We use many software on our Windows PC. Some we install and some come pre-installed. Sometimes the apps behave abnormally with the influence of other processes or programs. The files get corrupted and make the apps break or we might accidentally delete necessary files. Such cases make the apps or programs function erratically. We need to repair them to get them to work normally again. In this guide, we have ways to repair broken apps and programs in Windows 11/10.
The major reasons behind apps crashing or breaking on Windows 11/10 are:
- Bugs in Windows update
- Corruption or deletion of important app files
- Third-party program messing with its functionality
- Antivirus breaking the necessary processes of the program
- Non-compatible app to the current version of Windows
Let’s see how we can fix all these issues and run the program normally on Windows 11/10.
How to Repair Broken Apps and Programs in Windows 11/10
If an app or program is broken and it is functioning erratically or crashing at once, you can follow the below methods to fix the issue and make it work again.
- Update Windows
- Check for updates for that particular program
- Repair the program manually
- Monitor the recently installed program
- Disable antivirus
- Reinstall the program
Let’s get into the details of each method and fix the issues causing an app or program break.
1] Update Windows
The bugs in the update of Windows might make the apps break or crash. They are fixed eventually with the upcoming updates. Check for Windows updates and install them on your PC to fix the issue.
To check for Windows updates,
- Open the Settings app using the Win+I keyboard shortcut.
- Click on Windows Update in the left side panel on the Settings page.
- Then, click on Check for updates button.
- It will then find any available Windows updates and show you to download and install them.
Check if the installation of the new Windows update has fixed the issue or not. If not, follow the below methods.
2] Check for updates for that particular program
The other way to fix a broken app or program on Windows 11/10 is to update the particular program. This fixes the missing or corrupted files that are causing them to break.
You can update a program on Windows easily in the following ways:
- Using the Help menu in the program
- Using Microsoft Store
- Downloading the latest version manually from the official website
- Using a third-party software updater program
3] Repair the program manually
If the program is installed from Microsoft Store, you can Repair or Reset it easily to fix any issues that occur with it. To repair a program manually, you need to open the Settings app and click on the Apps in the left side menu. Then, click on Apps & features tab. You will see the list of apps and programs installed on your PC. Click on the three-dot menu beside the program you are facing issues with and select Advanced options. Then, scroll down to the Reset section and click on the Repair button under it. This will find the problems with the program and fixes or repairs them. Also, you can run the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter to find and repair issues of windows apps.
TIP: FixWin is the best free PC Repair software.
4] Monitor the recently installed program
If you have witnessed a broken app or program after installing a program on your PC, just uninstall the newly installed program and see if it has fixed the issue. Sometimes the processes of another app might impact the functionality of other apps installed on the PC. There might be a clash between them in resource allocation, etc.
5] Disable antivirus
There are many instances where the antivirus flags a program and disable one or more of its files from running on your PC. Some antivirus does it in the background without intimating the user, and some notify the users about it. Or the antivirus might be blocking a process used by an app and causing it to break. You need to disable the antivirus and see if the app functions properly without breaking or crashing. If that is the case, you must add that program to its Exception List.
Read: How to Add or Exclude an app in Exploit Protection
6] Reinstall the program
If none of the above methods worked in fixing the broken app, you need to uninstall the program from your PC and reinstall it after downloading it from the official website or the Microsoft Store.
To uninstall a program on Windows 11,
- Open the Settings app from the Start menu
- Click on Apps in the left sidebar and then on Apps & features
- Find the app you want to uninstall and click on the three-dot button beside it and select Uninstall from the options. Follow the on-screen wizard to finish uninstalling the program
Now, download and install the app from official and trusted sources to run it without any issues on your PC.
These are the different ways using which you can repair a broken app or program on Windows 11/10. If none of the above solutions work, then the app might be broken due to bugs in the program. You need to wait for them to be fixed in the next update or install a previous version of the program.
Read: How to find where a Program is installed in Windows
Does Windows 11 have a repair tool?
Yes, Windows 11 has troubleshooters for various issues that occur on Windows 11 as well as repair options for apps that are installed from the Microsoft Store. You can use them to troubleshoot or repair apps that are causing issues on your PC. The troubleshooters are available directly in the Settings app whereas Repair options for the apps can be found the in the Apps settings. The System File Checker and the DISM Tool too can be considered as repair tools.
How do you fix broken Windows apps?
There are many ways using which you can fix Windows apps. You can update Windows, run Windows Store apps troubleshooter, repair the particular broken app from the Settings, update the broken app, or reinstall it clean. You can use any method to fix the broken app and use it normally.
Related read: How to repair Windows 11 without losing data or programs.
