This app can’t open error in Windows 11/10

If you receive This app can’t open error when opening Photos, Xbox Game Bar, Calculator, Skype, or any Microsoft Store UWP app on Windows 11 or Windows 10, then this post will help you resolve the issue. The error message varies and may ask you to contact your system administrator about repairing or reinstalling, refreshing Windows, the need for an admin account to open the app or ask you to check on the Microsoft Store.

The error message could be something like these:

This app can’t open, Check the Windows Store for more info about the app

This App can’t open. There’s a problem with photos. Contact your system administrator about repairing or reinstalling it.

Why does my PC say This app can’t open?

Corrupted system files and Registry errors can cause problems with apps due to which Windows fails to open the selected app(s) and shows the “This app can’t open” error message. In addition to this, conflicting antivirus and third-party applications can also cause problems sometimes. The issue can have many underlying causes as well. Malware can also damage the files required to run the apps or software.

Fix This app can’t open error on Windows 11/10

Here is the list of solutions that can help you to open the application on Windows. Some of them will need admin access, so it’s best that you have an admin account or ask someone to do this for you.

1. Check if the app is blocked
2. Turn On User Account Control (UAC)
3. Run Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter
4. Reset the App
5. Clear Windows Store Cache
6. Reinstall App
7. Run SFC and DISM commands
8. Reset PC

Some of the offered solutions can be extreme. Only use it when there is no other way, and using the application is crucial.

1] Check if the app is blocked

Some other administrators might have blocked access to the program on this PC. If you also have an admin account, then you check block programs through Group Policy and Registry Editor.

Group Policy

• Open Group Policy Editor by typing gpedit.msc in the Run prompt (Win + R) followed by pressing the Enter key
• Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates and then select System.
• Locate the policy which says—Don’t run specified Windows applications.
• Double click to open, and check under the list of disallowed apps if your application is available.
• If it’s disabled, then you can ignore it.

Registry Editor

• Open Registry Editor by typing Regedit in the Run prompt (Win+R) followed by pressing the Enter key
• Navigate to the following path

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

• Check if you have a DWORD entry with name DisallowRun
• If yes, then double click to open it, and set the value as 0 to disable any app blocking.
• You can further investigate by expanding the explorer folder. If there is a folder with the name DisallowRun, then expand it.
• Here you should have one or more entries indicate the list of apps blocked.

Read: Program won’t open after Windows Update

2] Turn On User Account Control (UAC)

UAC ensures that no malware or virus can execute something only admins can do. It applies to the overall system and all the apps. If any app tries to change system settings, it will be blocked from opening. In case it is turned off on your computer, you should enable it.

• Type UAC in the Start menu search
• Click on Change User Account Control settings in the result
• Change the slider to the second level from the top where you get notified when apps try to change

Relaunch the app causing the problem, and you may receive a prompt.

Related post: This app can’t open, App can’t open while User Account Control is turned off.

3] Run Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter

Apps like Photos, Xbox Game Bar, Calculator are available in the Microsoft Store app as well. You can fix them by running the troubleshooter.

Windows 10

• Open Settings (Win + I)
• Navigate to Update & Security > Troubleshoot
• Locate, and open Windows Store Apps
• Click on Run the Troubleshooter button to start the wizard.

Windows 11

• Open Settings (Win + I)
• Navigate to Systemy > Troubleshoot
• Locate, and open Windows Store Apps
• Click on Run button against the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter to start the wizard.

Once complete, relaunch the app again and check the issue has been resolved.

4] Reset or Repair the App

While you can reinstall any application, apps from the store can be reset if they offer the options.

• Go to Settings > Apps, and select the app, and click on Advanced Options.
• Here you can choose to Reset or Repair the app by clicking on the respective button.
• While Repair will not change anything, Reset will make you set up the application again.

5] Clear Windows Store Cache

Windows Store Cache makes sure the browsing experience speeds up. However, at times, an application may need an update, but the cache is restricting it. You can clear Windows Store Cache by running WSReset.exe in the Run box.

Related post: This app can’t open Office Word error.

6] Reinstall App

Do note that if you plan to uninstall these apps, it may not be possible unless forced using PowerShell Commands.

If you wish to uninstall individual apps in Windows 11/10, run the following command in an elevated PowerShell window:

Get-AppxPackage | Select Name, PackageFullName

You will be able to see the list of all installed apps and its PackageFullName information.

Note down the PackageFullName and replace it in the following command:

Get-AppxPackage PackageFullName | Remove-AppxPackage

This post lists the App Package Names which you will need to use in the command. For instance for Photos app, it is Microsoft.Windows.Photos.

So if you want to remove the Photos app, open an elevated PowerShell window and execute the following command:

get-appxpackage *Microsoft.Windows.Photos* | remove-appxpackage

Once you uninstall the app, you will need to reinstall them from the Microsoft Store app.

7] Run SFC and DISM commands

DISM and SFC Commands can help you resolve issues related to file corruption. They repair files or system image corruptions. While SFC  protects registry keys and folders as well as critical system files, DISM is useful to fix Windows component store corruption or if a Windows image becomes unserviceable.

First, run System File Checker to replace corrupted system files:

In an elevated CMD execute the following command:

sfc /scannow

This does not require Internet access.

Next, run the DISM command to repair a corrupt system image.

In an elevated CMD execute the following command:

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

This will fix any system image corruption from a Windows Update source. This may require internet access.

Related: Snipping Tool This app can’t open

8] Reset PC

Resetting a PC is a bit extreme and should only be exercised when you don’t have any option left, and this app should be working. It can be because of incompatibility or the app causing the issue on the PC and is being restricted.  We suggest using this option only where you are left with nothing. It would be best to connect with Microsoft or your IT team before executing this.

Follow our guide on how you can Reset the PC if that’s what you are left with.

I hope the post was easy to follow, and you were to launch the app, which gave an error — This app can’t open.

Similar error: This app can’t open, File Explorer is running with administrator privileges.

How to clear cache in Windows 10?

Cache is a software component that stores data to make future requests faster. Cache makes your experience better but at times cache gets corrupted due to which you may face several issues on your system. You can delete the cache to fix the issues. There are different types of cache on Windows 11/10, like temporary files cache, Windows Store cache, Windows Update cache, System Restore cache, etc. To delete different cache on Windows 11/10, you have to perform different actions, like deleting temporary files, resetting Microsoft Store, deleting old System Restore Ponts, etc.

I hope this helps.