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An App Won't Open

Beginner Apps & Programs Applies to: Windows 10, Windows 11

You click the icon and nothing happens, or it flashes and closes immediately.

Before you start: save any open work and note down what you were doing when the problem started — that context helps if you need to search further or ask for help.
  1. Check Task Manager to see if the app is actually running but just not showing a window — end the task and try again if so.
  2. Right-click the app > Run as administrator, in case a permissions issue is silently blocking it from starting.
  3. For Microsoft Store apps, try resetting it: Settings > Apps > Installed apps (Windows 11) or Apps & features (Windows 10) > find the app > Advanced options > Reset.
  4. Check for a pending Windows Update — some apps refuse to launch until a system update finishes installing.
  5. Uninstall and reinstall the app as a last resort, which resolves most cases of corrupted app files.
Still not fixed? Send us the details and we'll help you dig further, or browse related guides in Apps & Programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will resetting a Store app delete my data in it?
Yes, usually — Reset clears the app's data and settings back to a fresh install state, distinct from the gentler "Repair" option (if available), which fixes the app without touching your data. Try Repair first if you want to keep saved data.
Will I lose anything by uninstalling and reinstalling an app?
It depends on the app — anything stored in your account in the cloud (like a document saved to OneDrive) will still be there after reinstalling. Anything stored only locally within the app itself may not survive uninstalling, so check before doing this if the app holds important local data.

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