Windows Store not allowing the purchase of an app? Unable to buy new apps on Microsoft App Store? Well, yes, this is surely annoying!
There may be a couple of reasons why Windows might interfere with purchasing or installing new apps on your device. Some of them include:
- Interference of third-party antivirus software.
- When your device and Microsoft account are not set on the same region or geographic location.
- Outdated Windows OS.
- Corrupt files or cached data.
- Restricted user account access or privileges.
So, let’s cut to the chase and quickly learn how to fix the “Unable to purchase apps on Microsoft store” issue so that you can install tons of new apps on your device without any hindrance.
Also read: How to Fix Microsoft Store Error 0x80070005 on Windows 10
Unable to Purchase Apps on Microsoft Store? Here’s how to fix
1. Change the Region
One of the most effective workarounds to get past the issue is by changing the region of your device. And for this, you need to dig inside Windows 10’s settings.
Press the Windows icon, select the gear-shaped icon to open Settings.
Tap on “Time and Language” and then select the “Region and Language” option from the left menu pane.
Select the country and region of your device. Use the drop-down menu to set the location manually.
Save the recent changes, reboot your device and try accessing the Microsoft App Store again to see if it fixed the issue.
2. Reset Windows Store Cache
If changing the device’s region manually did not offer any luck, you can try resetting the Windows Store cache to get rid of all corrupt files or cached data of the app. Here’s what you need to do.
Press the Windows + R key combination to open the Run dialog box. Type the following command in the text box and hit Enter to execute it.
Wsreset.exe
Once the Windows Store cache has been reset, reboot your machine to open the App Store to see if you’re still experiencing the “Unable to purchase apps on Windows Store” issue.
Also read: Microsoft Store Not Updating Apps Automatically? Here Are The Fixes
3. Disable the Antivirus Software
There are many antivirus software that block certain apps and services, for security reasons. If your device is installed with any third-party antivirus security tool, we recommend you disable it temporarily to check whether it was blocking the purchase of apps on the Windows Store.
If you were able to purchase new apps on the Microsoft Store after disabling the antivirus software, then maybe it’s time to consider an alternative security tool. If the previously installed antivirus tool was blocking the purchase of apps, you can uninstall it and switch to different antivirus software.
Download and install Systweak Antivirus for Windows PC offering real-time protection against viruses, malware, trojans, spyware, adware, zero-day exploits, and other malicious threats. Apart from offering round-the-clock virus and malware protection, Systweak Antivirus also boosts your PC’s performance by cleaning unwanted start-up programs.
Also read: 15+ Best Antivirus Software of 2021
4. Create a New User Account
Another reason why Windows Store won’t allow you to purchase new apps maybe because of restricted user account access. To do so, you can try creating a new user account and see if it solves the issue.
Launch the Start menu search box, type “Control Panel” and hit Enter.
In the Control Panel window, tap on the “User Accounts” category and then select “Remove user accounts”.
Delete your current account but keep all your files so that you don’t lose your data. After removing your account, create a new user account, fill in the credentials and follow the on-screen instructions listed on the wizard.
After creating a new user account on Windows, try accessing the App Store again to check if you are still facing any troubles in purchasing new apps.
Also read: Cannot Add a New User Account on Windows 10? Here’s the Fix!
5. Enable Windows Defender Firewall
Due to security reasons, Windows Store makes sure that the Firewall is turned ON. To check whether the Windows Defender Firewall is enabled on your device, follow these steps:
Launch the Start menu search box, type “Windows Defender Firewall” and hit Enter.
Turn ON the Windows Defender Firewall for both public and private networks.
Also, after enabling the Windows Defender Firewall your device can be more secure against threats and malware.
Also read: 5 Solutions to Fix the “Windows Defender Failed to Initialize” Issue
6. Update Windows
To make sure that your device is running on the latest Windows OS, check for the available updates.
Open Windows Settings, select “Update and Security”.
Tap the “Check for Updates” button to see if any update is available for your device. If yes, install the latest version of Windows on your system.
Conclusion
Here were a few solutions to fix the “Unable to purchase apps on Windows Store” issue. We hope the above-mentioned solutions help you fix the Windows Store error and allow you to easily purchase and install new applications on your device.
For any other queries or assistance, feel free to drop your questions in the comments space!