Microsoft recently released Windows 11, the latest update that comes packed with a lot of exciting new features and performance improvements. No matter which device you use, applications are super essential. Without apps, using our gadgets would be extremely monotonous, isn’t it?
From ordering food online to booking a cab to checking weather updates, there’s an app for everything, literally everything. Moreover, just like our smartphone, Windows 11 is also incomplete without applications. Microsoft Store features a wide range of applications of different genres including games, productivity, social, medical, navigation and maps, health and fitness, and many others.
So, wouldn’t it be a little disheartening if Windows 11 apps won’t connect to the Internet? Yes, the disappointment of not using a certain app can be annoying. A myriad of universal applications is available on the Microsoft Store that you can choose to use. In this post, we have listed a few workarounds that you can use if the apps won’t connect to the Internet.
Let’s quickly learn how to get past this issue by making a few quick changes in the settings.
Also read: Microsoft Store Blocked on Windows 10? 5 Ways to Unblock!
How To Fix Windows 11 Apps Won’t Connect to the Internet Issue
#1 Run the Windows Store Troubleshooter
Windows OS comes packed with a variety of built-in troubleshooters that you can use for fixing common errors and bugs.
Tap the Windows icon placed on the Taskbar, select “Settings”.
Switch to the “System” section from the left menu pane. Scroll down and select “Troubleshooters” to view the list of all the available troubleshooters on your device.
Tap on “Other Troubleshooters”.
Look for “Windows Store Apps” in the list, and hit the “Run” button placed next to it.
Wait for a few minutes until Windows 11 scans, diagnoses, and fixes the underlying issues.
After running the Windows Store Troubleshooter, reboot your device, launch Microsoft Store and try connecting to the app that was previously having issues.
Also read: How to Fix Microsoft Store Error 0x80070005 on Windows 10
#2 Turn OFF Windows Firewall
Windows Firewall was initially released with the Windows XP Service Pack 2 back in 2003. And finally, in September 2017, it was renamed to Windows Defender Firewall. Windows Defender Firewall is a crucial component of the Windows OS that protects your device from viruses and potential threats.
But yes, there may be a few instances when Windows Firewall may interfere with a certain app’s functioning. To make sure that Windows Defender Firewall is not blocking the app that you’re trying to access on the Microsoft Store, you can temporarily disable it to check whether that’s the case.
To disable Windows Firewall on Windows 11, follow these quick steps.
Tap the search icon placed on the Taskbar, type “Windows Defender Firewall” in the search box, and hit Enter.
Tap on the “Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off” option placed on the left menu pane.
Now select the “Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended)” option for both private and public network settings.
After disabling Windows Firewall, head back to Microsoft Store to check whether you’re still experiencing the “Windows 11 apps won’t connect to the Internet” issue.
Also read: 10 Best Firewall Software For Windows 10, 8, 7 PC
#3 Set up a new connection or network
Launch Control Panel and then navigate to Network and Internet> Network and sharing center.
Tap on “Set up a new connection or network”.
Enter the user name, password, and connection name for the new network.
And most importantly, check on the “Allow other users to use this connection” option.
Tap on “Connect” when done.
#4 Reset Windows Store Cache
To reset the Microsoft Store cache, here’s what you need to do.
Press the Windows + R key combination to launch the Run dialog box. Type “wsreset.exe” in the textbox and hit Enter.
Once the command is successfully executed, the Windows Store cache will reset. Try connecting to Microsoft Store apps again to see if the issue persists.
#5 Reset Windows Sockets
Another workaround to fix the “Windows 11 apps won’t connect to the Internet” issue is to reset the Windows sockets.
Launch Command Prompt in admin mode.
Type the following command and hit Enter:
netsh winsock reset
Winsock is responsible for defining how the Windows network software should access TCP/IP or other network services.
FAQs:
Q. What are Universal Apps?
Universal applications are capable of running on any platform, including smartphones (iOS and Android), PC, Xbox, and other IoT devices. Nowadays, most apps that you see on the Microsoft Store, Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or any other marketplace are universal that extend support to multiple platforms.
Q. Which is better: Universal apps vs Win32 applications?
Universal apps offer a better user experience as you don’t have to download multiple versions of a single app on different apps. Compared to Win32 applications, universal apps offer a more streamlined workflow.
Also read: 5 Best Windows 10 Store Alternatives in 2021
Conclusion
Here are a few simple troubleshooting hacks that you can use to resume using your favorite apps again on the Windows Store. We hope you’re no longer stuck with the “Windows 11 apps won’t connect to the Internet” error after using these resolutions.
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