Microsoft Store is the best place to find apps and tools that work out of the box. This store allows you to easily add your favorite (or experimental) apps. Also, you have to worry less about malware and virus. However, dealing with the Microsoft Store is not always pleasant. Sometimes apps get stuck in the download process and it can be a frustrating experience especially if you have a few apps to download.
Most of the time, logging out and logging in gets the job done, but that’s not always the case. If you get stuck in a similar location, here are some ways to fix Microsoft Store getting stuck starting downloading.
1. Clear Cache
Cache files are both a blessing and a disaster, whether it’s your Chrome browser, apps on your Android phone, or the Microsoft Store. While cache improves performance and load time, some old cache files tend to get corrupted and can cause Microsoft Store to behave strangely.
Follow the steps below to clear cache files of Microsoft Store,
Stage 1: Search for Command Prompt in the start menu. Right click and select Run as administrator > Yes.
Step 2: Next, type the following command and hit enter,
wsreset.exe
This will reset the Microsoft Store’s cache and you should be able to download apps again.
2. Reset MS Store Settings
If clearing the cache didn’t fix the issue, you may want to reset the Store’s settings. Like the previous fix, this one is simple.
Stage 1: Open Settings using Win key + I shortcut and go to Apps > Apps & Features and search for Microsoft Store.
Step 2: When you see the Microsoft Store option, click on Advanced options.
This will open a long list of settings. Scroll down and select Reset.
Just like deleting app data on Android phones, all app data will be reset, but the apps you downloaded so far will still be on your PC.
3. Run the Windows Troubleshooter
Windows comes with a built-in Troubleshooter that automatically identifies and helps fix (you guessed it right) simple problems like problems connecting the PC to Wi-Fi or network printer. Naturally, you can also troubleshoot the Windows Store if there are apps with pending download status. Here’s how to do it.
Stage 1: Go to Settings > Update & Security and select Troubleshoot from the left panel.
step 2: Click on additional troubleshooters. This will open a long list of links and programs.
Select Microsoft Store from the menu (usually towards the end) and select ‘Run this troubleshooter’.
The troubleshooter will take some time to launch. And once done, it will walk you through the troubleshooting steps.
4. Run a System Check
If you’re still seeing issues with apps stuck in download status, it’s time to run a system check. System check or System File checker checks the application files for corrupt or missing files and restores them automatically.
note: Running SFC or System File Checker can sometimes be risky and it’s always wise to make a backup of your computer before proceeding.
Unlike the built-in Troubleshooter, you may need to run SFC multiple times to fix all issues with your system’s files and applications. And in the worst cases, you may have to fix the files manually.
Still, if you want to continue, here’s how to start SFC.
Stage 1: Search for CMD in the search menu and right click on it. Select run as administrator
Now type the following command and hit enter
sfc/scannow
Your system will display various results. If it shows something on the line ‘….corrupt files found and successfully repaired…’, you know you’re on the right track.
Restart your PC when you’re done and your issue with MS Store apps getting stuck while starting the download should be resolved.
5. Reset Windows Update
The long-time Windows user among you must already know that an Update is an essential part of any Windows 10 PC. These updates bring many changes, from providing security patches to new features. If you updated your Windows 10 computer fairly recently, some components of the update may have been corrupted.
Fortunately, you can restart Windows Update to fix such problems and it’s pretty easy.
Stage 1: Open the Run dialog (Win + R) and type the following command.
services.msc
This will open the Service Manager.
Step 2: In Service Manager, press W to jump to the Windows services section. Find Windows Update, select it and hit the Stop button as shown below.
Step 4: Meanwhile, open the C: drive folder and search for SoftwareDistribution. Once you find it, rename it to SoftwareDistribution_.[date]
Step 5: Next, go back to the Services Manager and click the Start button.
Once done, open the Microsoft Store and re-download the apps. They will probably download it right away.
Download complete
These were some of the ways to fix the problem of Microsoft Store stuck on downloading issue. However, if the above steps did not fix the problem for you, you may want to re-register Microsoft Store on your PC.
Microsoft Store is an essential and non-removable part of Windows 10, and the dedicated troubleshooting tool should help you fix this problem.
