How-To

How to Reinstall the Microsoft Store on Windows 11

By Brian Burgess

Updated November 14, 2023

If you are having problems with the Microsoft Store or it is missing, you can reinstall the Microsoft Store on Windows 11 to get it back. Here’s how.

Are you trying to use the Microsoft Store on Windows 11, but it’s not working or is unavailable? There are ways to fix the Microsoft Store when it isn’t working. But when the troubleshooting steps are exhausted, you can reinstall the Microsoft Store. Luckily, you can do so by running a couple of commands in the PowerShell terminal with admin access. The Store is a core component of Windows 11, so reinstalling it isn’t like other apps.

But if you rely on the Store and it won’t launch or is missing, you’ll want to get it back. Here’s how.

How to Uninstall the Microsoft Store on Windows 11

Removing the Microsoft Store on Windows isn’t the same as uninstalling apps on Windows 11. So, instead, you need to turn to the PowerShell terminal and use some command line magic.

Note: The following process involves running specific commands in PowerShell that remove and reinstall a core package on Windows 11. So, before you begin, create a Restore Point and verify a recent system backup to recover your PC if something goes awry.

1. Press the Windows key to open the Start
2. Search for PowerShell and select the Run as Administrator link on the right.
3. In the PowerShell terminal, enter the following command and hit Enter.

   Get-AppxPackage -allusers *WindowsStore* | Remove-AppxPackage

   

A blue deployment message will appear briefly, and the Store will be uninstalled for all user accounts on the PC. After executing the command, close out of the PowerShell terminal and restart your PC.

Once the Store is uninstalled, you won’t find the taskbar or Start menu icon. However, if you search for the Store, the only results are the ability to run the Store troubleshooter for installed apps you downloaded from the Store previously.

How to Install the Microsoft Store on Windows 11

Now that the Store is entirely uninstalled, you can reinstall it using the PowerShell terminal.

1. Launch PowerShell as administrator as outlined in the above steps.
2. Type (or copy and paste) the following command and press Enter:

   Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers Microsoft.WindowsStore* | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

   

A brief blue progress message will appear in the terminal when you run the command. When it is complete, restart your PC again for good measure.

The Microsoft Store icons will reappear on the taskbar and Start menu, and you can use the Store like normal for all users. And if you were having problems with the Store, the issues should be resolved.

Fixing the Microsoft Store on Windows 11

The Microsoft Store is a conduit for getting the latest apps, games, movies, and TV shows on your Windows PC. However, like other components, it doesn’t always work as intended. If your first troubleshooting attempts don’t resolve the issue, reinstalling the Store should fix any problems you were having.

The apps in the Store are signed off by Microsoft, which prevents malicious code from coming from third-party apps. If you’re concerned about system security and stability, you might want to only allow Microsoft Store app downloads.