Error 0x80073b01 in Windows: Causes and Solutions

What Does Error 0x80073b01 Mean

Error 0x80073b01 is a failure code exclusively related to the Microsoft Store in Windows operating systems (primarily Windows 10 and 11). It typically appears when installing, updating, or launching apps from the store. The full message text may look like: "An error occurred. Check your internet connection and try again. Error code: 0x80073b01" or "Failed to install the app. Error code: 0x80073b01". Essentially, the system cannot properly interact with the Store's components, blocking access to apps from the official catalog.

Causes

Error 0x80073b01 is not random—it has specific technical causes. Here are the most common ones:

1. Corrupted Microsoft Store cache — temporary files and store cache data become invalid, disrupting its operation.
2. Incorrect Store component registration — system components or Microsoft Store app packages are incorrectly registered or missing from the registry.
3. Conflicts with antivirus software or firewall — third-party security programs block network requests or access to Store system folders.
4. Corrupted Windows system files — critical OS files that the Store depends on are damaged or missing.
5. User account issues — insufficient privileges (not running as administrator) or corruption of the user profile in the system.
6. Outdated components — the latest Windows or Microsoft Store updates are not installed, leading to incompatibility.

Method 1: Run the Windows Troubleshooter

Windows includes a built-in tool for automatically diagnosing problems with Microsoft Store. This is the simplest and safest first step.

1. Open Windows Settings (press Win + I).
2. Go to System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters.
3. In the list, find Microsoft Store and click the Run button.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions. The tool will attempt to automatically find and fix common issues.
5. After completion, restart your computer and check if the error is gone.

Method 2: Reset the Microsoft Store Cache

Often, the problem is resolved by completely resetting the app store's local cache. This is a harmless operation that does not delete installed apps.

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type wsreset.exe and press Enter.
3. An empty (black) command prompt window will appear. Wait for it to close automatically (this may take 10–30 seconds).
4. Microsoft Store will then open automatically. Try installing or updating the app again.

💡 Tip: If the wsreset.exe command doesn't work, try running it from PowerShell or Command Prompt with administrator privileges.

Method 3: Re-register Microsoft Store via PowerShell

If resetting the cache didn't help, Store components may be incorrectly registered in the system. Re-registering via PowerShell will restore their associations.

1. Open PowerShell as an administrator:
   • Press Win + X and select Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Terminal (Admin).
   • If a User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears, click Yes.
2. Paste and run the following command:

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

3. Wait for the process to finish (it may take a few minutes). You will see messages about package registration.
4. After completion, restart your computer.
5. Check Microsoft Store functionality.

Method 4: Check System File Integrity

Corrupted Windows system files are a common cause of errors, including 0x80073b01. Use the built-in SFC and DISM utilities to diagnose and repair them.

1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator (similar to PowerShell: Win + X → Command Prompt (Admin)).
2. Run the system file check:

   sfc /scannow
   

   The process may take 15–30 minutes. Do not interrupt it. If SFC finds and repairs files, proceed to the next step.
3. After SFC, run Windows image repair via DISM:

   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
   

   This step will download necessary files from Microsoft servers to fix corruption. Ensure you have a stable internet connection.
4. Upon completion, restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.

Method 5: Update Windows

An outdated OS or Microsoft Store version can cause conflicts. Installing the latest updates often resolves such problems.

1. Open Settings (Win + I).
2. Go to Update & Security → Windows Update.
3. Click Check for updates.
4. If updates are found, click Install and follow the instructions.
5. After installing updates, restart your computer.
6. After restarting, check for updates again to ensure everything is installed.

Method 6: Temporarily Disable Antivirus and Firewall

Third-party antivirus or firewall software may block Microsoft Store. Temporarily disable them to check.

1. Disable third-party antivirus:
   • Find your antivirus icon in the system tray (bottom-right corner of the screen).
   • Right-click it and select Disable or Pause protection. Specify a time (e.g., 15 minutes).
   • If the antivirus lacks quick access, open its main window and find protection settings.
2. Disable Windows Firewall (temporarily):
   • Open Control Panel → System and Security → Windows Defender Firewall.
   • Click Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.
   • Under Private (or Public) networks, select Turn off Windows Defender Firewall.
   • Click OK.
3. Try to install or update an app via Microsoft Store.
4. If the error disappears, the issue is with security software. Configure exclusions in your antivirus for Microsoft Store folders (typically C:\Program Files\WindowsApps and C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Local\Packages).
5. Don't forget to re-enable your antivirus and firewall after testing!

Prevention

To minimize the risk of error 0x80073b01 in the future, follow these simple recommendations:

• Regularly install Windows updates — both system updates and Microsoft Store updates. Enable automatic updates.
• Do not disable Store-related services — such as "Windows Installer" or "Windows Store Service".
• Avoid manually deleting files from the WindowsApps folder — this can break package registration.
• Use only official sources for app installations. Avoid pirated installers that may damage system components.
• Monitor free space on your system drive (usually C:). If space runs out, Microsoft Store may not function correctly.
• Periodically reset the Store cache (wsreset.exe), especially after major Windows updates if you notice the store slowing down.
• Create system restore points before installing major updates or third-party software — this allows you to quickly roll back changes if problems arise.