How to fix Microsoft Store error 0x80073CF8 on Windows

Error 0x80073CF8 means Windows stopped installing an app because the request was cancelled or the download was interrupted. It is not a sign of damage in most cases. Start the download again from Library in Microsoft Store or the Xbox app, on a stable connection that is not set as metered.

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

What error 0x80073CF8 means in Microsoft Store

Apps and games from Microsoft Store are app packages, and Windows installs them through one service. When that service gives up on a request, it returns a code. Microsoft's developer documentation lists 0x80073CF8 as ERROR_INSTALL_CANCEL with one line: "The user canceled the install request."

Xbox Support describes what most people see. When a Game Pass game or a Store app stops downloading, the Store shows the code with this message:

What it means

The install or update did not fail on its own merits. It was stopped before the end: by a dropped connection, a paused download, a closed Store, sleep or a restart.

Who "the user" is

Windows uses the same code when an app, such as the Store itself, cancels the request on your behalf. You do not have to have pressed Cancel.

What it is not

Not a full disk (0x80073CF4), not a failed download (0x80073CF5) and not a broken registration (0x80073CF6).

The reader above saw no code at all, only a spinning icon, and found 0x80073CF8 in the logs. That fits the definition: when a download hangs and you close the Store, the waiting requests end as cancelled. The log entry is the result of the hang, not its cause. Microsoft does not document this exact case, so treat it as our reading of the code.

Why Microsoft Store shows 0x80073CF8: the causes, ranked

Most often the download was simply interrupted. Less often Windows or the Store holds downloads back, for example on a metered network, or the Store's own queue is stuck. Rarely the app is damaged or in use, and then the same code can appear when you update or uninstall it.

0x80073CF8 and its neighbours: 0x80073CF1, 0x80073CF0 and other app package codes

The 0x80073CFx codes all come from the same Windows service, so search results mix them up. They mean different things and need different fixes. This table quotes Microsoft's descriptions.

• 0x80073CF3 has its own guide: Windows Store error 0x80073CF3.
• 0x80073CF6 also has its own guide: error code 0x80073CF6.
• 0x87E80034 with "MsixvcStagingSession::GetManifestReader" is a different error from Xbox game installs, not 0x80073CF8. We could not confirm its meaning from Microsoft, so this page does not cover it.

How to fix error 0x80073CF8 in Microsoft Store and the Xbox app

Start with Fix 1: it is the only solution Xbox Support gives for this code and it takes two minutes. Fixes 2 and 3 deal with what interrupts downloads. Fix 5 is for one app that will not update or uninstall. Fixes 6 and 7 are for a Store that is broken itself.

Fix 1. Start the download again from Library

2 minutesNo riskEveryone, first, and especially when the Store shows "Restart this download".

Xbox Support says 0x80073CF8 means the download was interrupted, and its solution is to restart the download. A new request starts cleanly, and the Store keeps the part it already has where it can.

1. Check that you are signed in to Microsoft Store with the account that owns the app or game: select your profile picture at the top of the Store.
2. Select Library on the left side of the Store (Windows 10: See more > My Library).
3. Find the app or game. Select the resume icon, Install or Update next to it.
4. Keep the Store open and the PC awake until the download ends. Plug a laptop in for large games.
5. For a game from PC Game Pass, open the Xbox app instead, select My Library, select the game and install it from there.

• Only part of the list shows: Xbox Support notes that Library shows a limited number of items. Scroll to the bottom and more appear.
• One try, not ten: if the same code comes back right away, the cause is on the PC or the network. Go on to Fix 2.

Fix 2. Turn off Metered connection and check the network

5 minutesNo riskDownloads stay on Pending, stop part of the way, or you use mobile data, a hotspot or a VPN.

Microsoft says that on a metered connection "Apps downloading from the Microsoft Store might be paused." A paused or dropped download ends exactly as 0x80073CF8 describes: cancelled before it finished.

1. Select Start > Settings > Network & internet.
2. Wi-Fi: select Wi-Fi, then the network you are connected to. Ethernet: select Ethernet, then your network.
3. Turn Metered connection off, if you do not pay by the amount of data.
4. If you use a VPN, disconnect it for the length of the download.
5. Go back to the Store and start the download again as in Fix 1.

If the connection itself drops, find out where it breaks before you try again: How to check your internet connection in Windows

Fix 3. Clear the Store cache, then repair or reset Microsoft Store

5 to 10 minutesLow riskThe Store spins without starting the download, or every download ends with the same code.

The Store keeps its own cache and a list of downloads in progress. When that list is stuck, new requests wait behind it and end as cancelled. wsreset clears the cache, and Repair or Reset gives the Store a fresh start; your purchases stay in your Microsoft account.

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

Windows 10: Microsoft still lists the troubleshooter under Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot, then Windows Store apps > Run the troubleshooter. Run it after the reset if downloads still fail.

Fix 4. Install pending Windows and Microsoft Store updates

15 to 30 minutesNo riskWindows updates are paused or waiting for a restart, the PC is new, or every app fails.

Microsoft's own list of fixes for Store app problems puts a Windows update and a Store update near the top. An old Store app or a pending restart can stop installs part of the way.

1. Select Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates (Windows 10: Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update).
2. Install what Windows offers, then restart the PC with Start > Power > Restart.
3. Open Microsoft Store, select Library, then Get updates (Windows 10: See more > Downloads and updates > Get updates).
4. Let the Store update itself first. It restarts when it is done.
5. Start the failed download again.

If Windows Update itself fails, fix that first: Run the Windows Update troubleshooter

Fix 5. Close the app, then repair, reset or remove it

10 minutesRead the warningOne app, for example WhatsApp or Spotify, will not update or uninstall and shows 0x80073CF8.

An app that is still running holds its own files, and Windows cannot replace them. Users on Microsoft Q&A report 0x80073CF8 when they uninstall Spotify from Settings, so a damaged package can produce the same code. Repair, Reset or a removal from PowerShell clears it.

First close the app completely. If it does not close, end it in Task Manager: Close a frozen app (Task Manager, Force Quit). Then try the update again. If it still fails, repair the app and reset it only if Repair did not help:

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

If the app will not uninstall from Settings, remove it from PowerShell. Open Windows PowerShell (not as administrator), put a part of the app's name between the asterisks and run:

Windows PowerShell: find the app's package, then remove it for your account

Get-AppxPackage -Name '*Spotify*'
Get-AppxPackage -Name '*Spotify*' | Remove-AppxPackage

• Check the first result: the first line lists what matches. Remove only when it shows the app you mean.
• After removal: restart the PC and install the app again from Library in the Store.
• Installed for another account: Microsoft's reference says Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers removes a package for all accounts and needs an administrator window.

Fix 6. Re-register Microsoft Store for your account

5 minutesLow riskMicrosoft Store will not open, closes at once, or stays broken after Fix 3.

Every Store app, the Store included, is registered to your user account. When that link is damaged, the Store cannot hand downloads to Windows. Re-registering reads the Store's manifest again without downloading anything.

Use Microsoft.WindowsStore as the name in the commands of this procedure: How to re-register Microsoft Store apps with PowerShell

1. Open PowerShell. Select Start, type PowerShell and select Windows PowerShell. Open it the normal way, not as administrator: in an administrator window the app is registered to the administrator account instead of yours.
2. Find the app's package. Type the command below with a part of the app's name between the asterisks and press Enter. If the app is installed, PowerShell prints its details, including Name and InstallLocation. If nothing is printed, the app is not installed for your account: see the section below.

   Get-AppxPackage -Name '*WindowsCalculator*'

   

3. Re-register the app. Paste the three commands below, with the same name between the asterisks, and press Enter. They read the folder the app is installed in and register its manifest again. If no red text appears, it worked.

   $InstallLocation = Get-AppxPackage -Name '*WindowsCalculator*' |
       Select-Object -ExpandProperty InstallLocation
   $ManifestPath = $InstallLocation + '\Appxmanifest.xml'
   Add-AppxPackage -Path $ManifestPath -Register -DisableDevelopmentMode

4. Open the app. Close PowerShell and start the app from Start. If it still fails, restart the PC and try once more.

These steps were written for Windows 11 25H2 and 26H2, Windows 10 22H2. The full page with the other versions and what each result means: How to re-register Microsoft Store apps with PowerShell

Fix 7. Repair Windows system files with SFC and DISM

15 to 30 minutesLow riskNothing above helped, or other built-in apps also fail to open or update.

The Store hands every install to Windows' own deployment service. If the system files behind it are damaged, every request can fail the same way. DISM repairs the Windows image, 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

• Order matters: run DISM first and SFC second, as the procedure shows.
• Restart afterwards, then try the download again from Library.

If 0x80073CF8 is still there: read the AppX log and what to send to support

The Store shows only the code. Windows writes the details into an event log, and Microsoft's advice is to start with the AppXDeployment-Server log. It names the package and often a second code that says why the request ended.

1. Try the install once more and note the time.
2. Press Win + R, type eventvwr.msc and press Enter.
3. Expand Applications and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > AppXDeployment-Server.
4. Open Microsoft-Windows-AppXDeploymentServer/Operational and find the errors at the time you noted.
5. Read the entries just before the 0x80073CF8 line: they show what stopped the request.

Windows PowerShell: the log of the most recent app install, or all of them

Get-AppxLog
Get-AppxLog -All

• Test another Windows account: packages are registered per user. If the app installs in a new local account, your own account holds the problem. How to make one: Create a new user account to test a problem
• Third-party antivirus: Xbox Support says it can wrongly cause install errors. Pause it for one test only and turn it back on: Turn off Microsoft Defender protection for a moment
• What to give Microsoft or Xbox support: the app's name, the log text, your Windows version and build from Settings > System > About, and the fixes you tried.
• When it is not your PC: a work or school PC can block Store installs by policy. Ask the administrator before you change anything.

How to keep 0x80073CF8 from coming back

Because the code means an interrupted request, prevention is mostly about letting downloads finish. These habits cover the common cases.

Frequently asked questions

What does error code 0x80073CF8 mean?

It means the install request for an app package was cancelled before it finished. Microsoft names it ERROR_INSTALL_CANCEL and describes it as "The user canceled the install request." In Microsoft Store and the Xbox app the usual reason is an interrupted download, which is how Xbox Support explains it. The "user" can be the Store itself, so you do not have to have pressed Cancel. Start the download again from Library first, then check the connection and reset the Store if it keeps stopping.

Is Windows error code 0x80073CF8 the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10?

Yes. The code and its meaning are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10, and the fixes on this page work on both. Only some paths differ: Windows 11 has Library and Get updates in the Store, while Windows 10 uses See more > My Library and Downloads and updates. Windows 10 left Microsoft support on 14 October 2025. It still installs Store apps, but if the Store keeps failing on an old build, updating Windows is part of the fix.

Why does the Store just spin, while the log shows 0x80073CF8?

Because the download never really starts. The Store waits, and when you close it, the waiting request ends as cancelled, which is what the log records. The cause is whatever held the download back: a metered or unstable connection, a stuck Store cache or pending updates. Turn off Metered connection (Fix 2), run wsreset and repair the Store (Fix 3), then install pending updates (Fix 4). Microsoft does not document this exact pattern, so this is our reading of the code.

Why do I get 0x80073CF8 when I uninstall an app?

Users on Microsoft Q&A report it when they uninstall Spotify from Settings, with WhatsApp failing at the same time with 0x80073CFA. In such cases the app's package is usually damaged or the app is still running. Close the app completely, restart the PC and try again. If Settings still fails, remove the package from PowerShell with Get-AppxPackage and Remove-AppxPackage as Fix 5 shows, then install the app again from Library in the Store.

What is error code 0x80073CF1 and is it related?

It is a neighbour from the same Windows service, but it means something else. Microsoft names 0x80073CF1 ERROR_INSTALL_PACKAGE_NOT_FOUND: the package could not be found. You often get it when you try to remove a package that is not installed for your account, for example one that belongs to another user. Check with Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers in an administrator PowerShell window. 0x80073CF8 is different: the package was there, but the install was stopped.

Can 0x80073CF8 appear in the Xbox app with Game Pass games?

Yes. Xbox Support has a page for exactly that: the code appears when you install an Xbox Game Pass game and the download is interrupted. The solution is to install the game again from My Library in the Xbox app or from Library in Microsoft Store. Large games take long, so keep the PC awake and on a stable network. If a different code appears instead, such as 0x80073CF3, follow that code's guide, because it has another cause.

Do I lose my apps or purchases if I reset Microsoft Store?

No. Resetting the Store deletes only the Store app's own data on this PC, such as its cache and sign-in. Your purchases are tied to your Microsoft account, and installed apps stay installed. After a reset, open the Store and sign in again. Resetting a single app, as in Fix 5, is different: it deletes that app's local data, so back up what matters first. Removing the Store itself with PowerShell is not needed and we advise against it.

I searched in another language, such as codigo de error, fehlercode or kenapa ini. Is it the same error?

Yes. Whether you searched "codigo de error 0x80073cf8", "fehlercode 0x80073cf8", "oq é esse erro?" or "kenapa ini", the code is the same in every language of Windows. It means the Store's install request was interrupted. The message text is translated, but the code and the fixes are identical. This page is in English. Follow Fix 1 to Fix 4 in order, and use the chart near the top to pick where to start.

Should I turn off my antivirus to fix 0x80073CF8?

Not as a fix. Xbox Support says third-party antivirus can wrongly cause install errors, so a short test is reasonable when everything else has failed. Pause protection for one download, then turn it back on at once, whatever the result. If the download works only while it is paused, add an exception in the antivirus or ask its maker for help. Never leave Microsoft Defender or another antivirus off to keep the Store working.