6 Best Ways to Fix App Crashes on Windows 10

App crashes are the worst! You will lose your progress and also some data. And you might think the only way to get it working is to turn it back on. However, frequent application crashes on your computer mean an irritating workflow and data loss.

There can be many reasons behind an app crashing on Windows, from a bad Windows update to a critical system error. If the usual solutions like updating or reinstalling apps didn’t help, try applying the fixes mentioned below to save yourself from recurring app crashes.

1. SFC Scan

Corrupted system files can be responsible for all kinds of crashes and errors that occur in Windows. Fortunately, Windows has a nifty SFC (System File Checker) scanner to find and repair them independently. Here’s how.

Stage 1: Open the start menu, type cmd Select ‘Run as administrator’ to open Command Prompt with Administrator rights.

Step 2: Type the command mentioned below and press Enter.

SFC /scannow

Wait for the process to complete and then restart your computer to see if the apps are working properly.

2. Reset Apps

Sometimes a bad update or bug can make the app unstable. So, if the app crashing issue is limited to just one or two apps, you can try resetting them to see if it fixes the issue. Read on to learn how to reset an app in Windows 10.

Stage 1: Press Windows Key + I to open settings. Go to Applications.

Step 2: Select Apps & features on your left. Scroll down to find the troublesome app and click on Advanced options. There, click the Reset button.

Note that resetting an app will clear all app data. Once done, restart your computer and see if the app crashing issue has been resolved.

3. Reset Microsoft Store Action

Clearing Microsoft Store cache is known to help in fixing app crashing issue in Windows 10. So, if resetting the app doesn’t help, it’s time to reset the Microsoft Store process itself.

Stage 1: Open the start menu, type cmd to open Command Prompt. Select ‘Run as administrator’ to open with administrator rights.

Step 2: In the console type WSReset.exe and press Enter.

This restarts the Microsoft Store. Now go ahead and see if the app crashing issue still occurs.

4. Re-register Windows Apps

If your computer has multiple user accounts and the app crash is caused by one of these conflicting Windows user accounts, you can try to re-register the ownership of the Windows Store to the account you are using. Here’s how.

Stage 1: Press Windows Key + E to quickly launch File Explorer. Now go to C: > ProgramFiles. Then switch to the View tab and check the Hidden items box if it isn’t already.

Step 2: Now, right-click on the WindowsApps folder and select Properties. Now switch to the Security tab and click on Advanced.

Stage 3: In the window below, you will find the owner’s name at the top. Click the Change button next to it. In the Select User or Group window, enter your username in the white box and click OK.

Step 4: Open the Properties window for the WindowsApps folder and go to Advanced Security Settings. Under the Permissions tab, click Add.

Step 5: In the window below, click Choose a manager and type your username. Then click OK. Next, give all permissions by checking the box that says Full Control and click OK.

Step 6: Now press Windows Key + X to open quick links menu and select Windows PowerShell (Admin) from the list. Paste the command given below in the PowerShell windows and hit Enter.

Get-AppXPackage | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml"}

Once done, restart your computer and see if the issue has been resolved.

5. Check for Virus or Malware

If your computer is infected with malware or some kind of virus, it can force applications on your computer to crash in mysterious ways. Therefore, it is best to check your computer for any malware by running a quick scan. If you already have an Antivirus installed, use it to scan your computer. If not, you can rely on the built-in Windows Defender to do the job.

6. Run DISM

If trying the above solutions doesn’t help, you can try DISM, which stands for Deployment Image Servicing and Management. Like SFC scan, DISM is another system utility created to repair system images and files in Windows. Here’s how to use it.

Stage 1: Open the start menu, type cmd to open Command Prompt. Select ‘Run as administrator’ to open with administrator rights.

Step 2: Type the commands mentioned below and press Enter.

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Restart your computer after executing the commands above and see if the apps work fine now.

Fix These Crashes

Ideally, trying the above solutions should fix the app crashing issue on Windows 10. Also, update your Windows regularly as these updates usually bring fixes for any major instability or crash issues.