I can’t find or install an app from Microsoft Store

You can’t find an app that a friend or family member told you about. Or you found it on your Windows 10 laptop but not on your Windows 10 Mobile device. Or you found it, but you can’t install it. What’s going on? Here are some possibilities:

The app isn’t available in your country or region. Not all apps are available worldwide. So the app your friend saw in France might not be available in Germany. If you bought an app in one country or region and then you moved to another one, apps you had might disappear.

Microsoft family settings might be hiding apps. Parents can use Microsoft family settings to make sure that their child can’t view or install apps that are inappropriate for their age. Get more info.

The app is no longer available. Sometimes an app is removed from Microsoft Store, but it takes a little time for the app description page to get pulled down. In addition, some apps and games are not available in Microsoft Store, but can be downloaded from the publisher’s site directly.

The app is not compatible with your device. Microsoft Store automatically hides or blocks the Buy button on apps that are incompatible with your device. You might see an app from Microsoft Store available on your PC, but not on another PC, or your Xbox.

Your PC was recently updated, but wasn’t restarted. If updates for Windows were recently installed, you’ll need to restart your PC before you can install apps from Microsoft Store.

If you’re still having problems finding or installing an app

Try the following:

Reset the Microsoft Store cache. Press the Windows Logo Key + R to open the Run dialog box, type wsreset.exe, and then select OK.

Note: A blank Command Prompt window will open, and after about ten seconds the window will close and Microsoft Store will open automatically.

Make sure your PC is authorized to use Microsoft Store apps. See Manage your devices for Microsoft Store.

Microsoft Store not launching at all? See Microsoft Store doesn’t launch.

Read more about Microsoft Store app issues. See Fix problems with apps from Microsoft Store.

Where are Windows Store Apps installed & how to access the folder

UWP apps can be accessed from and started by clicking on the Tiles on the Windows Start. But where are they installed or located? The Universal or Windows Store Applications in Windows 10/8 are installed in the WindowsApps folder located in the C:\Program Files folder. It is a Hidden folder, so in order to see it, you will have to first open Folder Options and check the Show hidden files, folders and drives option.

Now you will be able to see the WindowsApps folder in the C:\Program Files folder.

Access or open the Windows Apps folder

Before you read further, we suggest you create a system restore point first.

Now, if you try to click on it to open it, you will not be allowed to, but you will instead see the following road-block.

Clicking on Continue will open the following warning box, saying that you have been denied permission to access this folder.

To gain access to the WindowsApps folder, click on the Security tab link. The following Properties box will open.

To be able to view the contents of the folder you must have at least Read permissions. Click on the Advanced button to open the Advanced Security Settings for the protected folder.

Clicking on Continue will open a box that will list down the permission entries for the folder. You will now have to give yourself permission, and you can do so by changing the Owner from TrustedInstaller to your name. Do note that, as an example, I have given myself complete blanket permissions, but you may give yourself limited permission as are required, by editing the permissions entries from its settings.

You may click on the desired entry and click View to see the individual permission entries and make changes there too. You will have to change the Principal / Owner first, however.

To do so, click on Change in the earlier step and enter the object name and click on Check Names too, as this will check if you have entered the name correctly, and correct it, if you haven’t.

I repeat, as an example, I have given myself complete blanket permissions, but you may give yourself limited permission as are required, by editing the permissions entries from its settings, as shown in the Permissions Entries box above.

The permission will be changed and will see a dialog box.

You will have to close the explorer window and re-open it.

You will now be able to click open on the WindowsApps folder and see its contents.

Any hacker or malware that gains access to this folder, could potentially modify the apps source code maliciously. So it might be a good idea to change the permissions back to their defaults, after you have completed your work. To do this, you have to simply reverse or undo the changes you made in the Advanced Security Settings.

If you wish to only see the list of all the apps along with their shortcuts, you can copy-paste the following in explorer address bar and hit Enter to open the following Applications folder:

Using this way you can change the permissions of any folder in Windows.

To reverse the changes, you need to retrace your steps and undo the changes made – or else you could go back to the created system restore point.

Date: September 8, 2018 Tags: Folder, Windows Apps