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Fix Microsoft Store Downloads That Stall at 0 Percent

An app that sits at pending or zero percent is a cache, a service or a clock problem, in that order. The fix is four commands and one restart.

by@guidox updated:10/31/26 time:20 min level:Intermediate tested on:Windows 11 24H2 works on:Windows 10, Windows 11 tools:Admin terminal
TL;DR

Check the **date and region**, run **wsreset**, reset the Store package with **Reset-AppxPackage**, then restart **Delivery Optimization** and the **Windows Update** service. A wrong system clock breaks every download.

Before you start

Requirements

  • Admin terminal
  • Internet access
  • Fifteen minutes
Step by step

Instructions

01

Confirm the clock and the region

Store licensing checks a signed timestamp. A machine minutes out of sync fails the check and the download never starts, without an error message worth reading.

w32tm /resync
02

Clear the Store cache

wsreset empties the local cache and reopens the Store. It is the cheapest fix and it does not touch installed apps or your library.

wsreset
03

Reset the Store package itself

On Windows 11 the package can be reset in place, which repairs its registration without a reinstall. On Windows 10, re-register it from the manifest instead.

Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.WindowsStore | Reset-AppxPackage
tipIf the command is missing, the build predates the cmdlet. Re-register with Add-AppxPackage -Register on the manifest under WindowsApps.
04

Restart the services the store depends on

Delivery Optimization does the actual downloading and Windows Update supplies the component metadata. Both can sit in a stopped state after a failed update.

Restart-Service dosvc, wuauserv, bits
05

Empty the update cache when it still fails

Stop the services, rename the SoftwareDistribution folder, start them again. Windows rebuilds it on the next check; the renamed copy can be deleted once the store works.

net stop wuauserv & net stop bits
ren C:\indows\oftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
net start wuauserv & net start bits
⚠ warningDo not delete the folder while the services run. The rename fails with a sharing violation and nothing changes.
06

Check the install target

An app set to install on a drive that is full, removed or mounted read-only stalls without saying why. Confirm the default install location and free space on that drive.

Settings > System > Storage > Advanced storage settings > Where new content is saved
Troubleshooting

Common issues

Error 0x80070005

A permissions or policy problem. Check that the WindowsApps folder is intact and that no third-party tweaker changed its owner.

Error 0x80073D05

The target drive is out of space or disconnected. Change the install location and retry.

The download restarts at 0 every time

Delivery Optimization cache corruption. Clear it with the settings page or the Delete-DeliveryOptimizationCache cmdlet.

One app fails, everything else installs

A stale licence for that app. Remove its entry from the library and add it again.

FAQ

Frequently asked

Does wsreset remove installed apps?

No. It clears the cache and reopens the client; your library and installs stay.

Can I use winget instead?

For many apps, yes. It bypasses the Store client entirely and often installs what the Store refuses.

How to undo this

Nothing here changes your data. If you renamed SoftwareDistribution, delete the .old folder once the Store works; the services recreate everything they need.

Changelog · 1 entry
  1. 2026-10-31
    First version
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