How to resolve Windows Store not Loading in Windows 10?

Windows 10 is a fine OS, or we could describe it as an excellent one considering the mess that Windows 8 was. Nevertheless, it is not without its faults. Problems involving the Windows store are widespread on the latest version of the operating system released by Microsoft.

We have seen enough reports with a common theme experienced by users. Some try to open the store app, but it fails to load. Others described scenarios in which they attempted launching the application, and they got no response. In some cases, the Windows Store appears to be loading, but it never completes the operation—it keeps on trying forever (the dots keep on going in a circular motion).

Causes of the Windows Store not loading or failing to open problem

Note that this is not an exhaustive list.

•    Alteration of the system configuration or PC settings sometimes brought about by a Windows update
•    Faults with User accounts or profiles
•    Wrong graphics settings and display details. For example, incorrect values for screen resolution
•    Internet connectivity shortcomings due to tools like proxies or VPNs

We are used to the Windows store being ridden with bugs and the app crashing from time to time, but the situation in view is considerably different.  In this guide, we are going to explore the problems that prevent users from using the Windows Store since they cannot open it or access its contents and proffer practical solutions for them.

How to fix Windows Store won’t open on Windows 10?

We earlier established the fact that the problems users experience with the Windows Store vary in several ways. The effect or the consequence associated with them is the primary thing they have in common.

Therefore, some solutions might work only for a particular form of the issue while a specific fix listed, on the other hand, might be useful in getting rid of all strains of the problem. You never can tell until you attempt them.

Start with the first item on the list and go through them (move down) until you arrive at what works for you.

Check your date and time settings:

The values for the Date and Time in the Windows operating system environment form part of the critical variables that influence a good number of operations. Incorrect data and time settings (incredibly unnoticeable most times) can prevent apps like the Windows Store from functioning well.

The solution to the problem described here is obvious enough. You need to edit your date and time settings and input the correct values. After this, there is a good chance that your Windows Store will start opening or loading. If you do not know how to go about the required operation, you must follow our instructions below:

• Click on the date and time values always present on the right-hand side of the taskbar on your desktop screen. After the small window Time display comes up, click on Adjust Date/Time
• After the Time and Language menu in the Settings program window shows up, you must toggle (off) the switch for Set time automatically since the values Windows is displaying are not correct as of now
• Click on the Change button under Change Date and time. A window on which you can adjust the necessary values should show up. Make the changes needed and move on
• Exit the Settings program and other open windows. Confirm (or check) that the new date and time settings are now active. Open the Windows store as usual and see if the problem you struggled with earlier persists.

Disable your proxy connection:

If you use a proxy to connect to the internet, then its settings might be the thing stopping your Windows store from functioning the right way. You can alter its configuration to make things easier and see if your problem persists, but we recommend that you do away with it altogether.

If the Window Store starts opening or loading after you get rid of your proxy, then you know what was responsible for your troubles. You might want to consider trying out another means of reaching the web anonymously or accessing restricted content. We would say a VPN is better than a proxy, but even now we recommend you disable such an app if you have one running.

On the other hand, if nothing changes after you stop employing the gateway, then you are free to continue using it since you have ruled it out as the cause of the problem. Your privacy is always important

Follow these instructions:

• Press the Windows button on your keyboard or click on the Windows Start icon always present on your desktop screen. Input the following keywords into the text box present to perform a quick search: Internet Options
• Select Internet Options (Control Panel) from the results list. Windows should launch the Internet Properties tab at once. After it comes on, you must navigate to the Connections tab
• Click on the LAN settings button under Local Area Network (LAN) settings. A small new window should pop up. There you must untick the checkbox for Use proxy server for your LAN
• Click on the OK button to save the changes you made now. Reboot your PC. After your system comes on and Windows settles down, open the Store app and see if everything goes fine

Check your Region:

Your region or geographical location determines some of the content that the Windows Store makes available to you. Therefore, it is not surprising to see some users who claimed that that the Store refused to load because their regional settings were not in order. It could be the same for you. Follow these instructions to find out if you have the same or a similar problem and fix it at the same time:

• Open the Settings app. Click on the Windows Start icon on your desktop screen or press the Windows button on your keyboard, then select Settings from the list of programs or options that show up
• After the application opens, click on Time and Language from the various sections or options available. On the left pane, you should see a list of items from which you must select Region and Language
• In the right pane, choose your Country or region (for example, the United States). Exit all open windows. Try to open the Windows Store and check if your problems are no more

Disable your antivirus and firewall:

Antiviruses work hard to keep us safe, but it is not outlandish to claim that they sometimes overreach and interfere with things they have no business disturbing. If your Windows Store doesn’t work as you would have liked, then there is a high probability that your antivirus is influencing its operations and causing it to suffer.

Open your antivirus menu, go through the events recorded on it if an outline for such things is available. Check for the operations that it executed, what processes it blocked, and so on. Maybe you will find something that has to do with the Windows store there. Or perhaps not, and if so, you will have to disable your main antivirus features or take away its primary powers and check if anything changes.

Restart your system and see if your actions helped you. If you felt the operations you carried out were not enough to limit the powers of your antivirus or security program, then there is one line of action left for you to take—you must uninstall the app. On Windows 10, you can quickly get rid of an app and forget about it by following these instructions:

• Press (and hold) the Windows button on your keyboard, then tap the letter I key to open the Settings app. After the program window shows up, you must click on System from the menu presented
• On the left pane, you should see Apps and Features. Click on it. Now Windows should show you the list of applications installed on your PC. Click on the app you want to remove to highlight it
• Click on the small Uninstall button that appears below. A dialog box or window should come up and request confirmation for your action. Click on the Uninstall button there to continue. Windows should now remove the program

If the Windows Store starts working well after you have done some work on your antivirus, then you will have only the security problem to deal with for now. Of course, we cannot advise you to continue using your PC if your system lacks protection.

You should try updating your antivirus program and see if things get better with the newer version. You could also contact its manufacturer for support. You will have to give them the full details of the problem you struggled with though.

If you had no success with the actions we outlined above, then it is time you tried out another antivirus brand and see if the new program is more compatible with your computer. The new app might suit your needs better than the previous one in fact. After all, not all antivirus programs or builds will interfere with the activities of Windows Store or disrupt its operations. You are spoilt for choice.

We recommend that you download and run Auslogics Anti-malware. With this app, you get first-rate security protection against malware and other threats without having to suffer software conflicts or interferences usually associated with the use of regular antivirus solutions.

In fact, this program is well capable of running alongside an antivirus or another security program without causing issues. Even if you believe your current security setup is okay, you surely would not want to let go of the chance to improve on it.

Reset the Windows Store cache:

The Windows Store employs cache features the same way regular applications do to store files or items for quick accessibility. Similarly, through what we know of cache used by other programs, the Windows Store facility is also prone to corruption or loss of data.

When there are problems with the store, a reset of its cache is more often than not enough to force a refresh of the operations carried out by the program. The procedure you have to carry out is relatively simple especially when we take into account the effect it brings about. Follow these instructions:

• Press the Windows button on your keyboard or click on the Windows Start icon on your desktop screen. Type the following code into the text box present and hit Enter to execute it at once or click on the result that comes up to open the program: wsreset.exe

You can also run the same code in the Run app which you can open by pressing (and holding) the Windows button on your keyboard, then tapping the letter R key.

• Wait for the completion of the process. After it is done, you are free to open your Windows Store and check if things now go smoothly.

Re-register the Windows Store app:

Glitches or inconsistencies within a program (like the Windows Store app) once triggered by unknown causes can prevent it from working correctly (the application refusing to open or failing to load). The re-registering of the Windows Store is a procedure we have found to be competent enough in getting rid of most of the problems associated with the program.

Its operations are advanced, but the instructions on carrying out them are incredibly straightforward to use:

• Press (and hold) the Windows button on your keyboard, then tap the letter S key to perform a search. Input PowerShell into the text box present. From the search results that appear, right-click on Powershell and select Run as administrator from the short list of options you see
• After the Adminstrator Powershell window comes on, you must input the following code and hit the Enter key to execute it: PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command “& {$manifest = (Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.WindowsStore).InstallLocation + ‘\AppxManifest.xml’ ; Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $manifest}”

Ensure that you have inputted the correct code. We advise that you copy it from here and paste it directly in the Command Prompt program (the latest version of this tool on Windows 10 supports the copying and pasting of commands)

• Windows should run the command as instructed. After it finishes executing it, you are free to exit the Powershell window. Open the Windows Store app and see if it launches appropriately this time and starts loading some items. If nothing changes, restart your PC and try and check again.

Install missing or outstanding Windows updates:

We hope you have seen the line about always keeping your system updated security experts love to harp on about these days. For the most part, they are on to something. Microsoft uses Windows updates as a means to provide the latest bug fixes or security patches (against vulnerabilities that never stop coming) and new features (especially the ones that improve the productivity of users).

Of course, Microsoft lets Windows Store get some of the good stuff. If you are struggling with problems that stop the program from opening or loading up correctly, then there is a good chance that you are only experiencing such issues because your system lacks the latest Windows updates.

By default, and in theory, Windows 10 downloads and installs the latest updates automatically. Therefore, if your computer has not updated itself in a while, then it is likely it was you who stopped it from doing so (for reasons best known to you). Or perhaps you had nothing to do with it, and this is still bad news—something is wrong with your PC.

Anyway, you can follow these instructions to check for updates (manually):

• Press (and hold) the Windows button on your keyboard, then tap the letter I key to open the Settings app. After the application window shows up on your screen, click on Update and Security
• Now you must click on the Check for updates button you see in your current section. Now Windows should immediately get into contact with Microsoft servers to fetch the latest updates.

If it finds anything that your system lacks, it will present them and guide you through their installation. Make sure that you install every available update. Once you are done with everything, you must restart your system to let the recent upgrades begin their work.

After your computer comes on and Windows settles down, open the Windows Store app and check if this operation was worth the time and effort it demanded.

On the other hand, if Windows checks and fails to find anything new for you, you will see a message stating that you have all the latest updates. You must move on to other fixes.

Run the troubleshooter for Windows Store apps:

Microsoft has provided a record number of troubleshooters on the latest version of its operating system (Windows 10). By this, we mean that for almost any problem that could come up in your computer’s environment, there is a troubleshooting tool you could run to help you diagnose the issue or fix it directly (if possible).

If you are still struggling with Windows Store refusing to load or the app failing to open problem, then it is time you tried out your luck with the built-in Windows Store troubleshooter and see if the tool proves useful this time. Follow these instructions:

• Open the Settings app. We have provided instructions on doing this numerous times already. At this point, we expect that you have tried out a good number of the fixes above already.
• After Windows launches the program window, click on Update and Security to enter its menu. On the left pane, from the list of items there, select Troubleshoot
• On the right pane, you must locate Windows Store apps. Click on the Run the troubleshooter button under its menu and description
• Windows should present you with some instructions, which you will have to follow to execute the troubleshooting process. The troubleshooter might ask you to carry out specific operations which it cannot perform itself. Just do as you are told. In some cases, you might end up not having to do anything. You could watch while the tool does its job.

Whatever happens, after the troubleshooting process ends, exit the open windows, open the Windows Store app and check if the problem you sought to get rid of persists. You could also download the Windows Store troubleshooter online provided by Microsoft and use it in a way similar to operations we recently described.

Reset the Windows Store app:

We are yet to fully grasp or obtain a perfect understanding of all the issues that can affect the Windows Store app. Nevertheless, this shortcoming cannot prevent us from proffering a solution to the problems that cause the Windows Store to stop loading since we know what exact result we want to see.

You can reset the Windows Store app to its default state and this operation, far more often than not, is usually enough to free the program of almost all its troubles. The process is disruptive though. This time, we can only hope that the application starts functioning well as it once did. Here are the instructions you need:

• Open the Settings app. No words needed here. After the program window shows up, click on Apps to enter its menu. Now you should see the list of applications installed on your computer
• Scroll down and locate Microsoft Store from the list of items there. Click on this item to highlight it. Click on the Advanced Options link that appears below it
• Now you must click on the Reset button you see. A small dialog box requesting confirmation for your action should come up. Click on the Reset button there once more to confirm and continue
• Your system should now reset the Windows Store app. The chances of your previous problems (or struggles) with the program still existing are meager. Find out and see for yourself.

Create a new user account:

If at this point, you still have not resolved the problem of the Microsoft Windows Store failing to load, then the cause of your headache is most likely one exclusive to you that we are yet to determine. The fastest way of getting rid of all unknown or hidden issues with the program involves the creation of a new user account.

Almost all apps run smoother when you rebase them on a new Microsoft account. The Windows Store is no exception. After all, it is an app too. Go through these steps:

• Once again, you must open the Settings app. After Windows loads up the program window, click on Accounts to enter its menu. On the left pane, from the list of items there, select Family and other people
• In the right pane, under Other people and its description, click on Add someone else to this PC. On the next screen, you must select the I don’t have this person’s sign-in information link
• Now click on the Add a user without a Microsoft account link. Now you will have to input the necessary details or information for the new account. You will begin by entering your desired username for the profile in the text box under Who’s going to use this PC?
• Input your secure password, re-enter it and give a password hint. Once you are done and all set, click on the Next button to complete the operation

Now you must exit all open windows, sign out of Windows from your old account (the one logged in currently), and sign into your PC, using the new profile you created. Note that you will have to move your files and other stuff to the new platform, so make yourself feel at home.

Finally, we do not expect you to experience any more problems with the Windows Store in this new environment.