Windows – Metro apps on Windows 8.1 crash on start

modern-uiwindows 8windows 8.1

After a while Windows 8.1 apps won't open anymore. Opening the app will show the splash screen and then exit to the desktop with the icon still present in the task bar. A restart temporarily solved the problem.

After checking the windows event log I found this error message, but am not able to glean anything useful from it.

Activation of application microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.WindowsLive.Mail failed with error: This application does not support the contract specified or is not installed. See the Microsoft-Windows-TWinUI/Operational log for additional information.

The additional log information shows the following.

The application DefaultBrowser_NOPUBLISHERID!Microsoft.InternetExplorer.Default is not registered for the Windows.Launch contract or is not installed.

This seems to happen for every app installed, does anyone have a fix for this issue?

I've also looked at this question but without any luck: Metro apps crash on startup, driver or permissions issue?

Best Answer

I had the same issue on Windows 10 Technical Preview.

After some digging, I've found answers on MS Community and in this blog entry. Just to summarize - to fix a single application (PC Settings in this case), type in Administrative Powershell console:

Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $Env:SystemRoot\ImmersiveControlPanel\AppxManifest.xml -Verbose

For fixing all applications run:

Get-AppxPackage | % { Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppxManifest.xml" -verbose }

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