Microsoft Store Apps Stuck on Pending or Won't Download

When This Mess Happens

You click 'Update' or 'Install' in the Microsoft Store, and it just sits there with a spinning wheel or says 'Pending' for hours. Sometimes it starts downloading, then stops at 99%. Other times you get error 0x80073CF9 or 0x80073CF7 right when you try to install anything. I've seen this most often after a Windows 10 or 11 feature update—like the 22H2 update that broke half the Store apps for one client. The trigger is almost always a corrupted cache or a screwed-up license file from an old app.

Root Cause: It's Usually the Cache or Licenses

The Microsoft Store keeps a local cache of download info and license tokens. When that cache gets corrupted—say, from a botched update or a sudden power loss—the Store can't talk to its own download engine. Another common cause is a stuck background task (the AppInstaller service) that never finishes a previous download. The fix is almost never reinstalling Windows; it's way simpler.

Fix 1: Reset the Store Cache (The Quick Win)

This clears the cache without touching your installed apps. Do this first—it works about 60% of the time.

1. Press Win + R, type WSReset.exe, hit Enter.
2. A black command window pops up—wait for it to close on its own (takes 5-10 seconds).
3. The Store will open automatically after it finishes. Try an install again.

If the Store opens but still won't download, force close it and restart your PC. Not kidding—a reboot here fixes the background service handshake sometimes.

Fix 2: Re-Register the Store with PowerShell

When the cache reset doesn't cut it, the Store's core package is corrupted. Re-registering it is like reinstalling the app without losing data.

1. Right-click the Start button and choose 'Windows PowerShell (Admin)' or 'Terminal (Admin)'.
2. Paste this and hit Enter:

Get-AppXPackage *WindowsStore* -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

This re-registers the Store for every user account on the machine. Let it run—it might take 30 seconds. No error message? Good. Now restart the Store and try again.

Fix 3: Clear the Windows Store License Store

Had a client last month whose Store wouldn't update any app—turns out a broken license from an old version of Netflix was blocking everything. You need the LicenseRevoker tool, or you can do it manually.

Manual method:

1. Open File Explorer and paste this into the address bar: %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\ClipSVC\Tokens
2. Delete everything in that folder. Don't worry—Windows rebuilds these on next login.
3. Restart the PC and try the Store again.

If that folder doesn't exist, skip to Fix 4.

Fix 4: Run the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter

I know, I know—troubleshooters are usually useless. But Microsoft actually made this one decent for Store issues. It checks for corrupted system files and resets the Store's permissions.

1. Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters (Windows 11) or Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot (Windows 10).
2. Find 'Windows Store Apps', click 'Run'.
3. Let it scan and apply fixes. Restart if it asks.

This fixes the 'Pending' state about once out of five times. Worth a shot before the nuclear option.

Fix 5: Repair or Reset the Store via Settings

This is like a factory reset for the Store app itself. It'll wipe your sign-in and any local settings, but you won't lose installed apps.

1. Open Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
2. Search for 'Microsoft Store', click the three dots, choose 'Advanced options'.
3. Scroll down to 'Reset'—click it. Confirm.
4. Wait a minute, then reopen the Store. You'll need to sign in again.

One client had this fix the update issue after the other steps failed. It's slower than the cache reset but more thorough.

If None of That Works

You're probably dealing with a corrupted Windows Store account or a deeper system file issue. Try these in order:

• Check disk space. The Store won't download if your system drive has less than 1GB free. Yes, it's that dumb.
• Run SFC and DISM to repair system files:

sfc /scannow
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

If that doesn't help, create a new local user account and see if the Store works there. If it does, your original account's Store profile is toast—migrate your data and use the new account.

Last resort: in-place upgrade using the Windows Media Creation Tool. Keeps your files and apps, but replaces all Store components. I've only had to do this twice in five years—but it works every time.