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Microsoft Store App Stuck "Installing" or "Pending"

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

The progress bar doesn't move, or the app shows as installing indefinitely with no error and no progress.

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. Run wsreset.exe — Windows+R, type wsreset.exe, and press Enter. A blank Command Prompt window opens for up to a minute with no visible progress, then closes and the Microsoft Store opens automatically; this specifically clears the Store's cache without removing your installed apps.
  2. Check your system date and time are correct (right-click the clock > Adjust date and time) — an incorrect clock can break the Store's ability to verify licenses and connect properly, the same way it can affect Windows activation.
  3. Cancel the stuck download and retry: open Microsoft Store > Library > find the app > pause, then resume, or remove it from the queue entirely and reinstall from scratch.
  4. Check Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates — Store issues are sometimes tied to a pending OS update that hasn't installed yet.
  5. Restart the Windows Update-related services, since the Store depends on some of the same underlying components: services.msc, restart "Windows Update" and "Background Intelligent Transfer Service."
  6. If nothing above works, re-register the Store app itself via an administrator PowerShell window: Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers Microsoft.WindowsStore | Reset-AppxPackage — this reinstalls the Store app specifically, without touching your other installed apps.
Still not fixed? Send us the details and we'll help you dig further, or browse related guides in Apps & Programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does wsreset.exe delete any of my installed apps?
No — it only clears the Microsoft Store's cache. Nothing you've already installed is affected, and you won't need to reinstall anything as a result of running it.
Why would the date and time affect a Store download?
The Store needs to verify licenses and communicate securely with Microsoft's servers, and an incorrect system clock can break that verification process, causing downloads to hang or fail without any other obvious cause.

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