How to Troubleshoot Microsoft Store Not Updating Apps

When the Microsoft Store refuses to update apps or even download anything, it usually indicates a problem with the store, such as corrupted cache files or stopped Microsoft Store services. In addition, if you have third-party antivirus software, it might interfere with the update process, preventing the store from working properly.

This issue occurs mostly when the services required for the Microsoft Store to function properly have stopped running in the background, which is very common with the Microsoft Store. Therefore, you should attempt to restart your computer before moving down to the following methods.

1. Restart the Storage Service and Microsoft Install Service

The Storage Service in Windows manages storage-related tasks the Microsoft Store needs during the installation process. Meanwhile, the Microsoft Install Service handles the installation and uninstallation of applications. If, for any reason, these services get stopped, you will likely encounter this error message. Therefore, ensure that these services are running and functioning properly by following the steps below.

1. Press the Win + R keys to open the Run Program.
2. Type services.msc and click OK to open the Services window.
   
3. Here, find the Storage Service.
4. Right-click on it and go to Properties.
   
5. Here, change the Startup Type from Manual to Automatic.
6. Then, click Apply and click OK to save the settings.
   
7. Repeat the same steps with the Microsoft Install Service. Then, see if the issue is fixed or not.
   

2. Clear the Microsoft Store Cache

Microsoft stores cache data to speed up processes. This data can include images, web pages, downloads, and more. If this data becomes corrupted, it can cause several issues, including the one you are experiencing. Therefore, we recommend clearing the Microsoft cache data to determine if it is causing the problem.

1. Right-click the Start Menu and select Run from the listed options. This will open up the Run Program.
   
2. Here, type the command WSReset.exe and click OK to clear the cache.
   

3. Reset the Microsoft Store App

 It is quite possible that your application data has become corrupted, resulting in this issue. You can try fixing this issue by resetting the Microsoft Store app. Resetting the Microsoft cache will not only clear the cache data but also reset the Microsoft Store to its default state, along with clearing the app data, such as authentication cookies, settings, and configuration files.

1. Press the Win + I keys simultaneously to open the Settings.
2. Then, go to Apps > Installed Apps.
   
3. Here, find the Microsoft Store, click the three dots, and select Advanced Settings.
   
4. Scroll down to the Reset section and click the Reset button.
   
5. Once the app has been reset, check if the issue is resolved.

4. Re-register the Windows Store App

If nothing works, you can try re-registering the Microsoft Store app. This is just like reinstalling the Microsoft Store. So, if there is any problem with the Microsoft Store app, re-registering it will surely fix it.

1. Click the Start Menu and type Windows PowerShell.
2. Right-click on it and select Run as administrator.
   
3. Once you are in admin mode, run the following command to reinstall the Microsoft Store:

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

4. Once done, the issue should be resolved.

The solutions above should resolve the issue. However, if none of them work, you have the option to use a system restore utility if you have created a restore point in the past. Alternatively, you can reset your Windows without losing your data.