Microsoft Store Missing in Windows 11? 7 Ways to Get It Back

Microsoft Store is normally included with Windows 11, but it can sometimes disappear from the Start menu or Windows Search. In some cases, the Store app may still be installed but its registration is damaged, while in other cases it may have been removed, restricted, or affected by a Windows system issue. The problem can also occur after a Windows update, due to changes in app settings, or when Windows components related to the Microsoft Store become corrupted.

In this guide, we’ll show you 7 ways to get Microsoft Store back in Windows 11, starting with simple checks and moving to Store repair, PowerShell, and Windows system fixes.

1. Search for Microsoft Store

Before making system changes, check whether Microsoft Store is actually missing or simply no longer pinned to the Start menu. The app may still be installed and can sometimes be opened directly through Windows Search.

1. Press the Windows key.
2. Type Microsoft Store in the search box.
3. If it appears, right-click it and select Pin to Start or Pin to taskbar.
4. Open the Store and check whether it works normally.

You can also press Windows + R, enter:

ms-windows-store:

and press Enter.

If Microsoft Store opens, the app itself is still installed, and you don’t need to reinstall it.

Quick Insight: If the Store opens with the ms-windows-store: command but doesn’t appear in Search, the issue may be related to the Start menu or Windows Search rather than a missing Microsoft Store installation.

2. Repair or Reset Microsoft Store

If Microsoft Store is installed but doesn’t appear correctly or won’t open, try repairing or resetting the app from Windows Settings. Repair attempts to fix the Store without clearing its data, while Reset restores the app to its default state.

• Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
• Search for Microsoft Store.
• Click the three dots next to it and select Advanced options.

• Click Repair and wait for Windows to finish.
• Search for Microsoft Store and check whether it appears or opens.
• If the problem continues, return to the same screen and click Reset.
• Restart your PC and check Microsoft Store again.

Resetting Microsoft Store may clear its app data and require you to sign in again, but it does not remove your other installed Windows apps.

Quick Insight: Always try Repair first. If Microsoft Store isn’t listed under Installed apps, skip this fix and continue with the next method.

3. Re-register Microsoft Store with PowerShell

If the Microsoft Store is installed but missing from the Start menu or Windows Search, its app registration may be damaged. Re-registering the Store can restore its registration without downloading the app from an unofficial source.

1. Right-click Start and select Terminal (Admin).
2. Copy and run this command:

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

3. Wait for the command to finish.
4. Restart your PC.
5. Press the Windows key and search for Microsoft Store.

If the Store appears, open it and check that it works normally.

Quick Insight: This method is useful when the Microsoft Store package is still present in Windows, but its registration is damaged, preventing it from appearing normally.

4. Check Whether Microsoft Store Is Installed

If re-registering Microsoft Store doesn’t work, check whether the Store package is actually present on your Windows 11 installation. This helps determine whether you’re dealing with a registration problem or a missing package.

1. Right-click Start and select Terminal (Admin).
2. Run:

Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers Microsoft.WindowsStore

3. Look for information about the Microsoft.WindowsStore package.

If Windows returns package information, Microsoft Store is installed and you can try re-registering it using the previous fix.

If the command returns nothing, the Store package may be missing or unavailable for the current Windows installation.

5. Install Pending Windows Updates

A Windows update can restore or repair Microsoft Store components when the app disappears because of a system component or compatibility issue. Microsoft Store itself may also receive updates through Windows and the Store’s app update mechanism.

1. Open Settings > Windows Update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. Install any available updates.
4. Restart your PC if Windows asks you to.
5. Search for Microsoft Store again from the Start menu.

Quick Insight: If the Store disappeared after a recent Windows update, installing the latest available Windows updates can help restore the related components.

6. Repair Corrupted Windows System Files

If Microsoft Store is still missing, damaged Windows system components may be preventing the Store package from working correctly. You can use DISM and System File Checker (SFC) to repair Windows components.

1. Right-click Start and select Terminal (Admin).
2. Run the following command:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

3. Wait for the scan to complete.
4. Then run:

sfc /scannow

5. Restart your PC after both scans finish.
6. Search for Microsoft Store again.

Run DISM before SFC because DISM can repair the Windows component store that SFC uses to replace damaged system files.

Quick Insight: This fix is particularly useful if Microsoft Store disappeared along with other Windows features or started having problems after a system change or update.

7. Create a New Windows User Account

If Microsoft Store is missing only from your current Windows account, the problem may be related to a damaged user profile rather than the Store installation itself. Creating a temporary local account can help determine whether the Store works correctly under a different profile.

1. Open Settings > Accounts > Other users.
2. Click Add account.
3. Select I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.
4. Choose Add a user without a Microsoft account.
5. Create a temporary local account.
6. Sign out of your current account and sign in to the new account.
7. Search for Microsoft Store.

If Microsoft Store appears and works in the new account, the original Windows user profile may be the source of the problem.

Quick Insight: This is mainly a diagnostic step. If the Store works normally in the new account, you may need to repair or migrate from the affected user profile rather than repeatedly reinstalling Store components.

Final Checks

If Microsoft Store is still missing after trying the seven methods above, go through these checks before considering more advanced Windows repairs:

• Restart Windows: A restart can complete pending app or system changes.
• Check Windows Update: Install all available updates and restart the PC.
• Check your Windows edition: Some managed or customized Windows installations may restrict access to Microsoft Store.
• Check another user account: If Store works in another account, the problem may be limited to your original Windows profile.
• Avoid unofficial Store installers: Don’t download Microsoft.WindowsStore packages or modified installers from third-party websites.
• Check other Windows apps: If several built-in apps are also missing or failing, the problem may involve broader Windows system corruption.

If Microsoft Store is completely absent from Windows and the PowerShell package check returns no result, the issue is likely deeper than a missing Start menu shortcut. In that situation, repairing Windows or using an in-place repair installation may be necessary.

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