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Windows provides two different repair routes, depending on how the software was installed. Microsoft Store apps and some packaged desktop apps expose Repair and Reset in Settings. Traditional desktop programs, such as older Win32 applications, usually use a repair option in Control Panel or their own installer.
Start with Repair. It attempts to fix the installation without removing the app’s data. Use Reset only when Repair fails or is unavailable, because Reset can remove the app’s settings and sign-in data.
Repair an app in Windows 11
- Open Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Find the broken app. You can use the search box or sort the list by name.
- Select the More button (…) beside the app and choose Advanced options.
- Scroll to the Reset section and select Repair.
- When Windows finishes, open the app and test it again.
Repair normally leaves the app’s documents, account information, and settings in place. It is therefore the safer first attempt when an app crashes, refuses to open, displays incorrectly, or stops responding.
Some apps do not have an Advanced options page. That is controlled by the app’s package or installer; it does not mean that Windows’ repair feature is malfunctioning.
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Reset the app if Repair does not work
Return to the same Advanced options page and select Reset. Confirm the warning. Reset reinstalls or reinitializes the app’s stored data, so you may need to sign in again and restore preferences. Back up important app-specific data first if the program stores files locally rather than in your Documents folder or online account.
Repair an app in Windows 10
- Open Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
- Select the broken app in the list.
- Select Advanced options beneath the app’s name.
- Select Repair.
- If Repair is unavailable or does not resolve the problem, select Reset.
Apps & features is the Windows 10 path. Installed apps is the current Windows 11 path, so instructions using the Windows 11 menu name do not precisely apply to Windows 10.
Repair a traditional desktop program through Control Panel
Use this method for programs installed from an .exe or .msi installer, especially when the program is missing from the Settings repair options.
- Search the taskbar for Control Panel and open it.
- Select Programs > Programs and Features.
- Right-click the affected program.
- Select Repair, if that option is listed, and follow the installer’s instructions.
- If Repair is not listed, select Change or Uninstall/Change. The program’s installer may then offer a repair or modify option.
The available commands come from the program’s installer. Some programs provide no repair operation at all. In that case, download the latest installer from the software publisher, uninstall the existing copy if necessary, and install it again. Avoid downloading replacement installers from unofficial software sites.
Fix Microsoft Store apps
For an app installed through Microsoft Store, update Windows and the Store before resetting the app. Sign in with the Microsoft account associated with the app if Microsoft Store asks you to do so.
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Windows 11
- Open Start > Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates. Install any offered update.
- Open Start > All apps > Microsoft Store.
- Select Library > Get updates. Available Store and app updates begin installing.
- Try the app again.
- If it is still broken, use Settings > Apps > Installed apps > … > Advanced options > Repair, followed by Reset if required.
Windows 10
- Open Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for Updates. Install available updates.
- Open Start > All apps > Microsoft Store.
- Select See more (…) > Downloads and updates > Get updates.
- Reinstall the app from Microsoft Store > … > My Library: locate the app and select Install.
On Windows 11, the Store library is under Library > Get updates. The older Downloads and updates path is a Windows 10 instruction.
Reset the Microsoft Store cache
If Microsoft Store itself will not open, clear its cache with Microsoft’s wsreset.exe utility:
- Press Windows logo key + R.
- Enter
wsreset.exeexactly. - Select OK.
A blank Command Prompt window normally appears for about 10 seconds. It should close automatically, after which Microsoft Store opens. This command resets the Microsoft Store cache; it is not a general repair command for ordinary desktop programs.
If Store does not open afterward, search for Microsoft Store from Start. If it is not present, Microsoft’s guidance directs you to obtain it through the Store website. Very old Windows 10 installations may also need updating; check the OS Build field rather than relying only on the Windows edition name.
When Microsoft Store shows “Try that again” or error 0x80131500
After updating Windows, updating Microsoft Store, and running wsreset.exe, check the computer’s regional and network-related settings:
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- Confirm that the system date, time, time zone, and location are correct.
- Press Windows logo key + R, enter
inetcpl.cpl, and select OK. - Open the Advanced tab.
- Check that Use TLS 1.0 and Use TLS 1.1 are unchecked.
- Check Use TLS 1.2 and, when shown, Use TLS 1.3 (sometimes labelled Use TLS 1.3 (experimental)).
- Select Apply, then OK, and test the Store again.
What to do when a program will not install, update, or uninstall
Windows 11
Restart the computer first: select Start > Power > Restart. Then try the relevant program operation again. If the program appears in Settings, open Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps, select … > Advanced options, and use Repair or Reset. Windows 11 may also display an automatic troubleshooting recommendation in the error notification; follow that recommendation when it appears.
Windows 10
For a traditional program that cannot be installed, updated, or removed, use Microsoft’s Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter. It is downloaded separately and can address corrupted registry keys, incomplete uninstall information, damaged update data, and programs blocked from installation or removal.
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Run the downloaded troubleshooter and select Run or Open when prompted. If the program is not listed, the tool may request its product code. That code is stored in the MSI file’s property table and may require an IT-oriented MSI inspection tool to retrieve.
Use this troubleshooter for desktop programs, not for apps obtained from Microsoft Store.
Reinstall an app when repair and reset fail
Reinstallation replaces the app files and is often the next practical step when the installation is damaged.
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Microsoft Store apps
- Windows 11: open Microsoft Store > Library, find the app, and select Install.
- Windows 10: open Microsoft Store > … > My Library, find the app, and select Install.
You may need to uninstall the existing app first. In Windows 11, use Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps > … > Uninstall, or right-click the app under Start > All apps and choose Uninstall.
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Use the publisher’s installer to repair or reinstall the program. If Settings cannot uninstall it, open Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features. Some built-in Windows apps cannot be removed, and some programs can only be changed or removed through their own installer.
Do not confuse app Reset with Reset this PC
The Reset button on an app’s Advanced options page affects that app. It is not the same as Settings > System > Recovery > Reset PC, which reinstalls Windows.
| Operation | Effect | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Repair | Attempts to fix the app without clearing its stored data. | First choice for a broken supported app. |
| App Reset | Reinitializes the selected app and may remove its settings or sign-in state. | Repair failed or the app remains corrupted. |
| Reset this PC — Keep my files | Reinstalls Windows, removes apps and settings, and preserves personal files. | Last-resort Windows recovery, not ordinary app repair. |
| Reset this PC — Remove everything | Reinstalls Windows and removes personal files, apps, and settings. | Major recovery or device handoff after a verified backup. |
If you eventually use Reset PC, Cloud download obtains a fresh Windows copy, while Local reinstall uses files already on the computer and may not contain the latest updates. Back up important files first. During the reset, the display can remain black for a long time, occasionally more than 15 minutes; do not manually restart the computer while the reset is in progress. An encrypted computer may request its BitLocker recovery key when recovery is started from the Windows Recovery Environment.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Windows 10 support note
Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. The operating system continues to run, but Microsoft no longer provides normal free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes after that date. The repair paths above may still exist on a Windows 10 installation, but upgrading to a supported Windows release should be part of the longer-term plan when the hardware allows it.
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Reference paths at a glance
| Task | Windows 11 | Windows 10 |
|---|---|---|
| App repair | Settings > Apps > Installed apps > … > Advanced options | Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Advanced options |
| Desktop program repair | Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features | |
| Windows update | Settings > Windows Update | Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update |
| Store updates | Microsoft Store > Library > Get updates | Microsoft Store > … > Downloads and updates > Get updates |
| Store cache | Windows logo key + R, enter wsreset.exe |
|
FAQ
Why is there no Repair button for my app?
Repair and Advanced options are available only for apps and programs whose package or installer supports them. Traditional desktop programs may instead provide Repair, Change, or Uninstall/Change in Control Panel. Some provide no repair command.
Will app Repair delete my files?
Repair is intended to fix the installation while retaining the app’s stored data. Reset is more destructive to the app’s local settings and may remove sign-in information, so back up app-specific data before using it.
Is wsreset.exe a Windows app repair command?
No. wsreset.exe resets the Microsoft Store cache. It is useful when Microsoft Store will not open or behaves incorrectly, but it does not repair arbitrary desktop software.
What is the difference between Reset app and Reset this PC?
Reset app affects one application. Reset this PC reinstalls Windows and removes applications and settings; the Remove everything option also deletes personal files.
Which Windows 10 troubleshooter repairs programs that will not uninstall?
Microsoft’s Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter is intended for desktop programs that will not install, update, or uninstall. It is separate from Microsoft Store troubleshooting.
The Bottom Line
Use the least destructive method first: update Windows and the app, select Repair, then try the app’s Reset option if Repair fails. For older desktop software, use Control Panel > Programs and Features or the publisher’s installer. Reserve Reset this PC for Windows-level recovery, not for an ordinary broken app.
Microsoft references: repair apps and programs, fix Microsoft Store apps, Microsoft Store cache and startup issues, and Reset your PC.
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