The Microsoft Store is a crucial platform for Windows users to download and update apps. However, you may occasionally encounter an issue where the Microsoft Store gets stuck on the loading screen, preventing you from accessing its features. This problem can be frustrating, but there are several methods you can try to resolve it.
Before we dive into the solutions, it’s important to note that this issue can stem from various causes, including disabled Windows Update services, network problems, incorrect system settings, or corrupted files. Let’s explore the most effective ways to fix this problem.
Method 1: Restart Your Computer and Router
Step 1: Shut down your computer completely and unplug your router from the power source.
Step 2: Wait for about 30 seconds, then plug your router back in and turn on your computer.
Step 3: Once your system has fully booted up, try opening the Microsoft Store again.
If this simple restart doesn’t resolve the issue, move on to the next method.
Method 2: Check and Enable Windows Update Service
The Microsoft Store is closely tied to Windows Update. Ensuring that the Update Orchestrator Service is running can often resolve loading issues.
Step 1: Press Win + R to open the Run dialog, type services.msc, and press Enter.
Step 2: In the Services window, locate “Update Orchestrator Service”.
Step 3: Right-click on it and select “Properties”.
Step 4: Set the “Startup type” to “Automatic” and click “Start” under “Service status” if it’s not already running.
Step 5: Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes.
Step 6: Restart your computer and check if the Microsoft Store now loads properly.
Method 3: Run the System File Checker
Corrupted system files can cause various issues, including problems with the Microsoft Store. The System File Checker (SFC) tool can help repair these files.
Step 1: Open Command Prompt as an administrator. You can do this by right-clicking the Start button and selecting “Windows Terminal (Admin)”.
Step 2: In the terminal window, type the following command and press Enter:
sfc /scannow
Step 3: Wait for the process to complete. This may take several minutes.
Step 4: Once finished, restart your computer and try opening the Microsoft Store again.
Method 4: Reset the Microsoft Store
Resetting the Microsoft Store can clear any corrupted data or settings that might be causing the loading issue.
Step 1: Press Win + I to open Settings.
Step 2: Go to “Apps” > “Apps & features”.
Step 3: Scroll down to find “Microsoft Store” in the list of apps.
Step 4: Click on the three dots next to it and select “Advanced options”.
Step 5: Scroll down and click on the “Reset” button.
Step 6: Confirm the action and wait for the process to complete.
Step 7: Restart your computer and check if the Microsoft Store now loads correctly.
Method 5: Re-register the Microsoft Store
If resetting doesn’t work, you can try re-registering the Microsoft Store using PowerShell.
Step 1: Right-click the Start button and select “Windows Terminal (Admin)”.
Step 2: In the PowerShell window, copy and paste the following command:
Get-AppxPackage -allusers Microsoft.WindowsStore | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
Step 3: Press Enter and wait for the command to execute.
Step 4: Once completed, restart your computer and try opening the Microsoft Store.
Method 6: Change DNS Settings
Sometimes, network-related issues can cause the Microsoft Store to get stuck. Changing your DNS settings might help resolve this.
Step 1: Press Win + R, type ncpa.cpl, and press Enter.
Step 2: Right-click on your active internet connection and select “Properties”.
Step 3: Select “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” and click “Properties”.
Step 4: Select “Use the following DNS server addresses” and enter:
- Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8
- Alternate DNS server: 8.8.4.4
Step 5: Click “OK” to save the changes, then restart your computer.
These DNS addresses are for Google’s public DNS. If you prefer, you can use other reliable DNS services like Cloudflare (1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1).
If none of these methods resolve the issue, you might need to consider more drastic measures like performing a Windows repair upgrade or, as a last resort, reinstalling Windows. However, these steps should resolve the Microsoft Store loading issue for most users. Remember to keep your system updated and regularly clear cache to prevent such issues in the future.