Windows 10 comes with a variety of built-in apps that provide essential functionality for everyday use. These apps include Calendar, Mail, Photos, Calculator, and many more. However, sometimes these apps may not work properly or may go missing from your computer. In such cases, reinstalling the built-in Windows apps can help resolve the issue. In this step-by-step guide, we will walk you through the process of reinstalling built-in Windows apps on your computer.
Step 1: Open PowerShell
The first step is to open PowerShell, which is a powerful command-line tool in Windows. To do this, right-click on the Start button and select "Windows PowerShell" from the menu. If you are using an older version of Windows, you may need to search for "PowerShell" in the Start menu.
Step 2: Run PowerShell as Administrator
Once PowerShell is open, you need to run it as an administrator to have the necessary permissions to reinstall the apps. To do this, right-click on the PowerShell icon in the taskbar and select "Run as administrator" from the context menu.
Step 3: Enable Sideloading
Before you can reinstall the built-in Windows apps, you need to enable sideloading, which allows you to install apps from outside the Microsoft Store. To enable sideloading, run the following command in the PowerShell window:
Set-ExecutionPolicy AllSigned
You will be prompted to confirm the change. Type "Y" and press Enter to proceed.
Step 4: Reinstall the Apps
Now that sideloading is enabled, you can proceed with reinstalling the built-in Windows apps. To reinstall all the apps, run the following command:
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers| Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
This command will reinstall all the built-in Windows apps on your computer. It may take some time to complete, so be patient and do not close the PowerShell window.
Step 5: Check the Apps
Once the reinstallation process is complete, you can check if the apps are working properly. Open the Start menu and look for the apps that were previously missing or not working. Try opening them to ensure they are functioning as expected.
Step 6: Reset PowerShell Execution Policy
After reinstalling the built-in Windows apps, it is recommended to reset the PowerShell execution policy to its default setting for security reasons. To do this, run the following command in the PowerShell window:
Set-ExecutionPolicy Restricted
You will be prompted to confirm the change. Type "Y" and press Enter to proceed.
That's it! You have successfully reinstalled the built-in Windows apps on your computer. If you are still experiencing issues with any of the apps, you may consider contacting Microsoft support for further assistance.
References
| Number | Reference |
|---|---|
| 1 | How-To Geek |
| 2 | Microsoft Support |
| 3 | Microsoft Docs |