You may get the error prompt stating The request is not supported when you boot up your computer, or as most especially reported when you try opening or launching programs or apps like the Device Manager, Services console, Skype, Teams, and other Microsoft Store apps or non-Store apps on your Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC. This post provides solutions to this error.
The request is not supported when opening programs or apps
The request is not supported issue is typically caused by a software conflict between the host system service and another application on your computer. So, if you get The request is not supported error prompt when opening any system program/utility or Microsoft Store or non-Store apps on your Windows 11/10 computer. You can apply our recommended fixes as presented below in no particular order to resolve the issue on your system.
- Initial checklist
- Run Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter
- Repair/Reset/Reinstall the app
- Troubleshoot with a new User Account
- Reset/Repair Upgrade/Reinstall Windows 11/10
Let’s look at the description of the process as it relates to each of the listed solutions.
Read: Unable to start the program, The system cannot find the file specified
1] Initial checklist
Before you proceed with the solutions properly, perform the following task one after the other and on completion of each task see if The request is not supported error that occurred on your Windows 11/10 PC is resolved.
- This is one of the cases why you may need to restart your PC. But, before you do so, disconnect all the external devices connected to your computer, including Bluetooth devices.
- Make sure all your Microsoft Store apps are updated and as well check for Windows updates and install any available bits on your device to resolve any incompatibility issues between the OS version and app version. On the other hand, if the problem started after you recently updated Windows 11/10 to the latest version/build, then you can either uninstall the update or perform System Restore and select a restore point before the issue at hand starts.
- Run CHKDSK to check for disk errors. The inbuilt tool examines disk space and disk use and provides a status report specific to each file system. The status report shows errors found in the file system.
Read: Storage Optimizer Error 0x8900002A, Operation requested not supported by hardware
2] Run Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter
The Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter can help automatically scan your system to detect and fix problems related to Microsoft Store apps. So, we suggest you run this automated wizard on your device and see if that helps resolve the issue at hand.
Windows 11
- Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
- Navigate to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
- Under the Other section, find Windows Store Apps.
- Click the Run button.
- Follow on-screen instructions and apply any recommended fixes.
Windows 10
- Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
- Go to Update and Security.
- Click the Troubleshooter tab.
- Scroll down and click on Windows Store Apps.
- Click the Run the troubleshooter button.
- Follow on-screen instructions and apply any recommended fixes.
Read: Windows Store apps not working or opening
3] Repair/Reset/Reinstall the app
If you’re having the issue in focus with Microsoft Store apps, you can repair or reset the app via the Settings app by following the steps below:
- Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
- Go to > Apps > Apps & features or Installed apps depending on your version of Windows.
- Scroll to find or search for the app throwing the error.
- Once found, select the app.
- Now, right-click, or click on the ellipsis (the three dots) on the right-hand side.
- Select Advanced options.
- Now, under the Reset section, click Repair or Reset for the action you want to perform.
For non-Store apps, you can attempt to repair the app via Control Panel and go to the Programs and Features section. Locate the program/app, then select it and click Repair on the menu bar and follow the prompts. For some of the programs, you may have to click the Change button, then click on the Repair button.
If the repair/reset operation didn’t resolve the issue, you can uninstall the app via the Settings app or appwiz.cpl, and then proceed to reinstall the app on your device via the Microsoft Store or the app developer/publisher website.
4] Troubleshoot with a new User Account
If your user account/profile is corrupted in Windows 11/10 due to failed Windows updates, compromised system or user files, damaged hard drive file system caused by sudden power outages, disk write errors, or virus attacks et al, then you’re likely to encounter the error at hand when you launch programs or apps on your system. In this case, you can troubleshoot the issue by creating a new user account. If while logged into the new user account and everything works as it should, then it’s safe to assume you’re indeed dealing with a corrupted user profile which you can attempt to repair.
If the old profile couldn’t be repaired, then you can transfer data from the old account to the new account and then delete the old user profile. On the new user account, some applications previously installed may need to be reconfigured or reinstalled. If you were logged into Microsoft Store apps like the Store or Movies & TV, you may need to log back into those apps to see your previous purchases or restore settings.
5] Reset/Repair Upgrade/Reinstall Windows
This solution requires you to use the Reset This PC feature to revert your system to factory settings and restore the OS to pristine working condition or you can attempt a repair upgrade. In the case you get the setup.exe prompt stating the request is not supported, then your computer is in an inoperable state. The practical step to take to resolve the issue as it is is to perform a clean install of Windows. You can create a bootable media on the computer or go to a working Windows computer or Mac or Linux computer and create a bootable media. Make sure to back up your data/files from the problematic PC before you proceed with the clean install.
I hope this post helps you!
Now read: Error 0x80070032, The request is not supported when copying files
How do I fix No such interface supported Windows 11?
If you get the error No such interface supported when you try to open File Explorer or apps on your Windows 11/10 device, you can apply the following fixes to resolve the issue:
- Restart the computer.
- Update the affected application.
- Reset/repair the app.
- Reinstall the application.
- Re-register related DLLs.
Why is my computer not letting me open any apps?
If you’re unable to open apps on your computer, amongst other reasons, the following are the most common and underlying issues that can also cause problems with apps:
- Corrupted system files.
- Windows Registry errors.
- Viruses, malware, or other forms of malicious code can damage app files and interfere with their normal functioning.
- Low memory or insufficient system resources may also prevent apps from opening as intended.
Also read: Cannot open JPG or PNG files in Windows.
