Fix: Windows Store error 0x87AF0001

Madalina Dinita
by Madalina Dinita
Managing Editor
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Millions of users visit the Windows Store daily to update their favorite apps, try out the recently launched apps or download the latest games. The Store is a very complex place, and as always, where there’s complexity, sometimes unexpected things happen.

There are various errors that can occur when Windows users visit the Store. Fortunately, there are various workarounds available for most of these errors.

Windows Store error 0x87AF0001 prevents users from updating apps

Table of contents: 

  1. Reset the Windows Explorer task
  2. Disable Firewall or antivirus
  3. Reset Windows Store
  4. Run the Store troubleshooter
  5. Update Windows
  6. Delete updates
  7. Run the SFC scan
  8. Reset the Software distribution folder

How to fix Windows Store error 0x87AF0001

Solution 1 – Reset the Windows Explorer task

The following solution work for 99% of the apps. Until Microsoft rolls out a patch to fix this bug, this workaround remains the best possible alternative.

  1. Open the Windows Store > launch the download process
  2. Open Task Manager > scroll down to Windows Processes > find Windows Explorer > right click it and end the task
  3. Go to the Windows Store and update or download your app(s)
  4. When the download process is completed, go back to Task Manager
  5. In the upper left corner, click File > run New task
  6. Type in the word “explorer” and click ok.

On the other hand, if you’re not able to resolve the problem with this solution, we have some more for you. Of course, none of the following solutions is guaranteed to resolve the problem, but there’s really nothing you can lose if you give them a try.

Solution 2 – Disable Firewall or antivirus

Even though it shouldn’t be the case by default, there’s still a chance the Windows Firewall actually blocks the Store. You can check that by disabling the Firewall. Here’s how to do that:

  1. Go to Search, type firewall, and open Windows Defender Firewall.
  2. Select Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.
  3. Disable Windows Firewall for both private and public networks.
  4. Confirm selection and try updating again.

Solution 3 – Reset Windows Store

The next thing we’re going to try is a good old trick that’s basically used for resolving various Store-related issues. You guessed it, the WSReset command. This command, as its name says, will reset the Store to its ‘natural’ state, and (hopefully) wipe away any potential issues.

Here’s how to easily reset the Microsoft Store in Windows 10:

  1. Go to Search, type wsreset, and click the WSReset.exe command.
  2. Wait for the process to finish and restart your computer.

Solution 4 – Run the Store troubleshooter

If none of the previous solutions worked, let’s turn to troubleshooters. The first troubleshooter we’re going to try is Windows 10’s built-in universal troubleshooter. This troubleshooter can be used for resolving various issues, including our little Store error.

Here’s how to run the Store troubleshooter in Windows 10:

  1. Go to the Settings app.
  2. Head over to Updates & Security > Troubleshoot. 
  3. Scroll down and click Windows Store Apps.
  4. Now, go to Run the troubleshooter. 
  5. Follow further on-screen instructions and let the wizard finish the process.
  6. Restart your computer.

Solution 5 – Update Windows

Even though Microsoft doesn’t push Store updates through Windows Update quite often, there’s a chance some other feature actually interferes with it. As Windows updates are known for disrupting various Windows features from time to time, your best bet is to either install a new update or delete the latest one.

We’re going to try with updating Windows first. Just in case Microsoft releases some patching update. To update your OS, simply go to Settings > Updates & security, and check for updates.

Solution 6- Delete updates

If there’s no new update, and you suspect the previous one actually messed something up, it’s a good idea to uninstall that update. In case you’re not sure how, just follow these instructions:

  1. Go to Settings > Updates & Security > Windows Update
  2. Go to Update history > Uninstall updates
  3. Now, find the latest update installed on your computer (you can sort updates by date), right-click it, and go to Uninstall
  4. Restart your computer

Solution 7 – Run the SFC scan

There’s one more troubleshooting tool we can try. That troubleshooter, of course, is the SFC scan. In case you’re not familiar with this tool, the SFC scan is a universal troubleshooting tool designed for resolving various internal issues within your system. And in just might be helpful in this case, as well.

Here’s how to run the SFC scan in Windows 10:

  1. Go to Search, type cmd, and open Command Prompt as Administrator.
  2. Type the following command, and press Enter: sfc/scannow
  3. Wait for the process to finish.
  4. Restart your computer.

Solution 8 – Reset the Software distribution folder

And finally, if none of the above-mentioned solutions worked, let’s try with deleting the Software Distribution folder. Here’s how to do that:

  1. Open Command Prompt as administrator (as shown above).
  2. Type the following commands, and press Enter after each one:
    • net stop wuauserv
    • net stop bits
  3. Minimize Command Prompt. Now navigate to the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution directory and delete all files from it.
  4. After deleting all files, go back to Command Prompt and run the following commands:
    • net start wuauserv
    • net start bits

If you’ve come across other workarounds to fix the Windows Store error 0x87AF0001, list the troubleshooting steps in the comment section below.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in November 2016 and has been since completely revamped and updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

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