Fix: Microsoft Store App Stuck on Starting Download

Is your Microsoft Store app stuck on starting download?

 

 

For a long time, Windows was the only operating system that did not have a central place for downloading apps. Windows users had to download every program from different websites, which was an endeavor no small feat to arrange, we might add. 

Fortunately, the Microsoft Store was introduced by Windows in 2012, and since then, this digital distribution platform has been growing. Today, the Microsoft Store holds a wide range of both paid and unpaid digital content. However, this in no way means that the Windows Store is free from errors. 

It is common for the users to experience minor errors while using the Microsoft Store now and then. Lately, some users have reported that the Microsoft Store app gets stuck on starting a download. This can be frustrating, especially when you are in a hurry. 

If you are facing this issue too, you’re in the right place. 

We have listed some simple solutions that will help you fix the issue in no time. 

Let’s get started. 

• 1. Run the Windows Troubleshooter. 
• 2. Reset Microsoft Store Cache.
• 3. Adjust Time, Date, and Region Settings. 
• 4. Sign out/ Sign in with the Microsoft account.
• 5. Run SFC Scan.
• 6. Re-register the Microsoft Store.
• 7. Run DISM Scan. 
• 8. Fix Problems With Windows Update. 
• 9. Reset Windows Update. 

 

1. Run the Windows Troubleshooter. 

It is common for users to run into errors while using the Microsoft Store. Fortunately, Windows comes with built-in utilities that allow users to scan through applications and fix errors. 

One such built-in tool is the Windows troubleshooter, which comes in handy when you encounter errors on your PC. A troubleshooter identifies the issues and fixes them automatically. 

If the Microsoft Store app is stuck in a ‘pending’ state and is unable to download anything, we suggest you run the Windows troubleshooter. Hopefully, it will resolve the error in no time. 

Follow the steps mentioned below to run the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter:

1. Press Windows + I keys simultaneously to open the Settings application.
2. Go to Update and Security.
3. Select Troubleshoot from the left panel and scroll down to find the Windows Store Apps option. 
4. Now select the Windows Store Apps option click on Run the troubleshooter to start the process. 

 

5. Wait for the troubleshooter to complete scanning. If the troubleshooter finds an error and recommends a fix, follow the on-screen instructions to solve the error. 
6. Once done, restart your PC and see if the error is resolved.

Microsoft Store should now be able to complete downloads without any issues. 

 

 

2. Reset Microsoft Store Cache. 

When you visit a web page or download an application on your PC, the operating system stores the requested files for later use. These files are known as ‘cached files’, and they help the system retrieve data faster. Like web browsers, apps on your PC maintain their own cached files. 

There are times when the cached files get corrupted and cause errors within the programs. 

If your Microsoft Store is unable to download anything, chances are that corrupt cached files are causing the issue. Since it is safe to remove cached files, you can solve this issue by resetting the Microsoft Store cache. Doing so will clear the cache, which in turn will most likely resolve the error. 

Here is how you can reset the Microsoft Store cache:

1. Type Command Prompt in the search bar and click on Run as administrator to open elevated Command Prompt. 
2. Type the command mentioned below in the elevated Command Prompt and hit Enter to execute it. 

wsreset.exe

 

3. Once the process is complete, restart your PC and see if the error is resolved. 

If a corrupt cached file was causing the issues, resetting the cache will fix it. If the error persists, proceed to the next method below. 

 

 

3. Adjust Time, Date, and Region Settings. 

If the time, date, and time zone on your PC are incorrect, several apps including the Microsoft Store will fail to respond. It is because these apps check the system for certificates before performing certain actions. If the date or time on your PC is incorrect, the certificates will be considered invalid. As a result, the apps on your PC will fail to respond. 

If the Microsoft Store app on your PC is stuck on starting a download, we suggest adjusting the time and date on your PC.  

Here is how you can do it:

1. Type Date & Time in the search bar and select Open to launch the Settings window. 
2. Verify the Time Zone.
3.  Enable the Set time automatically option. 
4. Under Synchronize Your Clock, click on Sync Now.  

 

4. Finally, open the Microsoft Store and see if the error is resolved. 

You should now be able to download apps on the Microsoft Store without any issues. 

 

 

4. Sign out/ Sign in with the Microsoft account.

A bug in your account may be causing the Microsoft Store to get stuck. Several users have reported that signing out of their Microsoft Store account and then signing back in has helped them in this case. 

If you are facing the same issue, try signing out of your Microsoft Store account and then sign back in. Hopefully, it will fix the error on your PC. 

Here is how you can do it:

1. Open the Microsoft Store and select your Profile icon in the upper right corner. 
2. Click on Sign out to sign out of your account. 

 

3. Close the Microsoft Store app and reopen it.
4. Click on the User icon and select Sign in.
5. Enter your credentials and check if the error is resolved. 

If a bug in your account was causing the issue, doing so will resolve it. However, if you face the error again, see the next method below. 

 

 

5. Run SFC Scan. 

System File Checker (SFC) is a built-in utility that allows users to scan for corruption errors in the system and fixes them. If the Windows troubleshooter did not fix the error, try running the SFC scan. 

Here is what you need to do:

1. Type cmd in the search bar and click on Run as administrator. 
2. In elevated Command Prompt window, type the command listed below and hit Enter to execute it.

sfc /scannow

 

3. Once the operation is complete, restart your PC. 

Doing so will enable the System File Checker to scan for issues and fix them if found.

 

 

6. Re-register the Microsoft Store. 

Another easy way to solve the issue is re-registering the Microsoft Store. Re-registering is a form of resetting the app but in this process, you will not lose any data. Doing so will place the app back in its initial state. 

Follow the steps mentioned below to re-register the Microsoft Store:

1. Press Windows + X keys simultaneously and click on Windows PowerShell (Admin) to launch PowerShell with administrative privileges. 
2. In the PowerShell window, type the command mentioned below and hit Enter to execute it. 

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

 

3. Once the process is complete, restart your PC and check doing so resolved the issue. 

Hopefully, re-registering the Microsoft Store app will fix the error. 

 

 

7. Run DISM Scan. 

Like the Windows troubleshooter and System File Checker (SFC), DISM is also a built-in utility in Windows. This tool scans for corruption in the system and attempts to repair the issues that it finds. Typically, the DISM tool is used after the SFC fails to resolve errors. 

If the Microsoft Store app on your PC is stuck on starting download and the System File Checker failed to fix the issue, try running a DISM scan. It will scan the system for errors and fix them automatically. 

Here is how you can run a DISM scan:

1. Type cmd in the search bar and click on Run as administrator. 
2. Now type the command mentioned below in the elevated Command Prompt and hit Enter. 

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

 

3. Once done, restart your PC and check if the error is resolved. 

You should now be able to download apps without any issues. If the DISM tool failed to fix the issue, see the next method below. 

 

 

8. Fix Problems With Windows Update.

Several users have been able to solve the Microsoft Store error with Windows Update. While it may seem irrelevant, we encourage you to give it a shot. Hopefully, it will solve the issue on your PC. 

Here is what you need to do:

1. Type Troubleshooting in the search bar and click on Open to launch the Settings window.
2. Under the Get up and running section, click on Windows Update. 
3. Click on Run the troubleshooter and follow on-screen instructions to complete the process. 

 

That’s it. You can now check if running Windows Update troubleshooter solved the issue on your PC.  

 

 

9. Reset Windows Update.

If none of the methods mentioned above works for you, try resetting the Windows Update. This will solve both Microsoft Store and Windows Update issues on your PC. 

Here is how you can reset Windows Update on your PC:

1. Type services.msc in the search bar and click Open to launch Services. 
2. Select Windows Update from the list of services available and click on Stop to disable it. 

 

3. Now go to Local Disk (C:) and click on the SoftwareDistribution folder. 
4. Rename the SoftwareDistribution folder to SoftwareDistributionOLD. 
5. Now go back to the Services window and enable Windows Update service. 
6. Finally, open Microsoft Store and check if the error is resolved. 

Resetting the Windows Update will fix the download issues in your PC once and for all. 

This wraps up our guide on fixing the Microsoft Store stuck issue on starting a download. We hope that our solutions helped you fix the error on your PC. We have also discussed the Microsoft Store slow download issue in our previous post. Don’t forget to give our article a read if your Microsoft Store takes too long to download apps. If you still have any confusion, please let us know in the comment section below.

 

If this guide helped you, please share it.