How to fix Hanging or crashing apps in Windows Store Apps troubleshooter?

"Hanging or crashing apps" with "Not fixed" means the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter saw that a Store app froze or closed, but could not repair it by itself. The result does not name the app. Find the app in Reliability Monitor first, then repair or reset that one app.

Facts checked on 15 October 2026. Steps written for Windows 11 (25H2 and 26H2) and Windows 10 22H2.

What "Hanging or crashing apps: Not fixed" means in the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter

The Windows Store Apps troubleshooter checks the apps that come from Microsoft Store. When it finds that one of them stopped responding (hung) or closed by itself (crashed), it lists the finding Hanging or crashing apps. It then tries its standard repairs. When they do not help, the status reads Not fixed.

The window shows the heading "Troubleshooting has completed", then this line and the table:

The result in the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter

Troubleshooting was unable to automatically fix all of the issues found.
Problems found
Hanging or crashing apps: Not fixed

• Hanging means the app window froze and Windows marked it "Not responding". Windows logs it as Application Hang.
• Crashing means the app closed by itself, often right after it opened. Windows logs it as Application Error.
• Not fixed means only that the troubleshooter's automatic repair did not work. It does not mean Windows is broken.

Why Store apps hang or crash: the causes, ranked

Microsoft's own order for problems with Store apps starts with the single app (close it, update it, repair or reset it, reinstall it) and only then moves to Windows. Answers on Microsoft's forum add the Store itself and system files when every Store app fails. Our ranking follows that order:

How to fix hanging or crashing apps in Windows 11 and Windows 10

The fixes work on Windows 11 and Windows 10, with both paths where they differ. Start with Fix 1 even if you think you know the app: the log often shows a second one. After each fix, open the app again before you run the troubleshooter; the troubleshooter can keep showing an old finding.

Fix 1. Find which app hangs or crashes in Reliability Monitor

5 minutesNo riskEveryone who got the result "Hanging or crashing apps: Not fixed" and does not know which app it means.

The troubleshooter does not name the app, but Windows records every hang and crash with the app's name and time. With the name you fix one app instead of the whole system.

1. Press Win + R, type perfmon /rel and select OK. Reliability Monitor opens with a chart of the last days.
2. Select the days with a red cross in the Application failures row.
3. In the list below the chart, read the lines Stopped working and Stopped responding and was closed. The Source column names the app.
4. Double-click a line to see the details, such as the package name and the faulting module.
5. For more detail, press Win + R, type eventvwr.msc and open Windows Logs > Application.
6. Look for Application Error (event 1000) or Application Hang (event 1002) at the time the app failed.

Fix 2. Repair the app, then reset it if Repair does not help

5 minutesRead the warningOne app crashes at start, freezes on the same screen or closes without a message.

Microsoft names Repair and Reset as the step for a Store app that does not work. Repair checks the app's files and keeps its data; Reset deletes the app's local data, which is where a damaged setting or cache usually sits.

Close the app first. Right-click it on the taskbar and select Close window, or end it in Task Manager: Close a frozen app (Task Manager, Force Quit)

1. Open Installed apps. Select Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
2. Open the app's advanced options. Find the app in the list, select the three dots next to it and select Advanced options. Some apps do not have this option: for those, see the section about desktop programs below.

   

3. Repair first. On the page that opens, select Repair if it is there. The app's data stays. Open the app and check whether it works.

   

4. Reset if Repair did not help. Select Reset. This deletes the app's data on this PC, including sign-in details and settings. Open the app and set it up again.

These steps were written for Windows 11 25H2 and 26H2. The full page with the other versions and what each result means: How to repair or reset an app in Windows

Fix 3. Update the app, Microsoft Store and Windows

10 to 30 minutesLow riskThe crashes began after a Windows update, or your apps have not been updated for a while.

Microsoft puts updates at the top of its list for Store app problems. An app built for a newer Windows build, or an old app on an updated Windows, can crash at start until both sides match.

1. Open Microsoft Store from Start.
2. On Windows 11, select Library, then Get updates. On Windows 10, select See more (the three dots), then Downloads and updates > Get updates.
3. Wait until every app, including Microsoft Store, is updated.
4. Select Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. On Windows 10: Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
5. Install what is offered and restart the PC.
6. Check on the app's Store page that it supports your Windows version.

Fix 4. Reset Microsoft Store with wsreset and Repair or Reset

10 minutesLow riskMicrosoft Store itself hangs or crashes, or many Store apps fail at once.

Store apps get their updates and licences through Microsoft Store. A damaged Store cache can leave several apps half updated, and wsreset.exe clears that cache without removing any app.

1. Clear the Store cache. Press Windows + R, type wsreset.exe and select OK. A blank Command Prompt window opens; after a short while it closes and Microsoft Store opens by itself.

   

2. Open System components. If the problem stays, select Start > Settings > System > System components. Next to Microsoft Store, select the three dots and Advanced options. If Microsoft Store is not listed there, look for it in Settings > Apps > Installed apps.

   

3. Repair first. Scroll to Reset and select Repair. Repair keeps the app's data. Open the Store and check whether it works.

   

4. Reset if Repair did not help. Select Reset and confirm. This deletes the Store app's data on this PC; your purchases stay in your Microsoft account. Open the Store and sign in again.

These steps were written for Windows 11 26H2 (build 26300). The full page with the other versions and what each result means: Reset the Microsoft Store

Reset removes the Store's data on this PC and its sign in. Your purchases stay with your Microsoft account.

Fix 5. Reinstall the app, or re-register only that app

10 minutesRead the warningRepair and Reset did not help, the app is missing from Start, or it opens and closes at once.

Microsoft's last step for a single Store app is to reinstall it from the Library. That replaces the app's package. Built-in apps that cannot be uninstalled are registered again instead, which rebuilds their entry in Windows.

1. Select Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps. On Windows 10: Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
2. Select the three dots next to the app and Uninstall, then confirm.
3. Open Microsoft Store and select Library. On Windows 10: See more > My Library.
4. Find the app and select Install.
5. If the app has no Uninstall button because it is part of Windows, re-register it with PowerShell as shown below.

Re-register one built-in app, such as Photos or Calculator, step by step: How to re-register Microsoft Store apps with PowerShell

Fix 6. Check the clock and sign in to Microsoft Store again

5 minutesLow riskSeveral apps that need a licence or the internet fail, or the PC clock is wrong.

Microsoft asks you to sign in to your Microsoft account before any other step for Store app problems. Store apps check their licence online, and a wrong clock makes those secure checks fail.

1. Select Start > Settings > Time & language > Date & time.
2. Turn on Set time automatically and select Sync now.
3. Open Microsoft Store, select your profile picture and check that you are signed in with your Microsoft account.
4. If you are, sign out, restart the PC and sign in again.
5. Open the app that failed.

If Sync now fails, the full steps with the Windows Time service: How to fix the date and time in Windows

Fix 7. Start Windows with a clean boot to find software that interferes

15 to 30 minutesLow riskApps fail on this PC only, often after you installed a security suite, a tweak tool or a screen overlay.

A clean boot starts Windows with Microsoft services only. If the app works then, another program is the cause, and you find it by turning programs back on in groups.

1. Open System Configuration. Select Search on the taskbar, type msconfig and select System Configuration from the results.
2. Hide Microsoft services. On the Services tab, select the Hide all Microsoft services check box. Only services from other companies stay in the list.
3. Disable the remaining services. Select Disable all, then select Apply.
4. Open Task Manager. On the Startup tab of System Configuration, select Open Task Manager.
5. Disable the startup apps. On the Startup apps tab in Task Manager, select each item whose status is Enabled and select Disable. Write down or take a screenshot of the items you disable: you need the list to turn them back on.
6. Confirm the changes. Close Task Manager. On the Startup tab of System Configuration, select OK.
7. Restart and test. Restart the PC. Windows now starts in a clean boot environment: try again the thing that failed (run the app, install the update, uninstall the program).

These steps were written for Windows 11 25H2 and 26H2. The full page with the other versions and what each result means: How to perform a clean boot in Windows

Fix 8. Repair Windows system files with DISM and SFC

20 to 30 minutesLow riskMany apps and Windows tools fail, or no fix above helped.

Store apps run on shared Windows components. Answers on Microsoft's forum point to damaged system files when every Store app hangs. DISM repairs the Windows image and SFC then repairs the files from it.

1. Open an elevated command window. Right-click Start and select Terminal (Admin), or type cmd in the search box, right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator. Select Yes when Windows asks for permission.

   

2. Run DISM first. Type the command below and press Enter. DISM downloads clean copies of damaged components from Windows Update, so it can take several minutes. Wait until it says The operation completed successfully.

   DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

   

3. Run System File Checker. In the same window, type the command below and press Enter. Do not close the window until the verification reaches 100%.

   sfc /scannow

   

4. Read the result and restart. Compare the last message with the table below this guide, then restart the PC so that repaired files are loaded.

   

These steps were written for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2. The full page with the other versions and what each result means: Run DISM and SFC to repair Windows system files

If apps still hang or crash: what to read and what is left

Go back to Reliability Monitor (perfmon /rel) and Event Viewer (Windows Logs > Application). Compare the app names and times with the dates you ran each fix. If the list of failures stops after one fix, that fix worked and the troubleshooter's old finding can be ignored.

• One app still fails after Fix 2 and Fix 5: the app itself has a bug. Check its Store page for reviews from the same week and report it to the publisher with the Application Error entry.
• Every Store app fails and SFC could not repair files: reinstall Windows and keep your files and apps. Microsoft's Reset this PC and the in-place repair both keep personal files: Reinstall Windows without losing files
• What to send to support: the app name, the Event Viewer entry (event 1000 or 1002 with the faulting module), the build from winver, and the fixes you tried.
• When it may be hardware: apps of every kind freeze, the PC restarts by itself or shows blue screens. Then test the memory: How to test your RAM with Windows Memory Diagnostic

How to keep Store apps from hanging or crashing

• Let Microsoft Store update apps automatically. Old app versions on a new Windows build are a common cause of crashes at start.
• Install Windows updates, then restart. A pending restart leaves shared components half replaced.
• Close a frozen app instead of forcing the PC off. Task Manager ends the app without damaging other data.
• Be careful with tweak and cleaner tools. Some remove app data or Store components in bulk.
• Keep the clock on automatic. Licences and sign in depend on it.
• Plan the move from Windows 10. It left support on 14 October 2025, and new app versions are tested on Windows 11 first.

Frequently asked questions

What does "Hanging or crashing apps: Not fixed" mean?

It means the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter saw that at least one Store app froze or closed by itself, and its automatic repair did not help. It does not name the app and it does not mean Windows is broken. Open Reliability Monitor with perfmon /rel to see which app failed and when, then repair or reset that app in Settings. Run the troubleshooter again only after the app works; it can keep showing an older finding.

How do I reset hanging or crashing apps?

Reset the one app that fails, not all apps. Select Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps, select the three dots next to the app, then Advanced options. Select Repair first; it keeps the app's data. If that does not help, select Reset, which deletes the app's local data and sign in. On Windows 10 the path is Settings > Apps > Apps & features. To reset Microsoft Store itself, run wsreset.exe first, as in Fix 4.

Do I need a clean install of Windows to fix it?

Almost never. Old answers on Microsoft's forum from 2018 said a clean install was the only way, but most cases come from one app, which Repair, Reset or a reinstall fixes in minutes. If every Store app fails and SFC cannot repair Windows files, use Reset this PC with Keep my files or an in-place repair. Both keep your personal files, unlike a clean install.

Why can't I find the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter in Windows 11?

Because Microsoft is removing it. Its retirement plan for the old troubleshooters lists Windows Store Apps among those that are removed from Windows 11 releases after version 22H2, not moved to the new Get Help app. Other troubleshooters are under Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters. You do not need it: the fixes on this page are what it would have tried, plus the steps it skips.

How do I fix hanging or crashing apps on Windows 10?

The fixes are the same as on Windows 11, with older Settings paths. Find the app in Reliability Monitor, then open Settings > Apps > Apps & features, select the app and Advanced options, and select Repair or Reset. Update apps in Microsoft Store under See more > Downloads and updates. Windows 10 left support on 14 October 2025, so check that the app still supports it on its Store page.

Why are all of my apps suddenly crashing?

When many apps crash at once, the cause is something they share: a damaged Microsoft Store cache, a half-installed Windows update, a wrong clock, your Microsoft account sign in, or damaged system files. Reset Microsoft Store with wsreset.exe (Fix 4), install Windows updates and restart (Fix 3), and check the clock and sign in (Fix 6). If programs outside the Store crash too, run DISM and SFC (Fix 8).

What does it mean if an app hangs?

It means the app stopped responding to clicks and keys, but did not close. Windows adds "Not responding" to its title and may dim the window. Windows logs it as Application Hang, event 1002. Wait a minute first, because a large task can look like a hang. If nothing changes, close the app in Task Manager. A hang that repeats on the same screen points to damaged app data, which Repair or Reset fixes.

Microsoft Store itself is hanging or crashing. What should I do?

Reset the Store's cache and data. Press Win + R, type wsreset.exe and select OK, then wait until the Store opens by itself. If it still fails, open Settings > System > System components on Windows 11, or Settings > Apps > Apps & features on Windows 10, select Microsoft Store and Advanced options, and select Repair, then Reset. Your purchases stay with your Microsoft account. Update Windows afterwards.

Should I run the PowerShell command that re-registers all apps?

No, not as a first step. The command that runs Get-AppXPackage for every app is copied on many pages, but it touches every app on the PC, takes a long time and often fills the window with red errors for apps that were fine. Re-register only the one app that fails, by part of its name, as our procedure shows. For Microsoft Store itself, wsreset and Reset do the same job more safely.