Windows 11 Microsoft Store: Install, Update and Fix Apps

The Windows 11 Microsoft Store is where most built-in Windows apps get their updates (Photos, Snipping Tool, Notepad, Windows Terminal and many more) and where you can install thousands of other apps and games. It is also the safest first place to look for an app, because Store apps install and uninstall cleanly. This guide covers signing in, installing and reinstalling apps, keeping them updated, and what to do when a Store app will not open.

The steps apply to Windows 11 version 24H2, 25H2 and 26H2. The Store updates itself, so button positions occasionally move; the names used here are the ones Microsoft uses in its support articles.

Open the Store and sign in

Select Microsoft Store on the taskbar or in the Start menu (search “Store” if it is not pinned). To sign in, select the profile icon at the top and choose your Microsoft account.

Signing in is not required for everything, but it matters because purchases and free app “acquisitions” are tied to your account. That is what lets you reinstall the same apps on a new PC or after a reset. If you use a local account on Windows, you can still sign in to the Store alone; our guide to switching to a local account in Windows 11 explains how the two kinds of account differ.

Install apps safely

1. Search for the app by name.
2. Check the publisher shown on the app page. Copycat apps with similar names exist, so make sure the publisher is the company you expect.
3. Read the permissions and age rating on the page.
4. Select Get or Install. The app appears in Start when it finishes.

Store apps can be removed like any other app from Settings > Apps > Installed apps; see uninstall apps in Windows 11. To make a new app open your files by default, use Windows 11 default apps.

Store apps vs downloaded installers

Many programs are available both in the Store and as a download from the developer’s website. Where you have the choice, the Store version has practical advantages:

• Updates are handled for you through Library and automatic updates, instead of each program running its own updater.
• Clean removal: Store apps uninstall without leaving installers and leftover folders behind.
• Reinstall from your account on a new PC without hunting for download links or licence emails.

The website version can still be the better choice when it has features the Store version lacks, or when the developer recommends it for your use. Either way, download only from the developer’s own site or the Store, never from a third-party download portal, and be wary of “cleaner” or “optimizer” apps that promise to speed up the PC.

Update apps: Library > Get updates

Microsoft’s own troubleshooting steps start here, and it is the quickest fix for many app problems:

1. Open the Microsoft Store.
2. Select Library in the left-hand bar.
3. Select Get updates. Available updates download and install, and Microsoft notes this also updates the Store itself.

Some apps and games bought in the Store manage their own updates, so a game launcher may update separately.

Automatic updates

Microsoft says it is making app updates automatic to keep PCs secure and to make sure apps get the latest security patches and features, while still giving you the option to pause updates if needed. The option sits in the Store’s settings, which you open from your profile icon. Leave updates on unless an update has caused a specific problem; then pause briefly and check the app’s page for a fix.

Reinstall apps you already own

Library lists the apps and games tied to your account. On a new or freshly reset PC:

1. Sign in to the Store with the same Microsoft account.
2. Open Library.
3. Select Install next to each app you want back.

This is much faster than hunting for installers. If you are moving to a new computer, our guide to transferring files to a new PC covers your documents and photos too.

Fix a Store app that will not work

Microsoft’s checklist for problem apps, in order:

1. Close and reopen the app.
2. Update Windows: Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates, then Install now if updates are waiting.
3. Check the app supports Windows 11. Older apps sometimes do not.
4. Update the Store and apps: Library > Get updates.
5. Repair or reset the app: in Settings > Apps > Installed apps, select the three dots next to the app, then Advanced options, and use Repair first. Reset clears the app’s data, so use it only if Repair does not help. Microsoft’s guide to repairing apps and programs covers both.
6. Reinstall the app from Library.

If the Store itself misbehaves

If the Store opens blank, will not download, or keeps showing an error, try clearing its cache with the built-in wsreset tool: press Windows key + R, type wsreset.exe and press Enter. A blank window appears for a short time, then the Store reopens. It does not remove installed apps.

If that does not help, check the date, time and time zone in Settings > Time & language; a wrong clock breaks secure connections to the Store. Turn on Set time automatically and select Sync now if the clock is wrong. Then check you are online and not on a network that blocks the Store, such as some school or office networks.

Store apps on work, school and family PCs

On a PC managed by an organisation, IT may limit which apps you can install or provide a separate company store. On family accounts, a parent can set age limits for apps and games through Microsoft Family Safety, and children may need approval for downloads. If an app’s Get button is missing or greyed out, one of these restrictions is the usual reason.

For more built-in apps and features worth knowing, see the Windows 11 features guide. If an app installs but runs slowly or freezes, Task Manager in Windows 11 shows what it is using.