Windows App Not Working? Try Repair Before You Reinstall It

When an app suddenly stops working properly, you do not always have to uninstall and reinstall it.

Windows 11 provides a Repair option for some apps. It is a sensible first step because it attempts to fix the app without requiring the more disruptive approach of resetting or removing it.

Try Repair first

1. Open Start > Settings. 2. Select Apps. 3. Select Installed apps. 4. Find the troublesome app. 5. Select the More button next to it. 6. Select Advanced options, if that choice is available. 7. Select Repair.

When Repair finishes, open the app again and see whether the original problem is gone.

Not every application supports this option, so do not assume something is wrong if Repair or Advanced options does not appear.

What if Repair doesn't work?

If Windows offers a Reset button, that can be the next step.

However, do not treat Repair and Reset as identical.

Reset is a more substantial troubleshooting action and can return an app to a cleaner state. Depending on the application, that can mean you need to sign in again, restore preferences, or reconfigure the app.

Before resetting an app that contains important locally stored information, make sure you understand where that information is stored and whether it is backed up or synchronized.

Restarting is still worth trying

Before moving into complicated troubleshooting, restart the computer.

A restart clears many temporary problems and is one of the safest troubleshooting steps available.

If Windows itself feels slow rather than one particular application being broken, see How to Make a Slow Computer Faster Without Buying Anything.

What if there is no Repair option?

Traditional desktop programs may use a different repair process.

Windows can also provide repair or change options through Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features for some programs.

If neither method offers Repair, check the software developer's official instructions before using third-party “repair” or “optimizer” utilities.

The bottom line

When one Windows application misbehaves, use the least disruptive solution first: restart the app or computer, try Repair, use Reset if appropriate, and reinstall if necessary.

Sources and Further Reading

Microsoft Support — Repair apps and programs in Windows