I recently encountered an issue with the Microsoft Store on my Windows 11 PC that left me scratching my head. For weeks, I was struggling with an annoying error message that kept popping up every time I tried to download or update any apps. The message read, “Acquiring License,” but it would never progress past this point. This problem was affecting not just my productivity but also my ability to enjoy apps and games I had previously downloaded.
Initially, I tried all the usual solutions that come to mind—restarting my computer, checking for Windows updates, and ensuring that my internet connection was stable. None of these steps made any difference. I found myself growing increasingly frustrated as the error persisted.
Then, I decided to delve deeper into potential fixes. The first thing I did was clear the Microsoft Store cache. To do this, I pressed Win + R to open the Run dialog, then typed wsreset.exe and hit Enter. This command essentially resets the Microsoft Store without changing any settings or installed apps. After the command executed, the Microsoft Store opened automatically, but unfortunately, the issue was still there. It was clear that this problem required a more targeted approach.
Next, I attempted to troubleshoot the Microsoft Store using Windows’ built-in tools. I went to Settings by pressing Win + I, then navigated to “System” and selected “Troubleshoot.” Under “Other troubleshooters,” I found and ran the troubleshooter for Windows Store Apps. The troubleshooter ran through a series of checks and fixes, but once again, the error persisted. It seemed like I was running in circles with these conventional methods.
Determined to resolve the issue, I decided to try re-registering the Microsoft Store. I opened PowerShell as an administrator by right-clicking the Start button and selecting “Windows Terminal (Admin).” Then I entered the following command:
powershellGet-AppxPackage Microsoft.WindowsStore | Reset-AppxPackage
This command re-registers the Microsoft Store app and resets its settings. After running the command, I restarted my PC and checked if the problem was resolved. However, the “Acquiring License” error was still stubbornly present.
At this point, I turned to the more advanced method of checking the Windows Update components. I opened Command Prompt as an administrator and typed the following commands, one by one:
shellnet stop wuauserv net stop cryptSvc net stop bits net stop msiserver ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old net start wuauserv net start cryptSvc net start bits net start msiserver
These commands stop the Windows Update service, rename the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders (which are used by Windows Update), and restart the services. This process essentially refreshes the update components and often helps resolve update-related issues. After executing these commands and rebooting my computer, I tried accessing the Microsoft Store again. To my disappointment, the error still persisted.
Frustrated but not ready to give up, I decided to create a new user profile on my Windows 11 machine. Sometimes, user profile corruption can lead to odd issues, and creating a fresh profile might resolve the problem. I went to Settings, then “Accounts,” and selected “Family & other users.” Under “Other users,” I clicked “Add account” and followed the instructions to create a new user profile. Once the new profile was set up, I logged in with it and attempted to open the Microsoft Store. This time, the error message was gone! The Microsoft Store functioned as expected, and I was able to download and update apps without any issues.
Realizing that the problem might have been due to a corrupted user profile, I decided to move forward with the new profile and migrate my files and settings to it. I copied my personal files from the old profile to the new one and set up all my applications and settings. Although it was a bit time-consuming, it was worth it to have a fully functional Microsoft Store once again.
Looking back, the issue with the Microsoft Store’s “Acquiring License” error was a challenging one. It required me to try several different solutions, from clearing the cache and running troubleshooters to re-registering the app and refreshing update components. Ultimately, creating a new user profile proved to be the most effective solution. If anyone else is struggling with this error, I would recommend trying these steps in sequence, and hopefully, like me, you will find a resolution.