11 Solutions to Resolve the ‘You’ll Need a New App to Open This MS-Windows-Store’ Error

Downloading and installing apps from the Microsoft Store should be a breeze, but some users encounter the frustrating “You'll need a new app to open this ms-windows-store link” error. This error can occur when opening another app or when trying to access the Microsoft Store. There are several potential causes for this issue, including corrupt or missing installation files, a faulty Windows update, or a corrupt user account. Luckily, there are multiple solutions to fix this Microsoft Store error. Let's explore each one:

1. Completely Close and Relaunch Microsoft Store

The first step is to terminate and relaunch the Microsoft Store. Here's how to do it:

1. Press the Windows key, type “Microsoft Store,” and click on the “App settings” option.

2. Scroll down and click on the “Terminate” option.

3. Close the Settings app.

4. Press the Windows key, type “Microsoft Store,” and press Enter to relaunch the app.

Check if the “MS-Windows-Store link” error still appears.

2. Sign Out and Sign In Again

Signing out of your account and signing back in can help resolve the error. Here's how to do it:

1. Press the Windows key + X to open the Power User menu. Hover over the “Shut down or sign out” option and click on “Sign out.”

2. Sign back in to your user account and relaunch Microsoft Store or the specific app that encountered the error.

3. Sign In With a Microsoft Account

If you're using a local account on your PC, signing in with a Microsoft Account instead may solve the issue. Follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.

2. Click on the User name icon.

3. Scroll down to the Microsoft Account section and click on the “Sign in” button.

4. Enter your credentials and log in with your Microsoft Account.

5. Relaunch Microsoft Store or the app and check if the error persists.

4. Adjust the Date, Time, and Region

Incorrect date, time, and region settings can cause problems with Windows and its built-in apps. Make sure to sync the date and time and select the correct region. Here's how:

1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.

2. Click on the “Time & language” option.

3. Click on the “Language & region” option.

4. Scroll down to the Region section and select your preferred region from the drop-down list next to the “Country or Region” option.

5. Press the backspace key to go back to the previous page in the Settings app. Click on the “Date & time” option.

6. Scroll down to the Additional settings section and click the “Sync now” button to update the date and time from the Microsoft servers.

5. Use Microsoft Store Troubleshooter

The built-in troubleshooter in Windows can automatically diagnose and fix issues with the Microsoft Store. Here's how to use it:

1. Press the Windows key, type “troubleshoot Other problems,” and press Enter.

2. Scroll down and locate the “Windows Store Apps” troubleshooter. Click on the “Run” button.

3. Wait for the troubleshooter to identify and fix any problems. Click on the “Close” button afterward.

6. Repair or Reset Microsoft Store

Repairing or resetting Microsoft Store can resolve many issues. It clears the cache and resets the app to its default settings. Here's how to do it:

1. Press the Windows key, type “Microsoft Store,” and click on the “App Settings” option.

2. Scroll down to the Reset section. Click on the “Repair” button.

3. If the error persists, reopen the Advanced Settings page of the Microsoft Store and click the “Reset” button.

7. Create a New User Account

A corrupt user profile can cause problems with Windows apps and features. Creating a new user profile can help. Here's the easiest method using the Command Prompt:

1. Open Command Prompt with administrator privileges on your PC.

2. Use the following command to add a new local user:

   net user /add [username] [password]

   Replace [username] and [password] with your desired username and password. For example:

   net user /add test 123

3. Close the Command Prompt window.

4. Press the Windows key to open the Start menu and click on the Profile icon. Select the new user profile from the list.

5. Enter the password and log in to the account. Check if the “MS-Windows-Store link” error still appears.

8. Re-Register Microsoft Store

If the Microsoft Store app continues to encounter the error, you can re-register it using PowerShell. Here's how:

1. Press the Windows key, type “Powershell,” and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter.

2. Click “Yes” in the User Account Control window.

3. Type the following command and press Enter:

   Get-AppxPackage -allusers Microsoft.WindowsStore | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml"}

4. Close the PowerShell window.

9. Re-Register All System Apps

After re-registering Microsoft Store, re-registering all system apps can fix issues with other system apps. Here's how:

1. Open PowerShell with administrator privileges on your PC.

2. Type the following command and press Enter:

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

It may take some time to re-register all the apps.

10. Rollback Windows Update

If the error occurred after installing a recent Windows update, rolling back that update may resolve the issue. Here's how:

1. Press the Windows key, type “uninstall updates,” and press Enter.

2. Find the latest installed update in the list and click the “Uninstall” button.

3. Click the “Uninstall” button again.

You may need to restart your PC to apply the changes.

11. Perform an In-place Upgrade

As a last resort, you can perform an in-place upgrade and repair install Windows 11 without losing your installed apps and personal data. Here's how:

1. Download the Windows 11 ISO file.

2. Double-click the ISO file to mount it. Open the mounted ISO file from the Navigation pane and run the Setup.exe file.

3. Click “Yes” in the User Account Control window.

4. Click “Next.”

5. Click “Accept.”

6. Select the “Keep personal files and apps” option. Click “Next.”

7. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the in-place upgrade on your PC.

By following these solutions, you should be able to fix the “You'll need a new app to open this ms-windows-store link” error and enjoy a smooth experience with the Microsoft Store and its apps.