Microsoft Store Blocked on Windows 10? 5 Ways to Unblock!

Microsoft Store blocked on Windows 10? Unable to access the Windows Store or update any of the apps? Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered.

The Microsoft Store error code 0x800704ec can hinder you from accessing the Windows App Store. Although, you can easily get past this issue by making a few quick changes in the system’s settings to bypass the errors.

In this post, we have listed 5 useful solutions to unblock Microsoft Store on Windows devices.

Let’s get started.

Also read: How to Fix Microsoft Store Error 0x80070005 on Windows 10

How To Fix Microsoft Store Blocked on Windows 10

1. Run Windows Troubleshooter

One of the simplest workarounds to fix the Microsoft Store error code 0x800704ec is by running the Windows Troubleshooter. Windows 10 comes packed with a variety of built-in troubleshooters that allow you to fix common errors and bugs. To run the Troubleshooter, follow these steps:

Press the Windows icon placed on the Taskbar, select the gear-shaped icon to open Settings.

Select “Update and Security”. Switch to the “Troubleshoot” section from the left menu pane.

Tap on the “Additional Troubleshooters” option.

Look for the “Windows Store apps” option and hit the “Run the Troubleshooter” button placed underneath.

Follow the on-screen instructions to run the Windows Troubleshooter on your device to scan and fix errors and issues related to Microsoft Store apps.

Once the scan is completed, reboot your device and try accessing Microsoft Store again to see if the issue persists.

2. Clear Microsoft Store Cache

Another useful solution to unblock Microsoft Store is by resetting the cache and other corrupt/junk data. Here’s what you need to do.

Press the Windows + R key combination to open the Run dialog box.

Type “wsreset.exe” in the textbox and hit Enter.

By running this command, the Microsoft Store cache will be reset so that you can bypass any errors and get past the hindrance.

3. Manually Enable the Service

To manually enable the Microsoft Store app on Windows, you’ll need to make some quick changes in Windows Group Policy Editor. Follow these quick steps:

Press the Windows + R key combination to open the Run dialog box. Type “gpedit.msc” in the textbox and hit Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor.

In the Group Policy Editor window, navigate to the following location:

Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Store

On the right side of the window, tap on the “Turn off the Store Application” file. Right-click on this file and select the “Edit” option.

Here you can check the current status of the Microsoft Store service whether it is enabled or disabled by default. Select the “Disabled” button to make sure that Windows has access to the Microsoft store. Hit the OK and APPLY button to save recent changes.

Exit all windows, reboot your device and launch Microsoft Store to check if you’re able to access the service.

Also read: Microsoft Store Not Updating Apps Automatically? Here Are The Fixes

4. Switch to a Different User Account

The “Microsoft Store blocked” error can also occur if the user account has limited privileges or access to system settings. One of the best ways to check that is by switching to a different user profile, use the Microsoft Store app to see whether it’s working or blocked. Here’s what you need to do.

Open Windows Settings, select “Accounts”. Switch to the “Family and other users” section from the left menu pane.

Tap on the “Add someone else to this PC” option to add a new user.

Enter the user ID or email address associated with the new user’s account to finish the process.

Follow the on-screen instructions listed on the wizard to add a new user account to your Windows device.

Once the new user has been successfully added, reboot your device, sign in to your system with the new user account, and launch Microsoft Store to check if you’re still stuck with the error.

Also read: How to Fix Microsoft Store Slow Download Issue

5. Disable Antivirus Software

There may be a few unfortunate instances where the antivirus software installed on your device may hinder you from updating an app or accessing the Microsoft Store due to security reasons. Hence, we would advise you to temporarily disable the antivirus tool in our next workaround to check whether it was interfering with the Microsoft Store to function on your device. Here’s what you need to do.

Tap on the System tray placed on the Taskbar, look for the antivirus tool’s icon. Right-click on the antivirus software’s icon and select “Disable”.

Alternatively, you can also find the option of disabling the service in the Antivirus software’s settings section.

After disabling the antivirus tool, relaunch Microsoft Store to check if you’re still facing the error code 0x800704ec on your machine.

Also read: 15+ Best Antivirus Software of 2021

Download and Install Systweak Antivirus on Windows PC

In this digital age where cybercrime instances are at their peak, leaving your device exposed to threats can prove to be risky. Looking for the best antivirus software for Windows 10? Here’s one quick suggestion.

Download and install Systweak Antivirus for Windows PC, a comprehensive security solution that safeguards your device against viruses, malware, spyware, adware, trojans, and other malicious threats.

Conclusion

Was this post helpful? Did the above-mentioned solutions help you to fix the “Microsoft Store blocked” issue on Windows 10? We hope you can use Microsoft Store again, update and install apps without any hindrance.

For any other queries or assistance, feel free to write to us!