Windows' somewhat ambiguous “this app can’t open” error can appear when you try to run Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps from the Microsoft Store. The issue typically occurs for some users when they try to open native Windows apps, like Photos and Calculator. Show
This error means exactly what its message says, and the affected apps will not boot whatsoever. Fortunately, there are some potential fixes you can try to fix this error. 1. Run the Troubleshooter for Windows Store AppsThe Windows Store Apps troubleshooter is one included with Microsoft’s flagship OS to fix errors that pertain to UWP apps. As this is a UWP issue, running that troubleshooter might resolve the “This app can’t open” issue for some users at least. You can initiate that troubleshooter in Windows 11 like this:
To open the same troubleshooter in Windows 10’s Settings app, you’ll need to select Update & Security. Click Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooter from that tab. Then you can open Windows Store Apps by selecting it and pressing the Run the troubleshooter button. 2. Run a System File ScanCorrupted system files can be another potential cause of this error. Running a System File Checker (SFC) scan might repair some system files and fix the “This app can’t open” error on your PC. This is how to run an SFC scan in the Command Prompt:
3. Enable User Account ControlThe "this app can’t open" error can occur when User Account Control (otherwise known as UAC) is disabled. Some users have said in support forums that re-enabling UAC fixed this issue for them. So, make sure UAC is enabled by following these steps:
4. Check if the Windows Update Service Is EnabledThe Windows Update Service is also vital for apps to run properly. To enable it:
5. Clear the Microsoft Store App’s CacheThe “this app can’t open” error can feasibly arise because of an issue with the Microsoft Store App. Therefore, it’s recommended that users who need to fix this error try clearing that app’s cached data. You can clear the Microsoft Store app’s cache with these quick steps:
6. Turn Off the Windows Defender FirewallIf the "this app can’t open" error occurs for an app that needs an internet connection, try disabling the Windows Defender firewall. Doing so will ensure the firewall isn’t blocking the app. Here is how to disable the Windows Defender firewall:
7. Reset the Affected AppsWindows 10 and 11 includes a Reset option you can select for most UWP apps. Selecting that option clears data for apps without uninstalling them. It’s a troubleshooting option that might come in handy for fixing the "this app can’t open" error. You can reset affected apps with this tool as follows:
8. Reinstall the Affected AppsIf resetting affected apps doesn’t work, you might need to reinstall them to resolve the "this app can’t open" issue. You can uninstall apps you installed yourself from Settings. However, you can't uninstall many pre-installed Windows 11 apps from there. Here is how you can reinstall pre-installed apps with PowerShell:
Remember to replace NAME in the command included in step five with an app title listed in PowerShell. For example, the command for uninstalling Paint would look like this: You can also reinstall and register all built-in Windows app with a single PowerShell command. If you need to fix the error for many built-in apps, it will be quicker to reinstall them with that command. This is the PowerShell command for reinstalling all built-in apps: 9. Reset WindowsResetting Windows is the most drastic potential resolution of all for the "this app can’t open" error. A factory reset restores the OS to a default configuration, but it will also remove the software you’ve installed. Thus, resetting Windows isn’t the last resolution in this guide for nothing. You can perform a factory reset with the Reset this PC utility in Windows 11 and 10. As that utility includes a Keep my files option, you don’t need to back up user files beforehand. Our ways to factory reset guide include full instructions for resetting Windows with that tool. Get Your Apps Fixed With Thee ResolutionsWe recommend you go through all those potential fixes for the "This app can’t open" error in the order specified above. At least one of them will likely get that issue sorted on your PC. In addition to those, setting up a new local account and reregistering Microsoft Store are two other resolutions that might be worth a try. |