The word ‘Apps’ was associated primarily with smartphones and tablets until the arrival of Windows 10. This operating system allows users to download various types of applications across several genres using the Microsoft Store. However, the operating system would be incomplete if the Windows 10 apps won’t open and work as expected.

These Windows applications are what make the OS seamless and convenient to use in many aspects. Similarly, if Microsoft store is not opening as well, it can get annoying. A customized group of these apps also enhances the user experience and makes Windows 10 intuitive to use. Moreover, if basic applications like calculators, notes, or settings stop working, they can cause hurdles in smooth functioning. 

What To Do When Windows 10 Apps Won’t Open

There could be many reasons why users also face ‘this app can’t run on your PC‘ issue. So, when it comes to Windows 10 apps won’t open, the least you can do is try out each of these solutions on a trial-and-error basis to eliminate this problem and ensure the seamless working of the computer.

1. Use Windows Apps Troubleshooter

The Microsoft Windows Apps Troubleshooter scans the computer and detects issues that might be causing the applications to crash.

To eliminate this issue, press the Windows key + I to open Settings. Select Update & Security from the available options.

Click on Update & Security
Click on Update & Security

Next, select Troubleshoot in the left pane. Then, find Windows Store Apps, click on it, and click Run the troubleshooter.

 Select Run the troubleshooter
Select Run the troubleshooter

The next window that opens will start finding issues and will list them down in a few minutes.

If you find any issues, try to fix them by following the solutions after the scan ends.

2. Update the Apps

Regardless of the apps that stop working, checking for their updates is one of the basic steps towards ensuring they work properly. You can update these apps from the Windows Store using the simple steps given below.

Open the app store from the Start menu by typing Store in the Cortana search box.

Next, click on the three horizontal dots in the top right corner and select Downloads and updates from the list.

Select Downloads and updates
Select Downloads and updates

Click on Get updates to download and update all the applications on your PC.

Click on Get updates
Click on Get updates

Then, restart your computer and see if the Windows 10 apps won’t open after installing the new updates.

3. Re-register the Applications

If you are facing any issues with any Windows 10 app, you can consider re-registering that application using PowerShell.

To begin with, open the PowerShell window from the Start menu in the administrator mode.

Open PowerShell in the administrator mode
Open PowerShell in the administrator mode

Then, enter the following command and press the Enter key.

Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}
Run PowerShell command

Make sure you don’t close the PowerShell while the process is in progress. Reboot the computer after the process ends and try re-running the application.

4. Reset Microsoft Store Cache

If your Windows 10 apps are not working, you might need to upgrade to the MS Store. However, you might experience problems in upgrading the Store if its installation is corrupted. Hence, you can reset the Microsoft Windows Store cache using the Command Prompt to resolve this issue.

To begin with, open the Command Prompt in administrator mode. 

Open Command Prompt
Open Command Prompt

Then, enter the following command and press the Enter key.

wsreset.exe
Run the command

The MS Store will open automatically after you complete the Store cache process. Check if the Windows 10 apps start working following this process.

5. Reset the Application

If a particular application is not opening up, you can try to reset the application. Ensure you create a backup of all the essential files related to that application before starting the reset process.

Press the Win key + I keyboard shortcut to open the Settings app. Then, select Apps from the given options.

 Click on Apps
Click on Apps

Next, select the application that you want to reset and click on Advanced Options. 

Click on Advanced options

Click on the Reset button in the next window.

Select Reset
Select Reset 

Restart your computer after the process ends and see if that application starts working again.

6. Update Windows 10

If your Windows 10 apps are not working, make sure you have the latest version of the operating system installed on your computer. Outdated versions can cause problems often and obstruct the seamless operation of a computer.

Open the Settings app using the Run command as shown in the previous solutions, and click on the Update & Security option.

Click on Update & Security

Then, click on Check for updates. 

 Click on Check for updates
Click on Check for updates

If there are any new updates available, they will be downloaded and installed automatically on your computer. Then, restart your PC and check if the apps in question are running as expected.

7. Reinstall the Application

Reinstallation is an excellent option to try out if your Windows 10 apps won’t open on your computer and work properly.

To begin with the reinstallation process, you need to uninstall the app first. Enter the Control Panel in the Cortana search box and open it. Then, select Programs and features from the available options.

Click Programs and Features

Next, double-click on the application you want to uninstall and select Uninstall. 

 Click Uninstall
Click Uninstall

Once the uninstall process is completed, install the application again, and check if it is working fine. 

8. Perform A Clean Boot

The clean boot process can help users identify if any third-party software is causing any type of issues in the Windows 10 OS. A clean boot starts a PC with a minimal set of programs.

To start with, press the Win key + R and enter the msconfig in the address bar. Click OK to execute the command.

Open System Configuration

Now, select the Services tab and check the box next to Hide all Microsoft services. Then, click on the Disable all button. Click on Apply and OK to save the changes.

 Hide all Microsoft services and click on Disable all to fix windows 10 apps won't open
Hide all Microsoft services and click on Disable all

Next, go to the Startup tab and click on Open Task Manager.

Select on Open Task Manager under the Startup tab
Select on Open Task Manager under the Startup tab

Select the Startup tab and close all the unnecessary programs that have a high startup impact. You have to right-click on the program and disable it.

Disable high-impact tasks
Disable high-impact tasks

Then, click on OK in the Startup tab of the System Configuration window and restart your computer to see if the apps have started working.

9. Create A New User Account

If you have a different user account on a Windows PC, you can use that to check if the Windows 10 apps don’t open on your current account. If there is no second account, you can create one in no time.

Open the Settings app using the Wink key + I shortcut key and choose Accounts from the available list of options.

Select Accounts
Select Accounts

Then, select Family & other users in the left pane and click on Add someone else to this PC in the right pane.

Select Add someone else to this PC

Then, click on ‘I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.’

 Select I don’t have this person’s sign-in information
Select I don’t have this person’s sign-in information

In the next window, click on ‘Add a user without a Microsoft account.’

Select Add a user without a Microsoft account
Select Add a user without a Microsoft account

Now, enter your credentials and click on Next to finalize the creation of a new account.

Enter your credentials and click on Next

Check if the apps that weren’t working prior to this solution have been restored. Make sure you transfer the essential data to your new user account if the issue is resolved.

10. Change FilterAdministratorToken in Registry Editor

Changing the FilterAdministratorToken in the registry editor can also help you eliminate the Windows 10 apps won’t open issue.

To start with the process, press the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run command. Enter regedit in the address bar and click OK to open the registry.

 Open registry editor
Open registry editor 

Now, navigate to the following path.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

In the right pane of the System folder, find the FilterAdministratorToken DWORD. If it isn’t present, you can create a new DWORD; right-click in the space, Choose New and click on DWORD (32-bit) Value.

Create a new DWORD
Create a new DWORD

Now, double-click on the DWORD. Then, set the Data value to 1, and click on OK to save the changes. 

Change Value data to 1 and click OK

Then, close the registry editor and restart the computer to see if the apps not working issue has been resolved.

11. Check the Application Identity Service Status

As its name suggests, the Application Identity Service is a Microsoft service used to verify the identity of an application. You need to run this service on the startup so that the apps on your Windows 10 computer will benefit from its functionality.

Press the Win key + R to open the Run window and enter services.msc in the address bar. Click on OK to open the Services window.

Enter services.msc and click OK
Enter services.msc and click OK

Locate and double-click on Application Identity.

Locate and double-click on Application Identity

Next, check the service status in the dialog box that opens. If the service has stopped, click on the Start button. 

Click Start
Click Start

Click on OK to save the changes. Then, check if the Windows 10 apps won’t open issue has been resolved.

12. Check the Windows Update Service

The Windows Update service is related to the security updates of your Windows 10 computer. It downloads and installs Microsoft-created software and tools automatically. Apart from that, it also installs security patches and is a crucial feature in terms of computer security. Your Windows 10 apps won’t open if this service is disabled.

To begin with, the Windows Update service process, open the registry editor as shown in the previous method, enter the services.msc command, and press OK.

When the Services dialog box opens, locate and double-click on the Windows Update service in the right pane. 

Locate and double-click on Windows Update service
Locate and double-click on Windows Update service

Then, change the Startup type to Automatic. Click on Apply and OK to save the changes made to the settings. 

 Change Startup Type to Automatic
Change Startup Type to Automatic

Once the Windows Update service is running, you can try running the applications that weren’t working for you.

13. Perform a System Restore

The System Restore process is used to roll back a computer to a previous point in settings. If you have recently installed a new program or changed any settings, you can perform the system restore process to restore the settings if Windows 10 apps won’t open.

14. Change the Owner of C Drive

Many users have reported that changing the C Drive owner helps in eradicating all the issues related to a Microsoft Windows Store app. However, since this is a complex method, make sure you try it out at the end after applying all the solutions mentioned above.

To start with this process, open This PC, right-click on the C Drive, and select Properties.

Click Properties
Click Properties

Then, select the Security tab and click on the Advanced option.

 Select Advanced tab
Select Advanced tab

Now, click the Change option in the Owner section.

Click on Change
Click on Change

Click on Advanced in the Select User or Group window.

Select Advanced
Select Advanced

Next, click on the Find Now button and choose Administrators from the list of available options. Select OK to save the changes.

Select Administrators group
Select Administrators group

Then, click OK in the Select User or Group window. The Administrators group has to be the owner, and it must also be a part of the Permission entries list.

Click ok
Click OK

Then, check ‘Replace owner on sub containers and objects.’ Click on Apply and OK to save the changes.

Check the box and save the changes
Check the box and save the changes

Users can also grant Full Control permissions for the ALL APPLICATION PACKAGES group to the drive.

To start with, open the disk properties by right-clicking on it and select the Security tab. Then, click on the Edit button.

Select the Edit tab

Now, you will see the window called Permissions for the Local Disk. Select Add.

Click on Add
Click on Add

When the Select User or Group window appears, choose Advanced.

Next, click Find Now. Then, click on ALL APPLICATION PACKAGES and select OK.

Select All Application Packages
Select All Application Packages

Click on OK again in the Select Users or Groups window.

Now, navigate back to the Permissions for Local Disk window. The ALL APPLICATION PACKAGES will be a part of the list. Click on it and select the Full Control checkbox. Then, click on Apply and OK to save the tweaks.

Allow Full Control and save the changes
Allow Full Control and save the changes

If the Windows 10 apps won’t open even after doing these steps, you can add Full Control to the Users group. This might help in resolving the problem.

15. Reinstall the Operating System

If your Windows 10 apps won’t open after applying all the possible solutions, the last thing to do is to reinstall the operating system. Before proceeding forward with the reinstallation process, make sure you create a backup of all the essential files.

First, you need to create a bootable USB flash drive with the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool. Then, connect the flash drive to your Windows and boot your computer.

In the next window, you need to select details like language, time, and input method. Choose Install now after you have selected the required terms. Next, all you have to do is follow the on-screen prompts and make sure the process is completed. 

After the OS is reinstalled again, see if the Windows 10 apps have started working properly.

Conclusion

Apps are the most crucial aspect of the Windows 10 OS. They help users perform several tasks and configure the system according to their preferences. However, if these Windows 10 apps won’t open as expected, it could create a series of hurdles that affect your user experience.

Following the solutions mentioned above, you can try to eliminate the problem. Since there could be several reasons why the apps have stopped working, you need to try out multiple solutions until you find the perfect answer to your problem. If you don’t come across the perfect solution, try consulting a computer expert regarding this issue.

(Article Updated on 22nd April 2021)