter
Open the Settings app and go to the Update & Security group of settings. Select the Troubleshoot tab, and scroll down to the Windows Store Apps option. Run the troubleshooter and apply any fix it suggests.
Reset Microsoft Store
Open the run box with the Win+R keyboard shortcut. Type WSReset.exe in the run box and tap Enter. This will open a Command Prompt window. If you have the Microsoft Store app open, it will close eventually. Allow the Command Prompt window to finish resetting the store app. You will know it’s done once the Microsoft Store app opens again.
Reinstall Microsoft Store App
Open the PowerShell with administrative rights and run the following command to reinstall the Microsoft Store app.
Get-AppXPackage *WindowsStore* -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
Reset Software Distribution Folder
Before you can reset the software distribution folder, you should enable Airplane mode. You can do this from the toggle in the Action Center.
Open the Command Prompt and run the following command. Each line is its own command. Enter one line, tap Enter, and wait for it to complete before you enter the next one.
For this command, run it 3 – 4 times.
taskkill /F /FI "SERVICES eq wuauserv"
The following commands need only be run once.
net stop cryptSvc net stop bits net stop msiserver ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old rmdir C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore rmdir C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download
Once you’ve run the above commands, run the ones below as well. Again, each line is its own command so run it one at a time.
Net Stop bits Net Stop wuauserv Net Stop appidsvc Net Stop cryptsvc Ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.bak Ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.bak Net Start bits Net Start wuauserv Net Start appidsvc Net Start cryptsvc
Wait One Day
Go about the rest of your day and use your system however it is you want to. At the end of the day, shut it down and when you boot it again the next day, check the Microsoft Store app for updates.
You will see that updates are available for apps. Install the updates and you should get the next version of the app.
Me too, several of the commands came up Access Denied.
Are there UAC controls that need to be set first?
i followed your instructions and all the commands came up “access denied”. i will try to go the microsoft store tomorrow, but can you tell me if the access denied is normal? thank you for your time.