One of the perks of Windows 10 is the Windows Store, which is interchangeably referred to as Microsoft Store. The app makes it easy for users to search for and download and install applications and games without having to scour the internet for installation packages.<\/p>\n
Naturally, one thing that users want is stress-free processes and they expect it with the Windows Store as well. This is why the issue of slow download has caused serious frustrations, which has led us to see so many different angry posts on many online tech fora. If you\u2019re one of such annoyed users that are facing the issue of sluggish download with the Microsoft Store, and perhaps you\u2019ve made one of those \u201cWhy do I have slow download speeds for Microsoft Store\u201d posts without an answer, then you shouldn\u2019t be worried anymore as we\u2019ve extensively covered the reasons for the problem and provided fixes in this guide.<\/p>\n
The sluggish download speed of your Microsoft Store happens for a number of reasons. We have gone through the reports of many users on different online fora and have also compiled the complaints sent back to us and have found common issues that are causing the problem. You\u2019ll likely find the reason for your Store\u2019s problem among the causes we\u2019ll explain in this article. We\u2019ll also provide fixes for the problem. But first, let\u2019s explain some of the reasons you\u2019re experiencing slow downloads:<\/p>\n
Sometimes, there\u2019s actually nothing wrong with the download speed of your Windows Store. This is true as another app could be receiving updates and hogging the bandwidth that is allocated to the Store, causing you to find it difficult to use the Store for other purposes.<\/p>\n
A common system bug that is known to plague certain Windows 10 versions, especially old builds, can cause your Store to download things at a really slow pace. You can find out if this is the case by troubleshooting the program. We\u2019ll show you how to do that below, so keep reading.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s possible that the Microsoft Store app cache has corrupt entries, which is limiting the bandwidth usage of the app. This exact issue was the reason behind the slow download speed on the computers of many users, and they reported that the download speed had increased when they had fixed the problem.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a hidden policy in Windows 10 that caps the bandwidth of the Windows Store, which could be responsible for the slow download. The feature is originally included in Windows 10 to optimize the bandwidth usage on the OS, but as many users have found, it can be responsible for this frustration.<\/p>\n
If some files that are dependent on the Windows Store executable or the executable itself is corrupt, it could be the reason you\u2019re experiencing this lag. Some users found this to be the main cause of their store\u2019s download problem. We\u2019ll show you how to apply the fix so you can get downloading again.<\/p>\n
As you might well know, there are times when Windows Update claims all the bandwidth for itself on occasions where an update is being downloaded on your computer, so it shouldn\u2019t come as a surprise if you head over to Windows Update and find that something is being downloaded when your Windows Store app is struggling to download apps.<\/p>\n
If the Software Distribution folder, where certain important temporary files are stored, is corrupt, it explains the slow download speed of your Windows Store. If this is the problem, we\u2019ll show the fix for it.<\/p>\n
Certain users believe that their ISP\u2019s use of dynamic IPs caused the problem as there could be trust issues between the Windows Store and those IPs.<\/p>\n
Certain 3rd-party system protection and firewall suites have received blame for this issue. Most users noted that when their antivirus (and firewall for many other people) were turned on or running, they experienced the problem.<\/p>\n
Now that you know the possible reasons why your Microsoft Store is dragging its feet when it\u2019s downloading apps, it\u2019s time to show you how to apply fixes that will make the problem disappear.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ll show you the fixes that you can apply to make your Windows Store download apps and games with the speed that it should download with. Each step is in-depth and detailed and has been confirmed by users to work for them. We\u2019re not saying that every step here will work for you, we\u2019re simply letting you know that, at least, one solution should fix the issue on your computer.<\/p>\n
Be sure to follow the fixes sequentially so that you can catch the likely cause of the problem without applying unnecessary changes to your computer.<\/p>\n
Windows Update could be hogging your bandwidth, as we explained above, which means you could be facing the slow download if you have updates that are being downloaded and installed in the background. A good reason for this is how Microsoft places updates on Windows 10 as a top priority. It\u2019s also good practice to ensure you have the latest security patches and bug fixes installed on your PC for the smooth running of your system. So, follow these steps to complete outstanding downloads:<\/p>\n
Now, you\u2019ve done your computer a huge favor by getting it up to date. You can go ahead and check if the download issue in Microsoft Store has been resolved.<\/p>\n
This fix sounds simple, but you\u2019ll be stunned that it could be the reason you\u2019re finding it hard to use the Store to download. It\u2019s also best to check for the simple issues before you begin to go deeper. If you don\u2019t know how to check for apps that are currently being updated, follow the steps below:<\/p>\n
After doing this, check if you can now use your Microsoft Store at an acceptable download speed.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re connected to the internet via a router, you can simply try restarting the device to see if the issue resolves. By doing this, you\u2019re not making any changes to your computer at this stage, which is a good way to go. Reports from some users showed that this simple fix had solved the download problem with Microsoft Store.<\/p>\n
Restarting your router shouldn\u2019t be a difficult process. You can simply turn it off and on using the power button, or its restart button if it has one. Unplugging the router from its power source and plugging it back in is another way to restart it. Once you turn it on, check for the problem.<\/p>\n
If the issue persists, then move on to the next solution.<\/p>\n
If the Windows Store has a bug or is affected by a system glitch, then using the in-built Troubleshooter tool on Windows 10 can solve the problem. System glitches happen every now and then, and Microsoft understands this, which is why they added the utility. This fix worked for many users who faced the slow download problem. To use the Troubleshooter, carefully follow the steps below:<\/p>\n
Alternatively, open Run (Win+R), type<\/p>\n
ms-settings:troubleshoot<\/i><\/b> in <\/b><\/p>\n
the dialog box and hit Enter to go straight to the Troubleshoot tab in Settings.<\/p>\n
You can skip to the next fix if the Troubleshooter didn\u2019t detect any problem.<\/p>\n
If you continue to experience the slow download, apply the fix below.<\/p>\n
Some users got their Windows Store to download at normal speeds by clearing the program\u2019s cache. If you noticed that your Microsoft Store began to download applications slowly after a Windows update was installed on your computer, then doing this will get the problem solved, just like it worked for users who experienced the same issue and solved it. This fix will also solve the issue if the Store\u2019s files are corrupt for some reason.<\/p>\n
Follow the steps we have provided below to clear the Microsoft Store cache:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe cache for the Store was cleared\u201d<\/p>\n
Alternative tip<\/b><\/p>\n
: You can also run<\/p>\n
wsreset.exe<\/b><\/p>\n
without the elevated Command Prompt. All you have to do is type<\/p>\n
wsreset<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
into the search bar beside the Start button and launch it.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a Download Settings menu in Windows 10, which Microsoft did a very good job of tucking away somewhere in Settings. Despite the obscurity of this menu, users have unearthed the bandwidth restriction policy. While the setting is welcome in certain circles because it gives users autonomy on how Windows Update will use their bandwidth, many users found this to be the main issue setting their download speed back and put an end to it by removing the restriction.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a detailed step-by-step guide on how to locate the Download Settings and use it to remove the bandwidth limitation:<\/p>\n
This is another method that many users found effective. If, like these users, you tried other fixes without success, then go ahead with this fix. This solution will help you re-register and reset the Windows Store app, but have it in mind that you may lose certain files associated with the application. You can apply this fix using PowerShell or by going through Settings, and we\u2019ll show you how to use both procedures.<\/p>\n
Resetting the app in Settings:<\/b><\/p>\n Using Windows PowerShell<\/b><\/p>\n powershell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $Env:SystemRoot\\WinStore\\AppxManifest.xml<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Allow the command to run its course, and once done, go to your Microsoft Store app to check if its download speed has now improved.<\/p>\n The Software Distribution folder is where temporary files are downloaded by Windows Update to perform certain update actions on your computer. If the folder is corrupted or problematic, then it can cripple the download speed of your Windows Store.<\/p>\n Some users regained impressive download speeds by stopping the Windows Update service and deleting the SoftwareDistribution folder. The reason this fix is successful is that some of the files that are being downloaded slowly are reloaded to the folder, so deleting it and starting fresh tend to be the answer.<\/p>\n Follow these steps to stop the Windows Update service:<\/p>\n You can also stop the service using Command Prompt:<\/p>\n net stop wuauserv<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n After stopping the Windows Update service, follow these steps to delete the SoftwareDistribution folder:<\/p>\n\n
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Stop the Windows Update service and remove the Software Distribution folder<\/h2>\n
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