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If Microsoft Store says an app can’t update while it’s open, close the affected app completely and try again. If that does not work, follow Microsoft’s Windows 11 troubleshooting order: check for Windows and Store updates, try the app’s Repair option, then consider Reset or reinstalling it. Reset and reinstall can affect app data or settings, so use them only after checking that you can restore anything important.

What the message means

Windows is reporting a conflict between the app being in use and its update. The exact wording has appeared with error code 0x80073D02 in a July 2021 Microsoft Q&A discussion about Realtek Audio Control on Windows 10. That community report shows the message and code have been reported, but it does not establish the cause of the same error on Windows 11. Read the Microsoft Q&A report.

Microsoft’s current Windows 11 guidance for Microsoft Store app problems recommends basic checks first, followed by repairing, resetting, or reinstalling the affected app if needed. Microsoft’s troubleshooting guidance does not say that every instance of this message has one underlying cause.

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Try the low-risk fixes first

1. Close the affected app and retry

  1. Save your work in the app, if possible.
  2. Close its window with the X.
  3. Return to Microsoft Store and retry the update before reopening the app.

Microsoft recommends closing and reopening the affected app as an initial troubleshooting step. If the update still fails, continue below rather than repeatedly retrying while the app is running.

2. Sign in to the Microsoft account used with Store

Make sure Microsoft Store is signed in to the account you use for Store apps. Microsoft Support’s “Fix problems with apps from Microsoft Store” guidance begins: “First, sign in to your Microsoft account.”

3. Check for Windows updates

  1. Open Start > Settings > Windows Update.
  2. Select Check for updates.
  3. Install available updates and follow any prompts to restart Windows.

This checks for operating-system updates. It does not install Microsoft Store app updates, so check the Store separately.

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4. Update Store apps separately

  1. Open Microsoft Store.
  2. Select Library.
  3. Select Get updates and allow available Store updates to install.

Windows Update and Microsoft Store handle different updates: Windows Update checks Windows, while Library > Get updates checks Store apps. Microsoft’s Windows Update FAQ explains that Store app updates are managed through Microsoft Store.

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Repair the affected app, then consider Reset

Try Repair first

  1. Open Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
  2. Find the affected app, open its menu, and select Advanced options.
  3. Select Repair, if the option is available, and retry the Store update.

Microsoft describes Repair as fixing app issues without losing data, which makes it the better recovery option to try before Reset. Some apps may not offer Repair.

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Use Reset only if Repair does not help

In the same Advanced options page, select Reset if it is available. Reset returns the app to its default state and may remove app data. Check whether you can restore important data or settings before proceeding. Microsoft outlines the distinction between Repair and Reset in its app and program repair guidance.

Reinstall the app if it still will not update

If the update remains blocked after the earlier steps, reinstalling the affected app is another option in Microsoft’s Store troubleshooting guidance. Before uninstalling, check whether the app stores data locally and how to restore anything you need; reinstalling can affect app data or settings.

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  1. Uninstall the affected app from Windows Settings or its Start menu entry, if available.
  2. Open Microsoft Store and go to Library.
  3. Find the app and select Install.

The exact controls can vary by app. If you cannot find it in your Library, confirm that Microsoft Store is signed in to the account used to obtain it.

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If the update remains blocked

If the app still cannot update after these steps, contact Microsoft Support or the app’s support channel. Provide the app name, the exact error wording, and any code shown—such as 0x80073D02. The available guidance does not establish a guaranteed fix for every app or Windows 11 setup.

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Avoid force-closing unrelated system processes, editing the registry, or using unverified repair utilities as a substitute for these steps. Microsoft’s cited Store troubleshooting guidance does not recommend those measures for this error.

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