Apps Installed from the Microsoft Store Won't Open or Crash on Launch (Windows 11)

An app you installed from the Microsoft Store won’t launch, or it opens for a second and crashes.

Why: the app’s data, registration, or version has gone out of sync — often after an update or a system change. Microsoft’s order is to update first, then refresh the app, then reinstall as a last resort.

Fix 1: Close it fully and make sure Windows is up to date

1. Close the app completely with the X in the top-right corner, then reopen it.
2. If it still fails, go to Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates, install everything, and restart. Many app crashes are fixed by a pending Windows update.

Fix 2: Update the Microsoft Store and the app

An out-of-date app or Store is a common cause.

1. Open the Microsoft Store → Library → Get updates.
2. Let any updates install (including the Store itself), then try the app again.

Fix 3: Repair, then reset, the app

This refreshes the app without uninstalling it.

1. Settings → Apps → Installed apps.
2. Find the app, select the More (⋯) icon → Advanced options.
3. Select Repair first — it tries to fix the app while keeping your data.
4. If Repair isn’t available or doesn’t help, select Reset — this clears the app’s data and is the heavier option.

Fix 4: Check current app support

Install applicable Windows updates and check the app developer’s support information for your Windows version. If only one app fails, troubleshoot that app before re-registering every package. Back up its local data before resetting or reinstalling it.

The legacy Windows Store Apps MSDT troubleshooter is being retired and may not be available on your build. Microsoft’s current Repair/Reset and reinstall guidance does not depend on that legacy tool.

Fix 5: Reinstall the app

If it still won’t open, remove and reinstall it:

1. Settings → Apps → Installed apps → the app → More (⋯) → Uninstall.
2. Open the Microsoft Store → Library (or search) → install it again.

FAQ

Repair vs. Reset — what’s the difference? Repair tries to fix the app while keeping your settings and data; Reset wipes the app’s data and starts it fresh. Always try Repair first.

It only broke after a System Restore — is that related? It can be. A restore can leave a Store app’s files and registration mismatched; repairing, resetting, or reinstalling the app realigns them.

Sources: Microsoft Support — Repair apps, Microsoft Support — MSDT retirement, Microsoft Support — Fix problems with apps from Microsoft Store · Microsoft Support — Repair apps and programs in Windows