Troubleshoot “This app can’t run on your PC”

When running a app in Windows 10, you may receive this message: “This app can’t run on your PC”. This article shows all our case collections with resolutions.

1.Run Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter

Whenever you receive the “This App Can’t Open” error message in Microsoft store, one of the effective resolutions is to run the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter, which could scan your system and detect the issues that might be preventing any Windows Store apps from working correctly. To run the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter, take the following steps:

* Click the Start menu, and then type troubleshooting in the search field

* Click on Open

* Click on Additional troubleshooters

* Click Windows Store Apps from the listed results to open it

* Click on Run the troubleshooter

* Reset an app by clicking Open Apps & features.

* The troubleshooter will run and may fix the problem

2. Change UAC Settings

* Type UAC in Search bar, click on Change User Account Control settings.
•Move the scale down for a test.

•When to be notified about changes to your computer, and click OK

•Reboot your computer and then test to run the app.

3. Install latest Windows update.

•Check the Windows Update statues. It may be pending for restart or need to download/install.

•Click Settings>Update & Security

4. Re-install/Repair or upgrade the app.

•Go to Control Panel to Repair, uninstall/Re-install the app.

5. Re-register Windows Store through Windows PowerShell

Step 1. Click the Start menu, and then type powershell in the search field

Step 2. Right-click on Windows PowerShell from a list of results

Step 3. Click on Run as Administrator

Step 4. Click Yes in the popup.

Step 5. In the Windows PowerShell window, type the following command and then hit Enter

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

Step 6. Your Windows Store will be re-registered once it is finished, test the app.

6. Change ownership of your C: drive

Sometimes Windows 10 apps won’t open due to ownership problems, but you can easily fix that. To change the ownership of a folder, or a hard drive partition, do the following:
* Open This PC and locate the drive where Windows 10 is installed. By default it should be C.
* Right click the drive and choose Properties.
* Go to Security tab and click the Advanced button.

* Find Owner section and click Change.

* In Select User or Group page, type the username or group name. or click Advanced button.

* Click Find Now button. List of users and user groups will appear. Select the Administrators group and click OK.

* In Select User or Group window click OK.
select-users-or-group
* In Advanced Security Settings window owner should be changed to Administrators and Administrators group should be added to Permission entries list. Check Replace owner on subcontainers and objects.
replace-owner
* Click Apply and OK. Wait for the process to complete.

7. Try different account.

•In some cases, the account can’t run an app because the account profile has been damaged. Try different account or create a new account to run the app.

•You can go to Settings>Account to create a new account.

8. Make sure the app is compatible with Windows OS

Case 1: If the app is 32 bit running on Windows 10 64 bit, you may receive this message: Windows protect your PC.

Resolution: Click Run anyway.

Case 2: A old app was designed for Windows XP.

Resolution: Right click the executable file. Select Properties. On the Compatibility tab, check Run this program in compatibility mode for, and then select Windows XP.

9. Download the program in local drive.

•We had a case. The client can’t install the Adobe Acrobat over VPN connection.

•Resolution: Download the adobe Acrobat to the local C drive download folder and install it.

10. Enable App Side-loading

To enable app side-loading, do the following:

1.Open Settings app and navigate to Update & Security section.

2.Go to For developers page turn on Developer mode.

11. Update Windows Store

1.Open the Microsoft Store app from the Start menu.

2.Click on the 3-dot menu in the far right corner and open Downloads and updates.

3.Click on the Get Updates button.

Please view this step by step video:

Troubleshoot Microsoft Account Issues

Situation: the user has a problem to login using Microsoft Account.

Troubleshooting:

Download Troubleshoot Microsoft Account tool

Run it from your local computer.

Follow the wizard

Microsoft Account Troubleshooter may fix the following issues

Corrupt Microsoft Account settings

Can’t connect to the sync service

Problems with Microsoft account Policy

Microsoft Account required

Connection issues due to proxy or certificate issues

Check for roaming GPO enabled status

Problem with system registration

Signed in with a guest account, or Roaming User Profiles enabled

You are not connected to the Internet

Proxy Settings

You have reached your daily sync quote

Sync your settings is turned off Check system not activated.

Fixing windows login error: Illegal state change request

Situation: When the user tries to sign in his Windows 10 computer or link to Office apps, he receives this message: “We couldn’t sign you in. An illegal state change was requested”. This article shows many case collections with resolutions.

Case 1: When using Microsoft account to ling windows 10, the client can’t login with “An illegal state change was requested “

Resolution: It could be the Internet issue. Try to login using local administrator account.

* After login, check the Internet connection.

Case 2: Can’t login with “An illegal state change was requested “

Resolution: The password may be expired; the account has been disabled or removed. Try to login using different account.

•After login different user, check the account status by going to Settings>Accounts.

* Click on Emails & accounts->Manage

Case 3: Can’t login local account with “An illegal state change was requested “

Troubleshoot and Resolution: Login different user account and check any errors in Event Viewer. We find this error: Event ID: 1500, Description:

Windows cannot log you on because your profile cannot be loaded. The account has been damaged. Create a new account.

Case 4: Can’t login Outlook with “An illegal state change was requested”
Resolution: Reset Microsoft account.

•After login different user, check the account status by going to Settings>Accounts.

•Click on Emails & accounts->Manage

Case 5: Can’t login with “An illegal state change was requested” and no other admin account available to login.

Resolution: Restart your device into safe mode and sign in with your account. Check to any errors in the event viewer.

Restart your device in normal mode and sign in again with the account.

You may have multiple options to run Windows 10 Safe Mode.

1. Use “Startup Settings” in Windows 10 installation DVD or USB recovery drive. Boot from Windows 10 installation DVD or USB recovery drive.

2. Interrupt the normal boot process of Windows 10 three times. If Windows 10 fails to boot normally three times over, the fourth time it enters by default in an Automatic Repair mode. Using this mode, you can boot into Safe Mode.

Case 6: Can’t login Microsoft account with “An illegal state change was requested” and no other admin account available to login.

Resolution: Click link below or search download the MS account troubleshooter

http://download.microsoft.com/download/F/2/4/F24D0C03-4181-4E5B-A23B-5C3A6B5974E3/microsoftaccounts.diagcab

it again

* After the download, run the application and follow the wizard

Microsoft Account Troubleshooter may fix the following issues:

Corrupt Microsoft Account settings

Can’t connect to the sync service

Problems with Microsoft account Policy

Microsoft Account required

Connection issues due to proxy or certificate issues

Check for roaming GPO enabled status

Problem with system registration

Signed in with a guest account, or Roaming User Profiles enabled

You are not connected to the Internet

Proxy Settings

You have reached your daily sync quote

Sync your settings is turned off Check system not activated.

Case 7: The client can’t login his Xbox live account with “We are unable to sign you in to Xbox Live” and “An Illegal state change was requested.“

Cause: Too many log in attempts on multiple systems.

Resolution: try different or original device which you login before to login.

Resolution: Contact us page: https://beta.support.xbox.com/contact-us
Enforcement: enforcement.xbox.com
Ports: https://beta.support.xbox.com/help/hardware-network/connect-network/network-ports-used-xbox-live

Please view this step by step video:

Microsoft Word is processing forever

Situation: When the client tries to open a word document or just open Word, it shows Processing forever and never open the word.

This article shows how to fix this problem.

Resolution 1: Repair Microsoft 365

•Open Control Panel.

•Go to Programs and Features.

•Highlight the Microsoft 365 Apps

•Click on Change.

* In popup, click Yes.

•You will have two options: Quick Repair and Online Repair.

•Try Quick Repair first.

•If the Quick Repair doesn’t fix the problem, then try Online Repair which may take half hour.

Resolution2:ResetMicrosoft365

If you don’t have Microsoft 365 in Control Panel>Programs & Fearers, you may try Reset Office 365.

•Type Office in Search bar, and select App settings

In Office page, move down. You will have RepairReset and Uninstall options.

Resolution 3: Re-install Microsoft 365

If above two resolutions don’t fix the problem or you don’t have Uninstall option.  Please try these steps.

•Go to Settings>Apps>Apps & Features. Double click on Microsoft Office Desktop Apps.

•Click Uninstall.

In popup, click Uninstall.

•Now, re-install Office 365.

•Login office 365.

•Click Install Office.

* You will have two options: Office 365 apps and Other install options such as select a different language, 32 bit Office or individual app.

•Follow the wizard to complete the installation.

•Test the Word.  

Please view this step by step video:

Fixing Microsoft Word is not responding

Situation: When the client tries to open a word document or just open Word, he receives this error: Microsoft Word is not responding.

This article shows how to fix this problem.

Resolution 1: Repair Microsoft 365

•Open Control Panel.

•Go to Programs and Features.

•Highlight the Microsoft 365 Apps

•Click on Change.

* In popup, click Yes.

•You will have two options: Quick Repair and Online Repair.

•Try Quick Repair first.

•If the Quick Repair doesn’t fix the problem, then try Online Repair which may take half hour.

Resolution 2: Reset Microsoft 365

If you don’t have Microsoft 365 in Control Panel>Programs & Fearers, you may try Reset Office 365.

•Type Office in Search bar, and select App settings

In Office page, move down. You will have Repair, Reset and Uninstall options.

Resolution 3: Re-install Microsoft 365

If above two resolutions don’t fix the problem or you don’t have Uninstall option.  Please try these steps.

•Go to Settings>Apps>Apps & Features. Double click on Microsoft Office Desktop Apps.

•Click Uninstall.

In popup, click Uninstall.

•Now, re-install Office 365.

•Login office 365.

•Click Install Office.

* You will have two options: Office 365 apps and Other install options such as select a different language, 32 bit Office or individual app.

•Follow the wizard to complete the installation.

•Test the Word.  

Please view this step by step video:

Fixing Windows update error 0x800f081f

When installing Windows update, you may receive this error code: 0x800f081f. This video shows all our case collections with resolutions.

Resolution 1: Manually download the specific update from the Microsoft Update Catalog and install it.

1.Access the Microsoft Update Catalog website: https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Home.aspx

2.Enter the update package number into the search bar, for example 4566782. Click Search.

3.It will show the search results. Select the correct version that’s compatible with your PC. Then click download.

4.Click on .msu link to download it.

5.Double-click on .msu file to install the update.

6.You may need to restart the computer.

Please refer to this video:

Download and install Windows 10 update manually

Resolution 2: Repair hard drive errors

1.In the search box on the taskbar, type command prompt, and then select Run as administrator from the list of options.

2.Select Yes.  

3.In the window that appears, type the following command, including the space as shown:
chkdsk /f C:
and then press Enter.

4.Enter Y and press Enter

5.Repairs will automatically start on your hard drive, and you’ll be asked to restart your device.

Resolution 3: Perform a clean restart into Windows

A clean restart starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs.

1) Run MSCONFIG.EXE.

2) In the Services tab, click “Hide All Microsoft Services” and click

“Disable All”.

3) In the Startup tab, click “Disable All”. Click OK. (This will

temporarily prevent third-party programs from running automatically during

start-up.)

Resolution 4: Repair system files

1. In the search box on the taskbar, type command prompt, then select Run as administrator from the list of options.

2. In the window that appears, type this command including spaces as shown:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

3. Press Enter. When the command operation has run successfully, you’ll see a confirmation message from Command Prompt that says, “The restore operation completed successfully” or “The operation completed successfully”. 

Note: If you don’t see a confirmation message, retype the command and try again.

Resolution 5: Restore system files

1. In the search box on the taskbar, type command prompt, then select Run as administrator from the list of options.

2. In the window that appears, type this command including spaces as shown:

sfc /scannow

3. Press Enter. Wait until the sfc scan verification reaches 100% completion, and then close Command Prompt.

Resolution 6: Resetting Operating System

• Type in “RESET PC” in the Search bar.

• Click on Open.

• Click  on Get started to reset the PC.

• Note: You may have another option to Go back to the previous version of Windows 10 if  the PC was updated in 10 days.

Resolution 7: Enable Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5

•Open the Settings app and go to Apps > Apps and Features.

•Scroll down to Related

•In the new window, click on Turn Windows features on or off in the upper left-hand corner.

•Make sure .NET Framework 3.5 is enabled.

Resolution 8: Restart Windows Update components

1.Start Command Prompt as administrator.

2.When Command Prompt starts, enter the following commands:

Net Stop bits

Net Stop wuauserv

Net Stop appidsvc

Net Stop cryptsvc

Ren %systemroot%SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.bakRen %systemroot%system32catroot2 catroot2.bak

Net Start bits

Net Start wuauserv

Net Start appidsvc

Net Start cryptsvc

After running the commands, check if the problem is resolved.

Resolution 9: Use Windows Update Troubleshooter
* Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
* Once the Settings app opens, Troubleshooting in the left pan

* Click on Additional troubleshooting

* Click on Windows Update to Resole problem.

Resolution 10: Stop the Windows Update

* Stop Windows Update service

* Delete the Windows Update cache located in “%SystemRoot%\SoftwareDistrubution”,

* Restart the Windows update service

Resolution 11: Free up some drive space so you can run updates

Make sure that your device has enough space. Your device requires at least 16 GB of free space to upgrade a 32-bit OS, or 20 GB for a 64-bit OS. If your PC is out of the spaces, please free up some.

•Configure Storage Sense or run it: In windows 10, click Settings>System>Storage. If it is off, turn it on.

•Manage Storage spaces: In Settings>System>Storage, you have an option to manage Storage space.

•Or Run Disk Cleanup. Type cleanup in search bar and run it.

Please view this step by step video:

Windows PC keeps “Locking” and shutdown automatically

Situation: The client has a PC running Windows 10. The computer shows “Locking…” And will completely shut down randomly. This article shows many collected case we have worked.

Case 1: CPU fan is broken

Resolution: Replace the fan

Case 2: CUP fan is fallen and separated from the CPU.

Resolution: glue the fan to the CPU.  

Case 3: Laptop is overheating

Resolution: Get a Laptop Stand

Case 4: Run third party software to check CPU temperature. If the CPU is overheating,  that will lead to shutdowns.

Resolutions are: Clean fan bay on laptops or CPU cooler on a desktop; Change the thermal paste; Use the cooling pad of some kind to reduce heating; Change overclock settings to default; Use external fab to cool the system.

Case 5: Bad memory

Resolution: Many PC BIOS comes with test toll. You can run memory test to make sure the memory is good.

Case 6: Bad battery

Resolution: Replace a new battery

Case 7: The Laptop battery is critically low

Resolution: 1. Replace the battery.

2. Take the battery out and plug the AC to the wall.

Case 8: Bad HDD sectors
Resolution: Open Command Prompt running as admin. Type this command: chkdsk /r to check the hard drive state.

Case 9: BIOS issue

Resolution: Update BIOS

Case 10: Malware or virus

Resolution: Scan malware or virus. In Windows 10, You can go to Settings>Update & Security>Windows Security.

Case 11: Windows 10 issue

Resolution: Perform a clean reinstall. More info can be found here:http://howtonetworking.com/Windows/w10howto.htm

Please view this step by step video:

Touchpad Function key (Fn + F3) stopped working because of Windows 10 Update

Situation: The client’s Laptop Touchpad Function key (Fn + F3) stopped working.

Troubleshooting:

  1. Installing latest driver from Device Manager. That doesn’t fix the problem.
  2. We find the problem is there is a windows update pending. Install Windows Update and restarting fixes the problem.

Why my Windows shows “Some settings are managed by your organization”

You may wonder why the Windows shows “Some settings are managed by your organization”. It could be your organization has Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) or Microsoft System Center(MSC) manages the Windows update. Or your System Administrator disabled Windows Update manually.

Note: This message is just a warning and shouldn’t cause any issues or limitations.

If you click on “View configured update policies”, it will show more information. 

If your organization doesn’t use WSUS or MSC, the computer is not in a domain environment, or no one stops the Windows update or makes any change on Windows updates settings manually, you may try the following resolutions. 

1. Changed Privacy Settings

•Click Settings

* Under the Settings, click Privacy.

* In the left pan, click on Diagnostics & feedback

* In Diagnostic and usage data, Full

2. Run Local Group Policy and make sure All Settings are No configured.

* Run gpedit.msc to open Local Group Policy

•Navigate to Computer>Administrative Templates>All Settings.

•Do the same in User>Administrative Templates>All Settings.

3. Run  gpedit.msc. Enabled Allow Telemetry wit 3-Full. Then disable.

* Type gpedit.msc in the Search bar and click Open.

* Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Data Collection and Preview Builds.

* Double-click on Allow Telemetry

•Change its setting to Enabled and change the drop-down menu entry to 3-Optional.

• Click on Apply and OK.

• Now, repeat the above steps to change the Enabled to Not Configured.

* Now run command: gpupdate /force

4. Delete Registry key Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\WUServer

* Click Yes.

•Navigate to Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\

•Delete WUServer

Note: If you don’t see WUServer, you are good and don’t need to make any changes.

5. Set the startup type of “Connected User Experiences and Telemetry” under “Services” to “Automatic”

* Type Services in the Search bar and click Open

•Navigate to Connected User Experiences and Telemetry

• If Connected User Experiences and Telemetry is not running, setup Startup type to Aotamitical

•Start the service.

6. Modify PushNotifications using Registry

*  Type regedit in the Search bar and click on Run as administrator.

* Click Yes.

Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER > SOFTWARE > Policies > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > PushNotifications

* Change its value 1 to 0. 1 is default value. You will make it 0.

Note: If you don’t see PushNotifications, you are good and don’t need to make any changes.

Please view this step b y step video:

Why my Windows shows “Some settings are managed by your organization”