Windows Store Closes Immediately After Opening [Solved]

Proven solutions to get the Store app working normally again

Reading time icon 6 min. read


Readers help support Windows Report. We may get a commission if you buy through our links. Tooltip Icon

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial team. Read more

Key notes

  • If the Windows Store app closes immediately after closing on your PC, it might be because of a corrupt cache.
  • A quick and proven way to fix this issue is to change the ownership of some system folders.
  • Enabling the Microsoft Store Install service is another effective solution to this issue.
windows store closes immediately

Microsoft Store is a core component of Windows OS. It is the best place to download tested and trusted apps for your PC.

However, like virtually all other components of Windows, this app is not free from issues. For example, users now complain that the Windows Store closes immediately after opening.

When the Microsoft store opens and closes, it can be frustrating, it is not the most challenging issue to fix, as shown in the following sections of this guide.

Why does my Microsoft Store instantly close?

There are various reasons your Microsoft Store closes immediately after opening on Windows. It could be due to system issues with some system services or the app itself.

Below are some of the causes as reported by users:

  • Disabled system services: Sometimes, Windows Store closes immediately because the necessary services to run it are disabled. You need to enable these services and restart your PC to solve this problem.
  • Corrupt app cache: If the Windows Store app cache is corrupt, you can face all sorts of issues with it. To fix this issue, you need to reset the cache or reinstall the Microsoft Store app.
  • Glitches with the Store app: At times, the Windows Store opens and then closes because of minor glitches with the app. Running the Windows App Store troubleshooter should fix this issue easily.
  • Faulty Windows version: Your Windows install version might get corrupted over time. This can cause the Windows Store to crash or the Microsoft Store not to open at all. You might need to perform a clean install of Windows 10 to fix this.

Now that we made this clear, let’s find out what to do when the Microsoft Store flashes and disappears.

How can I fix Windows Store if it closes immediately after opening?

1. Reset the Store app

  1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app and choose the Apps option.
    apps windows store closes immediately
  2. Select Microsoft Store from the list of apps and click Advanced options under it.
    advanced options
  3. Finally, click the Reset button to return it to default and click Reset again to confirm.
    reset

If the Windows Store app closes immediately after launching, it might be because of minor issues. Hence, the first line of action is to rest the app to default and undo all changes made to it.

2. Change the owner of some system folders

  1. Open Windows Explorer and go to C:/Program Files.
  2. Right-click the WindowsApps folder and choose Properties.
    properties windows store closes immediately
  3. Choose the Security tab and click the Advanced button.
    security advanced
  4. Now, click Change in the Owner section.
    change  windows store closes immediately
  5. Enter your PC user name in the Enter the object name to select and click Check Names, followed by OK.
    desktop app
  6. Check the Replace owner on subcontainers and objects box and click Apply and OK.
    replace windows store closes immediately
  7. Now, go to C:/Windows/SystemApps and repeat Steps 1 to 6 for the SystemApps folder.
    systemapps
  8. Restart your PC.
  9. When your PC restarts, press the Windows key + X and select Windows PowerShell (Admin).
    powershell
  10. Copy and paste the command below and hit Enter: Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}get app
  11. Now, wait for the command to finish running.
  12. Finally, go back and change the owner of the WindowsApp to TrustedInstaller and that of the SystemApps folder to System.
    trusted windows store closes immediately

After the last step, you can now check if the Windows Store still closes immediately after opening. It must also be said that you need to be careful while changing folder ownership. So, you need to follow the instructions above to the letter.

3. Install the Media Feature Pack for Windows 10 N

  1. Press the Windows key + R, type winver, and click OK to know your Windows version.
    winver
  2. Now, go to the Microsoft Support page to download the Media Feature Pack for your PC.
    media pack
  3. Open and execute the downloaded file and restart your PC.

Sometimes, your Windows Store app closes immediately because your PC is missing some vital media files. This is especially true for Windows 10 KN or N users.

Downloading the Media Feature Pack should help fix this issue here.

4. Enable the necessary services

  1. Press the Windows key + R, enter services.msc, and click OK.
    Windows Store opens then closes Windows 10
  2. Check if the Microsoft Store Install Service is running. If it is, right-click and choose Restart.
    restart
  3. If it is disabled, double-click it, and set the Startup type to Automatic.
  4. Now, click the Start button followed by OK.
    automatic windows store closes immediately
  5. Repeat Steps 2 to 4 for the Windows Update service.
    windows update

The Windows 10 services are essential for the easy running of its apps and processes. However, if the services needed to run and update the Windows Store are disabled, they can cause the app to close immediately after opening.

Thus, enabling the services above and restarting your PC should restore normalcy. The Microsoft Store opens and then closes issue should be gone.

5. Reset the Microsoft Store cache

  1. Press the Windows key + R and type wsreset.exe.
  2. Click the OK button to run the command.
    wsreset windows store closes immediately
  3. Finally, wait for the process to complete, and the Microsoft Store should open automatically.

At times, Windows Store closes immediately after opening because of corrupt cache files. To restore normalcy, you must reset the cache using the above steps.

6. Reinstall the app

  1. Press the Windows key +X and select the Windows Powershell (Admin) option.
    powershell
  2. Copy-paste the command below and hit Enter: Get-AppXPackage *WindowsStore* -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}get app
  3. Now, restart your computer.

If the Windows Store app is faulty, it might close immediately after opening. However, the steps above will help install a clean app version. This should hopefully get rid of the faults.

7. Perform an in-place upgrade

  1. Go to the Windows 10 download page and click the Download Now button under the Create Windows 10 installation media section.
    download windows store closes immediately
  2. Click the downloaded app to run it.
  3. Choose the Upgrade this PC now option and click the Next button.
    upgrade this pc
  4. Ensure that the Keep personal files and apps box is checked on the Ready to Install page. If not, click the Change what to keep option and select your preferences.
  5. If all is set, click the Install button and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process.
    change install windows store closes immediately

The Windows Store closes immediately after opening issue is one of the most troublesome issues with the Store app. However, with the solutions listed in this guide, you should be able to fix them quickly.

If you are facing other issues like Microsoft Store not loading on Windows 10, check our well-detailed guide to fix it convincingly.

Feel free to let us know the fix that solved the problem of Microsoft Store closes immediately after opening in the comments below.

More about the topics: Microsoft Store Fixes

User forum

6 messages