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

 

[ihanson]

Brink - any idea of how to effectively copy all of my programs, docs, settings, etc over to another user profile so I can delete my old one? I didn't see anything in the user profiles section of the forums.

 

[Brink]

Files (ex: docs) can just be copied over.

If it's a Microsoft account, then your settings will be automatically synced when you create the new one if you had them synced now.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5591-sync-your-settings-turn-off-windows-8-a.html​

The programs will still be installed, but you may need to create new shortcuts for them.

 

[Brink]

Tutorial updated to add option number 20.

 

[Dick Jagger]

Today, after having all kinds of permissions errors with my Temp folder that prevented Dropbox from running, I now can not load any Metro apps. They all start up by opening their splash screen and then immediately close.

 

[Brink]

Hello Dick,

You might see if doing a system restore using a restore point dated before this happened may be able to undo and fix it for you.

 

[essamco]

Add this fix:
Check your network connection, if you have google DNS server try remove it or put your gateway IP. I had this before problem but after I remove google DNS server (8.8.8.8) and I changed it to my router IP it fix the problem and windows store started

 

[Iamfullyshibe]

I recently had a power outage from a storm and noticed a lot of things have changed on my computer. The biggest one is that my tiles aren't working, another problem is my file explorer won't stay in it's position, it keeps resetting to the middle of the screen after closing and re-opening it. I have done nearly everything here. I can't go back to a restore point because there is no point behind the date this error occurred, and I can't do a system refresh because it gives me an error afterwards. I have tried to uninstall and re-install an app from the store, but it only gives me an error at the end of the installation. (Which means I can't install Windows 8.1). Why did this happen all of a sudden?

 

[Brink]

Hello Iamfullyshibe, and welcome to Eight Forums.

What is the full error message when you try to refresh or reset Windows?

 

[helmi]

I don't understand at all. I had this problem last week and tried some of the methods here and got the apps to work again (although I'm not sure was it me who did it, or did they just randomly start working again), but today the problem is back again! I don't understand why this keeps happening, it seems like some days the apps work but then some random days they won't open. What could be the cause of this, do any of you know? Can it be a bug that came from a Windows update, because I think these problems may have started after un update maybe about two weeks ago, or is it something else?

Edit:

So I ran the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter and I can now open the Windows Store again, but the other apps (like games and camera) still don't work. The problems the troubleshooter found were "Service Registration is missing or corrupt" (not fixed), "Windows-store's cache may be damaged" (not fixed), "windows store configuration may be damaged" (identified) and "Some privacy-settings are missing or have been changed" (fixed). Some of these may not be word for word correct because I had to translate them from my language to put here, but you probably get the idea. Any thoughts what this may mean?

 

[Brink]

Hello Helmi,

Continue down the listed items. You might see if doing numbers 16-18 first may help though.

 

[2mindless]

After a "hard crash" due to power outage, it's really messed up my system. I am having this problem with the app tiles. The only thing which is working now is the Windows Store after doing a reset. The SFC/Scannow turns up nothing; I've followed all the other steps & directions & still nothing. Uninstalling & re-installing the app's does not work. The app's don't uninstall [uninstaller not appearing]. The app's used to list in iobit uninstaller under "windows 8 app's" but now none of them appear. If I try re-installing from the Windows store I can't install the app's because it says they're already in my system. As a last resort I was going to do a system refresh, but this told me that my image drive is locked. idk what that means & I'm nearly losing my mind. Been 3 days going over Eight forums guides to elevated command prompts & running system diagnostics...nothing is re-setting my app tiles. It's like I'm locked out of everything, only after this power failure. I've gone through the same exasperation with "system restore". Reading everything on both these issues...my system restore doesn't restore, just sits at "initializing" til infinity...I've gone into the control panel & checked to make sure all the file permissions are set at "read & write" under the "all applications packages". All the file permissions seem correct. I've followed other tutorials which said to log in as an administrative user & do elevated command prompts. Still no errors or problems...yet I can't get my app's to open. They flick & then nothing.

I tried the gpresult/hc:\gpreport.html

nothing was revealed...nothing showed. I'm at my wits end...please advise.

 

[Brink]

Hello 2mindless,

Have you already tried to do a system restore at boot using a restore point dated before this happened to see if it may be successful?

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/4692-system-restore-how-do-windows-8-a.html

 

[2mindless]

I'm not sure how to do that, a system restore at boot? My computer just boots up...I'm still l'm still really new to technical issues with Windows 8.1; just read why I can't do a system refresh from my recovery drive on a "tech" info. site. Says once you've upgraded to Windows 8.1, if your computer came pre-loaded with Windows 8; your recovery drive is "locked" after the upgrade & you can't get it. According to the cnet post the guy jokes about it being fodder for a lawsuit. It seems I'm locked out of restoring my system unless I have a Windows 8 bootable disk or flash...unfortunately I didn't do that before the upgrade [which the article says you should], I did the recovery drive with the Windows 8.1. But this business with the app tiles suddenly not responding (per say). I've checked all the permissions. Everything is set correctly...still nothing.

I read further tutorials on the system restore stuck at initializing, it said to check the volume shadow copy is on. I checked, it was off, so I restarted the service but this has not enabled me to do a system restore.

Another thing I noticed has happened [don't know how] & I can't undo...under my system services the DCOM & Remote Procedure Call are greyed out. I can't select to set them to automatic nor can I restart the services because they're greyed out.

I've also just noticed that my VSS (volume shadow copy) keeps shutting off. It's set to automatic, I just enabled it again...idk why that's happening either when I'm not in my systems services turning it on & off. It's essential to the system restore feature...I have very few restore points & have wondered about that...it seems my system only sets restore points back 3-4 days, prior to that everything is wiped out. Idk why, I'm not doing anything to eliminate restore points. I'm so confused. None of this was occurring when I got my computer last year....only after I upgraded to Windows 8.1 did this begin happening.

 

[Brink]

The link I posted above can help show you how to do a system restore at boot.

You'll basically boot from the 8.1 recovery drive (usb) that you created, to do so.

 

[2mindless]

I thank you so much Brink...I can't express, enough, my appreciation & gratitude for the information you provide or for Eight Forums in General. It's been such a life line in a sense...whatever can & could go wrong. This is my one & only, mainline for help! If I could HUG you & EIGHT FORUM I would....are you the creator of this?

Anyhow...the suggestion of the "system restore" from boot, it WORKED!!!! First time in like 9 months I've been able to do a system restore! I thank you so much...some of my live tiles that were GONE have reappeared....AHHHHH, My app's are OPENING NOW....OK, that's it, I could KISS YOU! I'm BACK to normal....

 

[2mindless]

whooo hoooo....the system restore also undid whatever it was that caused the DCOM & RPC services to be STOPPED. YAY! Thanks so much for this simple but useful tip that has helped me undo whatever system changes caused this super headache of a problem...I can't reclaim the 2-3 days; day & night I've spent at this & in 5 minutes your suggestion DID it! Again, I'm hugging you with gratitude!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome 2mindless. I'm glad it was able to help.

 

[zrtom]

Thanks for this Tutorial. Out of the blue, none of my store apps (W8.1) would start. The screen would flash and an icon would appear in the taskbar but the apps would not open. I ran step 1 ("Windows Store Apps" Troubleshooter). It reported some things were repaired and some things were not. I rebooted and all is well!
Tom

 

[warmth]

You should add this solution (Powershell):

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

 

[Brink]

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.