You can download the apps and games on your PC with the help of the Microsoft Store. But this does not help you all the time without any issues or errors. You may face Microsoft store error 0x80073CFB which does not let you download the apps or games. This 0x80073CFB Microsoft store error occurs due to a glitch in the app or sometimes, 0x80073CFB activation error happens due to an outdated Windows operating system. If you are facing this issue on your computer, this guide will help you fix the error code 0x80073CFB with a set of troubleshooting hacks.
How to Fix Microsoft Store Error 0x80073CFB on Windows 10
Here are some common reasons that cause error code 0x80073CFB, Microsoft Store Error on your Windows 10 PC.
- Internet connection is not stable.
- The region, date, and time settings are incorrect
- A few temporary glitches in the Microsoft sign-in process
- A few necessary Windows services are not running
- There are a few corrupt Windows Store caches
- Incompatible DNS and proxy settings
- A few Microsoft app updates are pending on your Windows 10 PC.
- The most recent update is incompatible with the Microsoft Store processes.
- Any corrupt components in your user profile also contribute to the problem.
Method 1: Basic Troubleshooting
1. Check Internet Connection
If your network connection is not stable, you cannot process any online apps and programs. Make sure your internet is stable and there are no interruptions between your router and the device. Run a speed test to check whether you have enough network stability to use Microsoft Store apps without any errors.
Also, check if your device satisfies the below requirements.
1. Clear all the interferences between your router and device.
2. Connect limited devices to the same network.
3. Ensure you have bought the router verified by your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
4. Avoid using old, broken, or damaged cables.
If you face any trouble with the internet connection, check our guide on How to Troubleshoot Network Connectivity Problems on Windows 10 to fix them.
2. Run Malware Scan
Several Microsoft experts suggest that scanning a PC will help you maintain your computer threat free. If there are any viruses or malware intrusions in your PC contributing to the 0x80073CFB Microsoft store error and so you cannot use any of the Microsoft Store apps. Hence, you are advised to scan your computer as instructed in our guide How do I Run a Virus Scan on my Computer?
Also, if you want to remove malware from your computer, check our guide How to Remove Malware from your PC in Windows 10.
3. Update Windows OS
Also, if there are any bugs in your PC, they can only be fixed after a Windows update. Microsoft releases regular updates to fix all these bugs thereby sorting Microsoft store error 0x80073CFB. Hence, ensure if you have updated your Windows Operating System and if any updates are pending in action, use our guide How to Download and Install Windows 10 Latest Update
After updating your Windows Operating System, check whether you can access your Microsoft app without any errors.
4. Disable Antivirus Temporarily
Your antivirus program may mistakenly prevent any new latest updates from being installed on your PC. Many compatibility issues are identified by several Windows users they are difficult to tolerate and rectify. Antivirus software like Norton and Avast may prevent any latest Windows Store apps update and you are advised to disable any inbuilt or third-party antivirus software temporarily to resolve the same. Read our guide on How to Disable Antivirus Temporarily on Windows 10 and follow the instructions to disable your Antivirus program temporarily on your PC.
After fixing the problem on your Windows 10 PC, make sure to re-enable the antivirus program since a system without a security suite is always a threat.
Also Read: Fix Microsoft Store Error 0x80073D12 in Windows 10
5. Sign out & Sign in Again
Errors during sign in process of Microsoft account may contribute to error code 0x80073CFB. So, if you face the error and you are clueless of any reasons, you have to sign out of your account and sign in again. Here are a few instructions to do it.
1. Hit the Windows key and type Microsoft Store.
2. Now, click on Open. Then click on your profile icon followed by Sign out option.
3. Now, click on Sign in as shown.
4. Now, select your Microsoft account and click on the Continue button.
5. Type the login credentials and sign in back to your Microsoft account to resolve 0x80073CFB activation error.
Method 2: Run Windows Store Apps troubleshooter
Your Windows 10 PC has an inbuilt troubleshooting tool to fix 0x80073CFB Microsoft store error. Follow the below-mentioned steps to run the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter.
1. Go to the search menu and type Troubleshoot settings as shown.
2. Select the Additional troubleshooters option as shown.
3. Now, click on Windows Store Apps followed by Run the troubleshooter as shown.
4. If there are any problems identified after the troubleshooting process, click on Apply this fix.
6. Finally, follow the instructions as listed in the upcoming prompts and restart your PC. Check if you have fixed error code 0x80073CFB in Microsoft Store error problem.
Also Read: Fix Can’t Download from Microsoft Store
Method 3: Update/Rollback WLAN Driver
Device drivers establish a connection link between the hardware and Operating System of your computer. Also, faulty or corrupt drivers lead to the discussed issue. Many users have reported that updating WLAN drivers have helped them fix the problem. In a similar way when you Roll back your drivers, all the current versions of the hardware device will be uninstalled and previously installed drivers will be installed on your PC. This feature will be very helpful when any new driver update does not work well with your computer.
Method 4: Reinstall WLAN Driver
Incompatible drivers must be reinstalled to fix the discussed Microsoft problem. You are advised to reinstall device drivers only if you cannot attain any fix by updating them. Steps to reinstall drivers are very easy and you can do so by using a third-party application or manually.
Follow our guide How to Uninstall and Reinstall Drivers on Windows 10 to reinstall drivers in your Windows 10 computer.
After reinstalling network drivers, check if you have fixed the discussed issue.
Method 5. Enter Correct Region, Date and Time
If the time and date settings in your region do not sync with each other, you may not perform any functions in Microsoft Store. Before installing or performing any tasks in Microsoft Store, you must be aware of the fact that, these apps will check your computer for certain certificates and if the time, zone and date are incorrect at this stage, all the certificates will be considered as invalid leading to 0x80073CFB Microsoft store error. To adjust and confirm the date and time settings, follow the below-mentioned steps:
1. Press and hold Windows + I keys together to open Windows Settings.
2. Now, click on Time & Language.
3. Then, in the Date & time tab, make sure Set the time automatically and Set the time zone automatically options are toggled on.
4. Then, click on Sync now as highlighted above.
5. Now, switch to the Region tab in the left menu and the Country or region option, make sure you choose the United States as shown.
Note: Changing the region will help you troubleshoot how to fix 0x80073CFB activation error if the problem occurs only for a particular region. Make sure you change the region back to your geographic area after fixing the issue.
Also Read: How to Fix Microsoft Store Not Opening on Windows 11
Method 6: Restart Essential Windows Services
Some important Windows services like Windows Update and Background Intelligent Transfer services must be enabled in your computer to avoid Microsoft store error 0x80073CFB problem. The Background Intelligent Transfer services use any idle bandwidth to install any latest updates so that your computer installs any update only if there is no other installation is in progress. If these services are disabled in your system, you are more likely to face the discussed error. Hence, restart essential Windows services as instructed below.
1. Type Services in the search menu and click on Run as administrator.
2. Now, scroll down and double-click on Background Intelligent Transfer Service.
3. Now, select the Startup type to Automatic, as depicted.
Note: If the Service status is Stopped, then click on the Start button. If the Service status is Running, click on Stop and Start it again.
4. Click on Apply and then OK to save the changes. Check if you can fix the discussed error.
5. Repeat all these steps for other Windows services like Cryptographic, Network Location Awareness, MSI Installer, and Windows Update Services.
Method 7: Reset Windows Store App Cache
Corrupt cache and corrupt data in Microsoft Store will contribute to 0x80073CFB Microsoft store error. Follow the below mentioned instructions to delete Windows Store cache.
1. Launch the Run dialog box by pressing Windows + R keys together.
2. Now, type wsreset.exe and hit Enter.
Method 8: Install Apps Updates
To fix 0x80073CFB activation error, make sure if all the applications in your Microsoft Store library are updated to its latest version. If there are a lot of updates pending in action, new updates or installations may face several errors during the process. Follow the below mentioned steps to install Microsoft Store app updates.
1. Go to the search menu and type Microsoft Store. Then, click on Open.
2. Then, click on the Library icon at the bottom left corner of the Microsoft Store window.
3. Then, click on the Get updates button as shown.
4. Then, click on the Update all button as highlighted.
5. Wait for the updates to be downloaded to your Windows 10 PC and make sure you get Your apps and games are up to date prompt to resolve 0x80073CFB activation error.
Also Read: Fix Microsoft Store Error Code 0xc03f300d
Method 9: Uninstall Recent Update
Any previous incompatible updates in your Windows 10 PC might not allow new updates to be downloaded in it. Hence, you are advised to uninstall the recent updates that are being installed on your computer to fix Microsoft store error 0x80073CFB. It is very easy to do the task and the steps are demonstrated as follows.
1. Hit the Windows key and type Control Panel. Then, click on Open as shown.
2. Now, click on Uninstall a program option under the Programs menu as depicted.
3. Now, click on View installed updates in the left pane as shown.
4. Now, search and select the most recent update by referring to Installed On the date and clicking on Uninstall option as shown below.
5. Finally, confirm any prompt and restart your computer and check if you were able to fix 0x80073CFB activation error on Windows 10.
Method 10: Delete SoftwareDistribution Folder Files
Still, if you face 0x80073CFB Microsoft store error, then there is another simple workaround to fix these problems. Firstly, stop the Windows Update service and delete the SoftwareDistribution folder in your File Explorer. Then again start Windows Update services. Read our guide, How to Delete SoftwareDistribution Folder on Windows 10 to proceed.
Method 11: Reregister Microsoft Store App
If above methods does not help you resolve how to fix 0x80073CFB activation error re-registering the Windows Store might help you. Follow as instructed below.
1. Navigate to the search menu and type Windows PowerShell. Then, click on Run as administrator as shown.
2. Now, paste the following command line in the Windows PowerShell and hit Enter.
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "& {$manifest = (Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.WindowsStore).InstallLocation + 'AppxManifest.xml' ; Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $manifest}
4. Wait until the commands are executed and now you will not face the discussed error again.
Also Read: How to Change Country in Microsoft Store in Windows 11
Method 12: Reinstall Microsoft Store
If none of the above-discussed methods has helped you fix Microsoft store error 0x80073CFB then the last option to resolve the problem is to reinstall Microsoft Store. This uninstallation process cannot be implemented by Control Panel or Settings procedure. PowerShell commands will help you reinstall Microsoft Store as discussed below.
1. Launch PowerShell with admin rights as instructed above.
2. Now, type get-appxpackage –allusers and hit Enter.
3. Now, search for Microsoft.WindowsStore Name and copy the entry of PackageFullName.
4. Now, go to a new line in the PowerShell window and type remove-appxpackage followed by a space and the line you have copied as follows:
remove-appxpackage Microsoft.WindowsStore_22202.1402.2.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
Note: The command may vary a little according to the version of Windows you use.
5. Now, Microsoft Store will be deleted from your PC. Now, reboot your Windows 10 PC.
6. Then, to reinstall it, again open Windows PowerShell as an administrator and type the following command.
Add-AppxPackage -register "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.WindowsStore_11804.1001.8.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\AppxManifest.xml" –DisableDevelopmentMode
7. Finally, Microsoft Store will be reinstalled on your PC and you will not face the discussed issue again.
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