Apps and Tiles Not Working or Responding: Fix in Windows 8

Fix Store Apps and Tiles that are Not Working or Responding in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

In many cases, the Windows Store will automatically notify you if there’s a problem with an app and try to fix the problem.

If the Store doesn't notify you of the problem, then this tutorial provides you with a list of troubleshooting steps to follow to fix your modern screens, apps, and tiles that do not open, work, or respond in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.

   Note

Start at and do step 1 to see if you need to continue with the other steps or not. Sometimes step 1 will be able fix this without you having to do anything else.

Be sure that the affected app is completely closed before testing to see if works after applying a step in the tutorial below.

If not, then proceed to troubleshoot using the other steps.

Step 27 to refresh Windows 8 should be used as a last resort.

Here's How:


1. Run "Windows Store Apps" Troubleshooter

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You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to run the "Windows Store Apps" troubleshooter. This tool can automatically find and fix some problems with apps. It is only available in English, but will work in all languages. You can let it automatically attempt to repair any found issues, or select what repairs you want to have done.​

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2. Activate Windows 8

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Windows 8 will need to be activated before the Store and apps will work. Check to make sure Windows 8 is still activated. If Windows 8 will not activate online, then you can activate by phone instead.​

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3. Broken "Change PC settings" and cannot open PC settings

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See: How to Fix and Restore PC settings and "Change PC settings" in Windows 8.1​

4. If using a Proxy

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If you use an Internet proxy server that requires authentication, you may encounter problems when you use apps that connect to the Internet.​

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See: Using authenticated proxy servers together with Windows 8​

5. Restart the PC or Restart Explorer

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If the explorer process is running elevated (ex: restarting explorer with elevated .bat file), then all modern UI (aka: Metro) screens and apps cannot open. Instead, you would get the "This app can't open" error message below. Restarting the PC or explorer will have the explorer process run unelevated again.​

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6. Cannot be Signed in to the Built-in Elevated "Administrator" Account

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When you are signed in to an elevated account like the built-in Administrator account, the Store and apps will not work. Instead you would need to sign in using a Microsoft account in step 7 below.​

7. Use a Microsoft Account

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If you are not already, you will need to either be signed in to Windows 8 or the Store with a Microsoft account to be able to download and install apps from the Store belonging to that Microsoft account on the current account, or to be able to use an app (ex: SkyDrive) that uses a Microsoft service.​

8. Set Screen Resolution to a Minimum of 1024 (width) x 768 (height)

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The Store and apps require a minimum screen resolution of 1024 x 768 or higher to work.​

9. Connect to the Internet

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To be able to have live tile updates, install, or update Store apps, you will need to have an active internet connection.​

10. Enable User Account Control (UAC)

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UAC must remain enabled. You DO NOT want to use the old Windows 7 and Vista method of setting the EnableLUA registry DWORD to 0 (zero) to completely disable UAC. If you disable UAC using that method in Windows 8, it will prevent Store apps from being able to run until you either set EnableLUA back to 1 or turn UAC on, then restart the computer to apply.​

11. "Your purchase couldn't be completed" Error in Store

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If you get this error when trying to download or purchase an app in the Windows Store, click/tap on Cancel, double check to make sure that the Windows Update service is enabled (started) and set to "Manual", and try again.​

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12. Enable and Start "Windows Firewall" Service

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Even if you have a 3rd party firewall program installed, the Windows Firewall service must always be set to "Automatic" and running (start), or it will prevent you from installing and using any Store apps.​

13. Set Apps to be Trusted in 3rd Party Antivirus and Firewall Programs

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If you have a 3rd party AV or firewall program installed, then check it's settings to make sure that app.html, wwahost.exe, and any Store app not working is set to be allowed or trusted. If the AV or firewall program has the app as untrusted, then it will block and prevent the app from opening and connecting to the internet.​

14. Set Correct Time and Date

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Check to make sure that you have the correct time and date and time zone set for your PC, sync with internet time, and restart your PC.​

15. Re-register all Modern Apps

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When a modern app will not load or open, it may just need to be registered again to fix it.​

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For how, see: How to Re-register all Modern Apps in Windows 8 and 10​

16. Update your Apps

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Keeping your Store apps up to date with the latest version is one way to make sure that they keep working. These updates contain important bug and security patches. You’ll see a notification in the Store whenever an update is available for your app.​

17. Re-register the Store

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This is to re-register the Store app to fix the Windows Store when it has the following issues below in your account in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.​

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• 
  [*=1]After upgrading to Windows 8.1, the Store may not start at all.
  [*=1]PC settings doesn't open.
  [*=1]When you try to open the Store, it shows a progress ring, but never finishes loading.
  [*=1]The Store tile on your Start screen still shows the number of available app updates when there's actually not any available.

18. Clear Store Cache

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If you are having issues with installing or updating Store apps, then clearing the Store cache to reset it may help allow you to afterwards.​

19. Sync App Licenses

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If a license for an app is out of sync with the license installed on your PC, the app might stop working.​

20. Error Code: 0x80073cf9 while Installing App in Windows 8 and 8.1

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In Windows 8 and Windows RT, check to see if you have the C:\Windows\AUInstallAgent folder. If you do not, then create a new folder named AUInstallAgent in your C:\Windows folder, restart the PC, and try installing the app again.​

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In Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1, check to see if you have the C:\Windows\AppReadiness folder. If you do not, then create a new folder named AppReadiness in your C:\Windows folder, restart the PC, and try installing the app again.​

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21. If apps fail to start if default registry or file permissions modified

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For how, see: Win8: App: Modern: Apps fail to start if default registry or file permissions modified​

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22. Turn Off "Morphological Filtering" in Catalyst Control Center (CCC)

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If you have AMD graphics with the Catalyst Control Center (CCC) video drivers installed, then double check in CCC to make sure that you have Morphological Filtering unchecked to be turned off. It has been reported as causing issues with some apps being able to open when turned on.​

23. Uninstall and Reinstall the App

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If your apps are up to date (step 16) and the licenses are synced (step 19), you can reinstall the app in to try to fix the problem.​

24. Run a SFC /SCANNOW Command

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This will scan for and attempt to automatically repair any corrupted or modified Windows system files.​

25. Contact the App Publisher

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If you’re still experiencing problems with an app, use the support info listed on the app’s description page to contact the app publisher for help.​

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To do so, search for the app in the Store, click/tap on the app in the Store, click/tap on Overview, then click/tap on the support link for the app under Learn more.​

26. Do a System Restore

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Doing a system restore using a restore point (if available) dated before you had this issue may be able to undo the cause and fix the issue.​

27. Refresh Windows 8 or 8.1

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Refreshing Windows 8 should be used as a last resort. A refresh will keep all you personal data, modern Store apps, important settings from the PC, and reinstall Windows. A refresh will not keep any installed desktop programs. See link for more details.​

That's it,
Shawn

 

[warmth]

You should add this solution (Powershell):

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

Thank you warmth. I added this for re-registering all apps as step 15.

No problem. If you want to mention the source is here: Unable to launch Windows apps - Microsoft Community

IMHO this should be mentioned somewhere in TenForums.

[OFF TOPIC]I opened my account there today too, even if I have been user of forums fro years but I wasn't able to link the accounts.[/OFF TOPIC]

 

[Brink]

You read my mind. I'll be creating a tutorial for it at Ten Forums to help others later tonight.

Accounts between forums are not able to be linked. Each forum requires separate registration.

 

[JerBru]

I'm glad to see Windows is so easy to use. (read sarcasm here)
most of the icons on a 2 year old computer with Windows 8.1 installed do not work.
To my thinking this is an important part of a windows based, touch screen system.
Very basic and infrequent use. Very few downloads if any.

the solution (perhaps solutions) I do not understand
Run Windows Store App trouble shooter (can't find it, yes I read the feeds)
Get or find the Builtin Administrator Account (don't even know if I have one and cannot find it)
Go to a Elevated Command Prompt (there are 5 options here)
Go to a Power User Tasks Menu ( you use steps 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 here. I couldn't find it.

Folks this is not easy to use.
When I lookup a problem the solution (possibly solutions) are more difficult to understand than the problem.
Am I missing something here on this easy to use system.

I just want to open programs. Cursor, touch. I don't care
This is a major problem
Sorry about the rant but necessary.

very sorry I bought this computer and windows 8

 

[Brink]

Hello JerBru,

Clicking on the links in the listed items in the tutorial will show you more about it.

If you have specific questions about tutorials it links you to, then please post that.

 

[asreds]

Hi there, my issue is that all of the standard tiles have x in bottom right corner (Store / News / finance etc). When I click on them they flicker and go to minimised state on desktop. Same happens for change pc settings

This happens for 2 users (Admin and user) that I recently added. For 1 other admin user all is OK.

Any help appreciated.
asreds

 

[Brink]

Hello asreds, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Please go through the listed items in the tutorial on the first page of this thread to see if they may help.