Interference from third-party programs may also be a contributing factor, though it is less common. In this guide, we will present various methods to help you resolve the ‘This app can’t open’ error message.
1. Reset Problematic App
If an app isn’t working correctly, resetting it may resolve the issue, as this action will erase the app’s data and any stored settings.
2. Clear Microsoft Store Cache
Sometimes the ‘This app can’t open’ error message is due to issues with the Microsoft Store app, which mainly manages these apps. Clearing Microsoft Store’s cache can often fix such issues.
3. Reinstall Affected App
Corrupted installation files can prevent an app from running properly. In such cases, you will need to reinstall the affected app.
4. Enable User Account Control
Disabling the User Account Control (UAC) feature can interfere with the functionality of some Windows apps. UAC is a security feature designed to thwart potential damage to your system by restricting unauthorized changes. Re-enabling UAC can often fix related issues. If you have previously disabled UAC, you should use the same method to re-enable it. If you haven’t disabled UAC before, you may choose any method below.
4.1. Using Control Panel
4.2. Using Windows Registry
4.3. Using Group Policy Editor
5. Re-register Apps via PowerShell
If all built-in Windows utilities are failing to open with the ‘This app can’t open’ error message, you may need to re-register their related app packages as they might be corrupted.
6. Create a New User Account
Issues with your Windows user profile can also lead to problems opening apps. Creating a new user account can be a useful troubleshooting step.
7. Perform a Clean Boot
Third-party applications running in the background might conflict with Windows services, causing the error message. Performing a clean boot will start Windows with only essential services, helping you determine if third-party software is at fault. If the error is not present during a clean boot, enable services one by one to identify the problem.
8. Clean Install Windows
Should none of the above solutions resolve the error message, a clean installation of Windows may be necessary. Please remember to back up any important data before proceeding since a clean install will erase your drive. Refer to our comprehensive guide on performing a clean install of Windows for detailed instructions. After a clean install, you should no longer encounter the error message, allowing you to use the Windows utilities without issue.
