How to Install Purchased Microsoft Store Apps on Another PC in Windows 11

Aseem Kishore
·
3 min read

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Man seated at a desk, looking at a laptop screen that shows the Microsoft Store with an 'Install Error' popup.

You bought an app from the Microsoft Store on one PC and now you want it on another, without paying for it twice. Your purchases are tied to your Microsoft account, so you can usually install what you’ve bought on your other Windows PCs at no extra charge, as long as the app is still offered in your region and supports that PC. Microsoft allows Store app and game downloads on up to 10 devices per account; if you hit that limit, unlink an old PC at account.microsoft.com/devices/content.

How to install a purchased Microsoft Store app on another PC

  1. On the new PC, confirm you’re signed in with the same Microsoft account you used to buy the app. Go to Settings > Accounts > Your info to check which account is active.
Windows 11 Settings app on Accounts > Your info, showing the signed-in Microsoft account name and email address
  1. Press Start, type Microsoft Store, and open it.
  1. In the Store, click Library in the left-hand sidebar.
Microsoft Store with the Library option highlighted in the left-hand sidebar
  1. Find the app you want and click Install (or the download icon) next to it. If you have a lot of apps, use the search box in Library to locate it faster.
Microsoft Store Library showing a list of owned apps and games with Install buttons next to each uninstalled title
  1. The app downloads and installs automatically. Once it’s done, it appears in the Start menu under Recently added.

If Install is unavailable or the install fails, check the app’s Store page: some apps only support certain Windows versions, hardware, or regions.

If your purchased app doesn’t appear in Library

If you’re on the right account but the app still isn’t showing up, first confirm the purchase went through on that account. Sign in at account.microsoft.com, open Payment & billing > Order history, and look for the app. If it’s listed there, one of these two fixes will usually clear it.

Fix #1: Update Microsoft Store

An outdated Store can fail to display your full Library, so install any pending Store and app updates first.

  1. Open Microsoft Store.
  1. Click Downloads in the left sidebar (older Store versions keep updates under Library).
  1. Click Check for updates (or Get updates) in the top-right corner.
  1. Wait for all pending updates to finish, then scroll through Library to find your app.
Windows 11 Microsoft Store Downloads page with the Check for updates button at the top right

Fix #2: Reset the Microsoft Store cache

If the Store is misbehaving with a blank Library, stuck downloads, or apps that won’t appear even after updating, resetting the cache usually fixes it.

  1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
  1. Type wsreset.exe and press Enter.
  1. A blank Command Prompt window opens. Wait for it to close on its own, which usually takes a few seconds.
  1. Microsoft Store reopens automatically. Go to Library and check for your app again.

If the Store still misbehaves, open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, select the three dots next to Microsoft Store, choose Advanced options, and select Repair. If that doesn’t help, select Reset on the same page; it clears the Store’s own data but doesn’t remove your installed apps.

Windows 11 Run dialog (Windows + R) with wsreset.exe entered in the Open field

Conclusion

Signing into the right Microsoft account and installing from Library solves this for most people. If the app still doesn’t appear after updating the Store and running wsreset, check whether it’s been pulled from the Microsoft Store entirely. Apps that the developer has removed may no longer be available to install, even if you paid for them, and your best path forward is contacting Microsoft Support with proof of purchase.