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If Microsoft Store is missing, first search for it from Start; it may simply be unpinned. If it is installed but not working, use Windows’ Repair option, then Reset if needed. These are Microsoft’s documented app-level recovery steps—not a Windows reinstall. The available Settings labels vary between Windows 10 and Windows 11, and a work or school administrator may have disabled Store.
First, check whether Microsoft Store is actually missing
- Search for it: Open Start and search for Microsoft Store. If it appears, open it. If you only wanted it on the taskbar, pin it there; absence from the taskbar does not mean the app was removed. See Microsoft’s instructions for opening Microsoft Store on Windows.
- Check your account: If Store does not appear, confirm you are signed in with a Microsoft account, as Microsoft advises in its guidance for finding the Microsoft Store app.
- Ask about device policy: If this is a work or school device, contact its administrator. Microsoft notes that the Store app might have been turned off. A policy restriction is not the same as a damaged app, and consumer repair steps may not override it.
Repair Microsoft Store, then reset it if needed
For an installed Store app that is broken or behaving unpredictably, try Repair first. It is the lighter app-level action. If Repair is unavailable or does not help, try Reset.
- On Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Find Microsoft Store, select its More icon, then choose Advanced options.
- Select Repair, if available, and check whether Store works.
- If Repair is missing or unsuccessful, return to Advanced options and select Reset, if available.
On Windows 10, the path in Microsoft’s instructions is Settings > Apps > Apps & features; select the app and open Advanced options. The labels and locations differ by Windows version. Microsoft cautions that repair and reset controls do not appear for every app. Follow its Windows app repair instructions for the version you use. Repair and Reset act on the app; neither reinstalls Windows.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesUse wsreset.exe for the documented 0x80131500 error
If Microsoft Store displays error 0x80131500 when you try to open it, Microsoft documents a built-in reset command for that error:
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- Press Windows key + R to open Run.
- Enter
wsreset.exeand select OK. - A blank Command Prompt window opens. Microsoft says it closes after about ten seconds, after which Microsoft Store opens automatically.
This is Microsoft’s guidance for the specified launch error; it is not a guaranteed fix for every Store problem. See the Microsoft Store 0x80131500 support page for its additional checks, including Windows updates and time and location settings.
Check account, Windows updates, and Store updates
- Sign in: Check that you are using a Microsoft account, and confirm the app is compatible with your installed Windows version.
- Install Windows updates: Use Windows Settings to check for and install available updates. Microsoft includes this among its steps for fixing problems with Microsoft Store apps.
- Update Store apps: If Store opens, go to its Library or update area and select Check for Updates, where that option is available. Microsoft says app updates are being made automatic, while users can still pause updates; interface wording can vary between Windows releases. See Microsoft’s instructions for Store app and game updates.
When to use Windows recovery instead
If other Windows features are failing too, the problem may extend beyond Microsoft Store. Windows recovery options affect the operating system, not just the Store app, so consider them only when the symptoms point to broader system damage. Back up important files before choosing an option that could remove them.
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| Option | What it targets | Effect on files, apps, and settings | Availability or policy considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Repair or Reset Microsoft Store | The Store app | App-level actions; they are not a Windows reinstall. | Controls may not appear for every app. Work or school policies may restrict Store access. |
| Fix problems using Windows Update | The current Windows installation | On supported Windows 11 systems, reinstalls the current version while preserving apps, files, and settings. | Available only on supported versions and devices. See Microsoft’s repair-reinstall instructions. |
| Reset this PC | Windows and its settings | More disruptive; what is kept or removed depends on the choices made. | Options vary by device and Windows version. Review Microsoft’s Windows recovery options before proceeding. |
| Reinstall Windows with installation media | The Windows installation | Can remove personal files, apps, and settings depending on the installation path selected. | Microsoft describes creating installation media, typically on a USB drive or DVD. This is a last-resort system recovery route, not a Store reinstall requirement. See Microsoft’s installation-media instructions. |
Windows 10 and managed-device caveats
Microsoft’s cited app-repair guidance covers Windows 10 and Windows 11, but Settings labels differ between them. Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, according to Microsoft’s repair apps and programs guidance. A work or school administrator is the appropriate contact if Store has been disabled by device policy.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Microsoft’s cited support pages document searching for Store, repairing or resetting an installed app, and using wsreset.exe for error 0x80131500. They do not establish one universal Store-specific PowerShell reinstall command for every Windows device. Avoid treating an unverified command or a Windows reinstall as the default way to restore the Store app.
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