Fix Microsoft Store License Error on Windows 11: A Comprehensive Guide

Table of Contents

• Understanding the “Acquiring License” Error¶
• Troubleshooting Steps to Fix Microsoft Store License Error¶
• Conclusion¶

The Microsoft Store on Windows 11, and even Windows 10, can sometimes encounter an issue where it gets stuck at the “Acquiring License” stage. This frustrating problem prevents you from downloading and installing new applications or games from the store. This error typically arises when your operating system is unable to properly obtain the necessary license to proceed with the download and installation process. Understanding the root causes and implementing the right solutions are crucial to restoring the functionality of your Microsoft Store.

Understanding the “Acquiring License” Error¶

When you attempt to download an app or game from the Microsoft Store, your system needs to verify your license to ensure you are authorized to access and use the content. The “Acquiring License” error indicates a breakdown in this verification process. Several factors can contribute to this issue, ranging from simple configuration problems to more complex system errors. Identifying potential causes is the first step towards effective troubleshooting.

Common causes of the “Acquiring License” error include:

• Incorrect Date & Time Settings: License verification often relies on accurate time and date settings. If your system’s clock is significantly out of sync, it can lead to license acquisition failures.
• Network Connectivity Issues: A stable internet connection is essential for communicating with Microsoft’s licensing servers. Intermittent or slow connections can disrupt the license acquisition process.
• Corrupted Store Cache: The Microsoft Store uses a cache to store temporary data. Corruption in this cache can interfere with normal store operations, including license handling.
• Account Synchronization Problems: Issues with your Microsoft account synchronization can affect license verification, especially if the license is tied to your account.
• System File Errors: Underlying system file corruption can impact various Windows functionalities, including the Microsoft Store and its licensing mechanisms.
• Conflicting Software: In some instances, third-party security software or firewalls might mistakenly block the Microsoft Store’s access to licensing servers.

Addressing these potential causes systematically is key to resolving the “Acquiring License” error and getting your Microsoft Store back to working order. The following sections provide step-by-step solutions to tackle this issue.

Troubleshooting Steps to Fix Microsoft Store License Error¶

If you are encountering the “Acquiring License” error in the Microsoft Store, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve the problem. Start with the simpler solutions and progressively move to more advanced ones if needed.

1. Verify Time, Date, and Region Settings¶

Incorrect time, date, and region settings are surprisingly common culprits for various Windows errors, including Microsoft Store licensing issues. License verification processes often rely on accurate time stamps. If your system’s clock is significantly out of sync, it can lead to authentication and licensing failures.

Steps to Check and Correct Time, Date, and Region Settings:

1. Access Settings: Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
2. Navigate to Time & Language: Click on Time & Language.
3. Check Date & Time: In the Date & Time section, ensure that “Set time automatically” is toggled on. If it is already on, toggle it off and then back on again to refresh the synchronization.
4. Manual Time Setting (If Automatic Fails): If automatic time setting is not working correctly, you can manually set the time and date. Click the Change button next to “Set the date and time manually.” Enter the correct date and time and click Change.
5. Check Time Zone: Verify that the correct time zone is selected under “Time zone.”
6. Check Region: Navigate to the Region section in the Time & Language settings. Ensure that your Country or region is set correctly. While it might seem counterintuitive, in some cases, temporarily setting the region to United States, even if you are not located there, has been known to resolve certain Microsoft Store issues. Try this as a troubleshooting step if other methods fail, and revert to your correct region afterwards.
7. Internet Time Synchronization: For more precise time synchronization, you can configure Internet Time settings.
   • Open Control Panel. (Type “Control Panel” in the Windows search bar and select it).
   • Click on Clock and Region.
   • Click on Date and Time.
   • Go to the Internet Time tab.
   • Click on Change settings.
   • Ensure “Synchronize with an internet time server” is checked.
   • From the server dropdown, you can choose a different time server if needed. time.windows.com is the default and usually reliable.
   • Click Update now to synchronize your clock.
   • Click OK in all open windows to save the changes.

After verifying and correcting your time, date, and region settings, restart your computer and try accessing the Microsoft Store again to see if the “Acquiring License” error is resolved.

2. Run the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter¶

Windows includes a suite of built-in troubleshooters designed to automatically diagnose and fix common problems. The Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter is specifically designed to address issues related to the Microsoft Store and its applications. This tool can automatically detect and resolve problems that might be preventing apps from installing or working correctly, including license-related issues.

Steps to Run the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter:

1. Open Settings: Press Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
2. Navigate to Troubleshoot: Click on System and then select Troubleshoot. (In some older versions of Windows 11 or Windows 10, you might find Troubleshoot under Update & Security).
3. Open Other troubleshooters: Click on Other troubleshooters.
4. Run Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter: Scroll down until you find Windows Store Apps in the list. Click the Run button next to it.
5. Follow On-Screen Instructions: The troubleshooter will automatically start diagnosing potential problems. It might take a few minutes to complete the scan and attempt repairs. Follow any on-screen prompts or instructions provided by the troubleshooter.
6. Review Results: Once the troubleshooter has finished, it will display a report of any issues it detected and whether it was able to fix them. Review the report to understand what problems were found and if any manual steps are recommended.
7. Restart Your Computer: After running the troubleshooter, it is advisable to restart your computer to ensure that any fixes are properly applied.

After restarting, open the Microsoft Store and try downloading or updating an app to see if the “Acquiring License” error has been resolved. The Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter is a valuable first-line tool for resolving many common Microsoft Store issues.

3. Run the Microsoft Account Troubleshooter¶

Problems with your Microsoft Account can also lead to license verification issues in the Microsoft Store. The Microsoft Account Troubleshooter is designed to diagnose and automatically fix common problems related to your Microsoft account, including synchronization issues, account settings errors, and other related problems that might impact store functionality.

Steps to Run the Microsoft Account Troubleshooter:

1. Download the Troubleshooter: Unlike the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter, the Microsoft Account Troubleshooter is not built into Windows and needs to be downloaded from Microsoft’s website. Search for “Microsoft Account Troubleshooter download” in your web browser, or navigate directly to the Microsoft Support website and search for the troubleshooter.
2. Run the Downloaded File: Once you have downloaded the troubleshooter (it will typically be a .diagcab file), locate the file and double-click it to run it.
3. Follow On-Screen Instructions: The Microsoft Account Troubleshooter will launch and begin diagnosing potential issues with your Microsoft account. Follow the on-screen prompts and instructions. It might ask you to sign in to your Microsoft account or provide other information.
4. Review Results: After the troubleshooter completes its scan and repair attempts, it will display a report outlining any detected issues and whether they were fixed. Review this report carefully to understand what actions were taken.
5. Restart Your Computer: Restart your computer after running the troubleshooter to ensure that any fixes are properly implemented.

After restarting, check if the Microsoft Store “Acquiring License” error is resolved. Running the Microsoft Account Troubleshooter can be particularly helpful if you suspect account synchronization or settings issues are contributing to the problem.

4. Reset the Microsoft Store¶

Resetting the Microsoft Store can clear out corrupted cache data and reset the application to its default settings. This can often resolve various issues, including the “Acquiring License” error, by eliminating potential software glitches or corrupted files that might be interfering with its operation.

Steps to Reset the Microsoft Store via Windows Settings:

1. Open Settings: Press Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
2. Navigate to Apps: Click on Apps and then select Installed apps (or Apps & features in older versions of Windows).
3. Find Microsoft Store: Scroll down the list of installed apps until you find Microsoft Store.
4. Open Advanced Options: Click on the three dots (…) next to “Microsoft Store” and select Advanced options. (Alternatively, click on “Microsoft Store” and then click “Advanced options”).
5. Scroll Down to Reset: In the Advanced options page, scroll down until you find the Reset section.
6. Click Reset: Click the Reset button. A warning message will appear stating that this will delete the app’s data. Confirm the reset by clicking Reset again.
7. Wait for Reset to Complete: Windows will reset the Microsoft Store. This process might take a few moments. Once completed, a checkmark will appear next to the Reset button.
8. Restart Your Computer (Optional but Recommended): While not always necessary, restarting your computer after resetting the Microsoft Store is generally a good practice to ensure all changes are fully applied.

After resetting the Microsoft Store, launch it again and attempt to download or update an app to check if the “Acquiring License” error has been resolved. Resetting the store is a relatively simple yet effective way to clear out potential software issues.

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5. Re-register the Microsoft Store¶

Re-registering the Microsoft Store involves re-registering the application package with Windows. This process can help fix issues related to the store’s installation or registration, potentially resolving problems like the “Acquiring License” error. This method is more technical than resetting but can be effective in certain situations where the store’s registration might be corrupted.

Steps to Re-register the Microsoft Store using PowerShell:

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator:
   • Press the Windows key and type powershell.
   • Right-click on Windows PowerShell from the search results and select Run as administrator. Click Yes if prompted by User Account Control.

2. Enter the Re-registration Command: In the elevated PowerShell window, type or paste the following command exactly as shown:

   Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
   

3. Press Enter: Press the Enter key to execute the command.

4. Wait for Command Execution: The command will run and attempt to re-register all AppX packages, including the Microsoft Store. This process might take a few minutes, and you might see some red error messages appear in PowerShell during the process. These errors are often safe to ignore as long as the command completes without critical failures.
5. Close PowerShell and Restart: Once the command has finished executing (you will see the PowerShell prompt return), close the PowerShell window and restart your computer.

After restarting, open the Microsoft Store and check if the “Acquiring License” error is resolved. Re-registering the store can often fix underlying registration issues that other methods might not address.

6. Check in Clean Boot State¶

Performing a Clean Boot starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This helps to eliminate software conflicts that occur when you install a program or update that might be causing issues with the Microsoft Store, including the “Acquiring License” error. By starting in a clean boot environment, you can determine if a background program is interfering with the store’s licensing process.

Steps to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows:

1. Open System Configuration:
   • Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
   • Type msconfig and press Enter to open the System Configuration utility.
2. Go to the Services Tab: In the System Configuration window, click on the Services tab.
3. Hide All Microsoft Services: Check the box next to Hide all Microsoft services at the bottom left of the window. This is important to prevent disabling essential Windows services.
4. Disable All Remaining Services: Click the Disable all button. This will disable all third-party services.
5. Go to the Startup Tab: Click on the Startup tab.
6. Open Task Manager: Click on Open Task Manager.
7. Disable Startup Items: In Task Manager, go to the Startup tab. For each startup item listed, select it and click Disable. Do this for all startup items.
8. Close Task Manager and Apply Changes: Close Task Manager and go back to the System Configuration window. Click Apply and then OK.
9. Restart Your Computer: You will be prompted to restart your computer. Click Restart.

After your computer restarts in a clean boot state, open the Microsoft Store and try to download or update an app. If the “Acquiring License” error is gone in clean boot, it indicates that a background program or service was causing the conflict.

Identifying the Conflicting Program (If Clean Boot Works):

If the Microsoft Store works correctly in clean boot state, you need to systematically re-enable startup programs and services to identify the culprit.

1. Re-enable Services One by One (or in Groups): Go back to System Configuration (msconfig), Services tab. Re-enable services in small groups, restarting your computer after each group to test if the issue returns.
2. Re-enable Startup Programs One by One: Similarly, re-enable startup programs in Task Manager, Startup tab, one by one (or in small groups), restarting and testing after each re-enablement.

By systematically re-enabling services and startup programs, you can pinpoint the specific software that is causing the conflict with the Microsoft Store licensing process. Once identified, you can consider updating, reconfiguring, or uninstalling the conflicting software.

Conclusion¶

The “Acquiring License” error in the Microsoft Store can be a significant obstacle to downloading and enjoying new applications on your Windows 11 or Windows 10 system. However, by systematically following the troubleshooting steps outlined in this guide, you can effectively diagnose and resolve the issue. From verifying basic settings like time and date to more advanced techniques like re-registering the store and performing a clean boot, these methods offer a comprehensive approach to tackling this problem.

Remember to start with the simpler solutions first and progressively move towards more complex ones if needed. In many cases, a simple reset or troubleshooter run can resolve the issue quickly. By carefully implementing these steps, you should be able to restore the functionality of your Microsoft Store and continue downloading your desired apps and games without license errors.

If you continue to experience issues after trying these steps, more advanced troubleshooting or seeking assistance from Microsoft Support might be necessary. However, for most users, these comprehensive steps should provide a path to resolving the “Acquiring License” error and getting back to enjoying the full functionality of the Microsoft Store.

Feel free to share your experiences or ask any questions in the comments below! We are here to help you navigate these technical challenges and keep your Windows experience smooth and efficient.