At one point or another, everyone will run into issues with their computer. Sometimes, it’s just one particular app that has suddenly decided to stop working. If you’ve ever run into an issue like that, Windows 11 actually lets you repair your apps without having to uninstall and install them freshly all over again.
The caveat here is that only apps which are distributed through the Microsoft Store or use modern packing formats can be repaired or reset, so not all apps will be compatible with this method. Older apps will still need you to uninstall and reinstall the app to get it working, although some may also offer a Repair option within the uninstaller itself, so you can check there first.
Related
How to debloat Windows 11
Windows computers notoriously come with too much junk. To get Windows running at peak performance, you should eliminate unnecessary programs
How to repair or reset a modern Windows 11 app
Repairing or resetting an app is the easiest way to try to get it up and running normally again. The repairing method tries to fix the app without deleting your data, while resetting it means you’ll have to sign in again if the app requires it, and you might lose data that’s stored in the app itself (if it’s not saved elsewhere on the computer or cloud). Here are the steps that you can take:
1. Open the Start menu on your PC.
2. If the app you want is pinned, right-click the app icon and choose App settings. If it’s not visibly pinned, click the All apps button, then find the target app on the list. Right-click the app name and choose More> App settings.
3. Scroll down to the Reset section and click Repair first, to try fixing the app without losing data.
4. Wait for the process to finish and try opening the app again. If it’s working normally now, you’re all set.
5. If not, go back to the Settings app, follow the steps, and click Reset this time – keep in mind the app will likely lose the data within the app. Wait for the process to be completed, then open your affected application and see if it works normally now.
The app will be reverted to its default settings, without your personal data, and it should be functional again at this point. If not, the problem you’re having may be related to a bug in the app or generally in Windows. Checking for an available Windows Update and for app updates on the Microsoft Store can help address this.
If all else fails
If the app that’s giving you problems doesn’t have the option to reset it (since you may not always see the App settings button from the Start menu), that means your only solution is probably to uninstall it and install it again. We have a guide on how to uninstall apps on Windows 10 and Windows 11 if you’re not sure how to go about it. This guide even includes some tips on how to uninstall pre-installed apps that you may not want or need. If you’d like to learn more about other Windows 11 features, check out how to customize Windows 11 to make it your own.