Sometimes you may notice that your Modern/Metro Windows 8/8.1 apps are starting too slow or do not load at all. This is definitely annoying. On a fresh install of Windows 8.1 and Windows 8 those apps are fast, but sometimes the app might get stuck on the screen with the loading circle animation and the app logo. In this article, we will review some workarounds to reduce the startup time of Metro Apps in Windows 8.1 and Windows 8 with very simple steps. We will also see what can prevent apps from working and take steps to correct those issues.
There are several ways to fix issues with Modern apps. They are as follows:
The Windows 8 App Troubleshooter is the official solution from Microsoft. It was designed to help users resolve all issues with Modern apps. It is a good idea to try your luck with it. You can start the Windows 8 app troubleshooter from this page. Follow the instructions provided there.
Sometimes an app can start slowly if you are using a local Windows user account. Try switching to a Microsoft account and see if it helps.
Open an elevated command prompt and type the following:
- Windows 8 App Troubleshooter
The Windows 8 App Troubleshooter is the official solution from Microsoft. It was designed to help users resolve all issues with Modern apps. It is a good idea to try your luck with it. You can start the Windows 8 app troubleshooter from this page. Follow the instructions provided there.
- Local account vs Microsoft account
Sometimes an app can start slowly if you are using a local Windows user account. Try switching to a Microsoft account and see if it helps.
- Perform a check to repair system files
Open an elevated command prompt and type the following:
sfc /scannowSystem File Checker will perform a scan of your Windows files and try to fix corrupted files. This will help in the case when your built-in Modern apps such as Store or PC Settings are corrupted.
Many Modern apps are designed to use the rendering engine of Internet Explorer, as they are HTML5-based. If you have low end GPU or poor quality graphics drivers, this can affect the rendering of Modern apps and cause slowdowns.
Open Internet Explorer and press F10 on the keyboard to bring the browser menu bar. Select Tools -> Internet Options. Switch to the Advanced tab and change the "Use software rendering instead of GPU rendering" option. See if it helps.
If the Windows Firewall service is disabled, Modern apps may fail to start or show error 0x80073d0a. Set the Windows Firewall service to Automatic and start it, if you or some third party firewall installed on your PC has disabled it.
Some specific apps might be disabled using Group Policy. Group Policies under "Software restriction", "Application control" or "AppLocker settings" might be preventing your app from starting.
If you are having trouble with only a specific app and not all Modern apps, then often the best way to start troubleshooting is to try updating it to the latest version, or uninstalling it completely and then downloading and installing it again from the Store.
For paid apps, if the license of an app in the Store is not up-to-date and is out of sync with the license installed on your PC, then the app may not start. To sync app licenses, start the Store app, open its Settings using Win+I, click App updates and then click Sync licenses.
There is a log maintained in your temporary directory called WinStore.log. It is located at C:\Users\<your user name>\AppData\Local\Temp. Check that for any clues of what step might be failing when an app stops working. Other important logs are also in the Event Viewer which you can check. Start Event Viewer by typing "eventvwr" at the Start screen and check these logs: AppModel-Runtime, Apps, AppXDeployment and AppXDeployment-Server
In Windows 8.1 and Windows 8, there is a new security principal introduced called ALL APPLICATION PACKAGES. It should have the right permissions for apps to work properly. For C:\Program Files, C:\Program Files (x86) and C:\Windows folders, ALL APPLICATION PACKAGES must have Read and Execute permissions.
Also, from an elevated command prompt, run this command:
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $Env:SystemRoot\WinStore\AppxManifest.XML
Well, that's it. Try the above mentioned steps and your issues with Modern apps inWindows 8.1 and Windows 8 might be resolved.
Original posted by : Winaero
- Try to enable or disable hardware acceleration in Internet Explorer
Many Modern apps are designed to use the rendering engine of Internet Explorer, as they are HTML5-based. If you have low end GPU or poor quality graphics drivers, this can affect the rendering of Modern apps and cause slowdowns.
Open Internet Explorer and press F10 on the keyboard to bring the browser menu bar. Select Tools -> Internet Options. Switch to the Advanced tab and change the "Use software rendering instead of GPU rendering" option. See if it helps.
- Enable the Windows Firewall service
If the Windows Firewall service is disabled, Modern apps may fail to start or show error 0x80073d0a. Set the Windows Firewall service to Automatic and start it, if you or some third party firewall installed on your PC has disabled it.
- Check Group Policy settings
Some specific apps might be disabled using Group Policy. Group Policies under "Software restriction", "Application control" or "AppLocker settings" might be preventing your app from starting.
- Update or uninstall & reinstall the app
If you are having trouble with only a specific app and not all Modern apps, then often the best way to start troubleshooting is to try updating it to the latest version, or uninstalling it completely and then downloading and installing it again from the Store.
- App license sync issues
For paid apps, if the license of an app in the Store is not up-to-date and is out of sync with the license installed on your PC, then the app may not start. To sync app licenses, start the Store app, open its Settings using Win+I, click App updates and then click Sync licenses.
- Check the important logs
There is a log maintained in your temporary directory called WinStore.log. It is located at C:\Users\<your user name>\AppData\Local\Temp. Check that for any clues of what step might be failing when an app stops working. Other important logs are also in the Event Viewer which you can check. Start Event Viewer by typing "eventvwr" at the Start screen and check these logs: AppModel-Runtime, Apps, AppXDeployment and AppXDeployment-Server
- Permissions messed up
In Windows 8.1 and Windows 8, there is a new security principal introduced called ALL APPLICATION PACKAGES. It should have the right permissions for apps to work properly. For C:\Program Files, C:\Program Files (x86) and C:\Windows folders, ALL APPLICATION PACKAGES must have Read and Execute permissions.
- Proxy authentication issues
- Fix Windows Store app problems
Also, from an elevated command prompt, run this command:
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $Env:SystemRoot\WinStore\AppxManifest.XML
- Bonus tip: reduce your Desktop app startup time
Well, that's it. Try the above mentioned steps and your issues with Modern apps inWindows 8.1 and Windows 8 might be resolved.
Original posted by : Winaero