How To Resolve the “There Has Been an Error” Issue in Microsoft Store

How to Fix Microsoft Store Errors When Installing New Applications

Trying to install new apps from the Microsoft Store and hitting errors? Yeah, I’ve been there. It’s frustrating because sometimes everything looks fine, but the store just refuses to cooperate. Usually, it’s linked to a service misbehaving or some cache corrupting things. The fix isn’t always obvious, but after messing around for a bit, here’s what finally worked for me—hope it helps.

Getting the Microsoft Store Service Sorted

First off, probably the most common thing that causes these errors is the Microsoft Store service itself. If it’s not running right, nothing will install, no matter how many troubleshooting steps you try. So, start by checking that the service is actually enabled and running.

To do that, open the Run dialog with Windows + R and type services.msc. It’ll open up the long list of Windows background services. Honestly, sometimes these services are hidden pretty deep or just give confusing names, so it takes a bit of patience. If you prefer PowerShell, you can run Get-Service to see a list of services. But I find the GUI easier for this.

1. Locate the Microsoft Store Service
   > Look through the list for something like Microsoft Store Install Service, or maybe just Microsoft Store. It’s not always in the obvious spot. Sometimes it’s buried under ‘Windows Update’ or ‘Background Intelligent Transfer Service’. It really varies depending on your OS build or OEM tweaks. If you can’t find it, look for anything related to Store or app management. Patience helps here.

2. Configure the Service
   > Double-click on that service to see its properties. Check the Startup type—if it’s not set to Automatic, do that. This way, it starts automatically on boot. If it already is, great — just verify it’s running. You can click Stop, then Start again to reset it. After that, hit Apply and OK. Sometimes, a reboot after this helps, but I’ve had cases where a restart didn’t seem necessary. Either way, it’s worth trying this step before moving on.

3. Restart the Service
   > If it wasn’t already running, hitting Start is key. If it was, stopping and restarting it can fix quirks. Like I said, it’s not guaranteed, but in my experience, this step clears a lot of issues. Just remember to click Apply and OK after making changes. Again, a quick reboot after this can sometimes kick things into gear.

Honestly, it took me a couple tries to get these settings right. The location isn’t front-and-center, and the service name isn’t always the same depending on updates or device brands. Rebooting sometimes helps, other times not, but it’s worth a shot. The main thing is, make sure that service is set to start automatically and is running when you try to install apps.

Resetting the Store with Built-in Options

Next, I went into Windows Settings and looked at the Apps & Features section. This step sounds simple but can be confusing if you’re not sure where to look. The goal is to repair or reset the Microsoft Store app itself, in case it’s corrupted or misconfigured.

1. Open Settings
   > Click the Start menu or press Windows + I, then select Apps. You can also just type Apps & features in the Start menu search bar if that’s easier.

2. Find Microsoft Store
   > Scroll down to the list of installed apps, or use the search bar within Apps & Features to find Microsoft Store. If it’s not immediately obvious, it might be categorized under System Components or under optional features. Sometimes I had to click on View optional features to find it, especially on newer Windows builds.

3. Perform Repair and Reset
   > Click on Microsoft Store, then hit the Advanced options link. Here, you’ll see options like Repair and Reset. First, click Repair. It’s non-destructive; just tries fixing any corrupt files or settings without deleting anything.

4. And if Repair doesn’t do the job, click Reset. This restores the Store to its default state, which can delete some preferences or cached data, but it often clears up stubborn issues. Confirm when prompted. When it’s done, a message will say so, and you can close out. If the store still acts up, repeat the process or move to the next step.

Why the Reset Matters

The reset does a kind of hard wipe of app data associated with the store, clearing out any corrupt files or misconfigurations that might be blocking new downloads or updates. Yeah, it feels drastic—Windows is always a little overkill—but in these cases, it’s often what gets things working again. Sometimes, you need to do it a couple of times, or reboot in between, to nudge everything back into normal.

Using wsreset.exe to Clear the Cache

If the above didn’t help, the culprit might just be a stubborn cache. That’s where wsreset.exe comes in. It’s a built-in command-line tool designed to clear the Store’s cache while helping keep it from getting stuck on outdated or corrupted files.

1. Run wsreset
   > Hit Windows + R to open the Run dialog, type wsreset.exe, then press Enter. A small window will appear, sometimes with a progress bar or flickering, then disappear. It can take a minute or two, so don’t worry if it feels like it’s taking forever. Honestly, sometimes I had to run it twice before the cache was fully cleared.

2. Let it do its thing
   > After it’s done, the Store usually pops up automatically. If not, just search for Microsoft Store from the Start menu and open it manually. When you get that fresh start, try installing your apps again. Usually, clearing the cache does the trick when nothing else works.

Final Tips and What to Double-Check

If you’re still running into issues, make sure your Windows is fully up to date. Outdated system files can cause all sorts of weird problems, including Store errors. Also, check that your user account has admin rights—sometimes, limited accounts can block installations, especially after resets.

Remember, Windows can be a bit unpredictable, especially after updates or system tweaks. Resetting services, app components, and cache often helps because a lot of these errors are caused by corruption or misconfigurations deep inside. If after all that, the Store still won’t cooperate, it might be a sign of more serious system issues or corruption that could require deeper troubleshooting or even a Windows reinstall.

Quick checklist to double-check before you call it a night:

• Windows is fully updated
• Your account has admin rights
• The Microsoft Store service is enabled and set to start automatically
• Store cache has been cleared with wsreset.exe
• The Store app has been repaired or reset in Apps & Features

Hope this helped — it took way longer than I expected to figure out, mostly due to all the confusing menus and inconsistent naming. Anyway, good luck, and hopefully this saves someone else a weekend of head-scratching.