7 Ways to Fix Apps Not Opening on Windows 11

Quick Tips

• Check if the Windows services related to apps are running and ensure your PC is not infected by malware.
• Run the SFC and DISM tools to scan your PC for damaged system files that may be causing the problem.
• If you can’t open a specific app on Windows, try repairing or resetting it.

Try Basic Fixes

• Update all apps: Running outdated apps can sometimes cause problems. Hence, update all your apps from the Microsoft Store before trying other things.
• Install Windows updates: Windows updates typically add new features, security improvements, and, bug fixes. If the app not opening issue is limited to the current Windows 11 build your PC is running, installing newer updates should help.
• Scan for malware: If your Windows PC is infected with malware or a virus, it could misbehave and refuse to open your apps. To check for this possibility, run a full system scan using Windows Defender or a third-party antivirus program you trust.

Fix 1: Repair or Reset Problematic Apps

If you have trouble opening a select few apps, such as Microsoft Store, Outlook, Photos, and others, try repairing such problematic apps on Windows 11. Here’s how.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app and head to Apps > Installed apps.

Step 2: Locate the problematic app on the list. Click the three-dot menu icon next to it > select Advanced options.

Step 3: Scroll down to the Reset section and click the Repair button.

If repairing the app doesn’t work, try resetting the app from the same menu.

Fix 2: Check Windows Services

Another reason apps and programs might not open is that the Application Identity or Windows Update services aren’t running on your Windows 11 PC. Here’s how to start those services manually.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box, type services.msc, and press Enter.

Step 2: Scroll to locate Windows Update and check if the service is running. If it isn’t, right-click on it and select Start from the menu.

Step 3: Similarly, start or restart the Application Identity service on the list.

Fix 3: Clear the Microsoft Store Cache

At times, issues with the Microsoft Store can lead to faulty installations or the failure to update apps. This can result in many problems, including the one discussed here. You can try resetting the Microsoft Store cache to see if that improves the situation.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.

Step 2: In the Open field, type WSReset.exe and press Enter.

Fix 4: Re-Register Windows Apps

Re-registering Microsoft Store apps on your system effectively fixes issues with them. So, if clearing the Microsoft Store cache proves ineffective, use these steps to re-register your apps.

Step 1: Click the search icon on the taskbar, type windows powershell, and select Run as Administrator.

Step 2: In the console, type the command given below and press Enter.

Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml"}

Fix 5: Run the SFC and DISM Scans

Corrupted or damaged system files can disrupt Windows processes and prevent apps from opening. Luckily, Windows includes some handy tools—SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management)—that can help you repair any corrupt system files. Here’s how to run them.

Step 1: Right-click on the Start icon and select Terminal (Admin) from the resulting menu.

Step 2: Type the following command and press Enter.

sfc /scannow

Step 3: Run the following commands one by one and press Enter after each one to run the DISM scan.

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Restart your PC one more time and try to open your apps again.

Fix 6: Modify Registry Files

Misconfigured registry entries on your Windows PC can also prevent apps and programs from opening. To fix this, you must manually change the registry files. 

Step 1: Click the search icon on the taskbar, type registry editor, and select Run as administrator.

Step 2: Paste the following path in the address bar at the top and press Enter to quickly navigate to the System key.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

Step 3: In the right pane, locate the FilterAdministratorToken entry. If you can’t find it, right-click on the System key > select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Then, name it FilterAdministratorToken.

Step 4: Double-click the newly created DWORD > set its Value data to 1 > click OK. 

Restart your PC and see if you can open apps and programs after that.

Fix 7: Create a New User Account

Problems with your current user account can also lead to such issues. This can happen if the user account files are corrupted. If so, you can create and switch to a new user account. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + I to launch the Settings app.

Step 2: Switch to the Accounts tab and click on Other users.

Step 3: Click the Add account button.

Step 4: Enter your email and follow the on-screen prompts to create a new user account.

Once created, switch to the newly created user account and see if you can open apps after that.