How to Fix Error Code 0x803fb005 in Microsoft Store on Windows 11

Many users using Windows 11 have come across the error code 0x803fb005 when trying to install apps from the Microsoft Store. Some users mention facing this problem on and off, while others say it only occurs in particular apps like Minecraft.

If you are encountering the 0x803FB005 error, we have compiled a collection of troubleshooting steps to help you identify and resolve the issue.

Why does the Windows Store Error 0x803FB005 Occur?

The Microsoft Store error code 0x803fb005 is a common issue that users encounter when trying to install, update, download apps, or in-app purchases from the Microsoft Store.

According to several user reports, this issue appears to persist across various Windows versions and has been around for several years without an exact solution.

This error can be caused by various reasons, such as corrupted Microsoft Store files, Windows Update glitches, network connection problems, third-party security software, system file corruption, date and time issues, account-related issues, and Microsoft server-side problems.

Install Any Pending Windows Updates

The error code 0x803fb005 in the Windows Store could be a leftover Windows bug that has since been patched; updating your system to the latest version might help resolve this issue.

Open Windows Settings and choose 'Windows Update'.

Then, click the 'Check for updates' button to download and install any pending updates.

Once every pending update is installed, close the settings and restart your PC to apply the changes.

Restart your computer when prompted during updates, then return to the update window after startup to finish installing the remaining updates.

Disable the Antivirus Program

Third-party antivirus programs can be overprotective sometimes blocking legitimate installations and triggering the 0x803FB005 error code when installing apps. During app downloads, the Microsoft Store relies on specific outside connections that some security software may block, leading to errors.

To resolve the issue, temporarily disable your 3rd party security suite before starting the download. The exact steps will differ based on your specific antivirus software, but most offer this option directly from the system tray menu.

Click the upward arrow button in the taskbar corner and right-click the antivirus icon.
Then, select the 'Pause protection' or 'Disable protection' option and choose a time limit.
If you can't find the option in the taskbar, open the antivirus program and disable it from there.

If disabling your 3rd party antivirus doesn't work, consider uninstalling it completely and switching to the built-in Windows Defender for a permanent solution. If the issue persists, move to the next method.

Reset the Microsoft Store App

Resetting the Microsoft Store will clear the app data and user settings, returning it to its default state. This can help address issues caused by corrupted or outdated data, as well as fix minor glitches or bugs.

Open Windows Settings. In the System tab, scroll down to the 'System Components' and select it.

Next, click the three dots button next to 'Windows Store' and select 'Advanced options'.

Then, find and click the 'Reset' button on the Microsoft Store settings page. Click 'Reset' again to confirm.

Set BITS and Windows Update Service to Automatic

The Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) and Windows Update Service are essential for downloading and installing updates and apps on your Windows system. If either service is down or malfunctioning, it can cause dependency issues, leading to error messages like 0x803fb005. Restarting and setting these services to run automatically may help resolve the problem.

Open the Run command with Windows+R. Type 'Services.msc' in the Run box and press Enter to open the Services window.

In the list of services, scroll down and find 'Background Intelligent Transfer Service'.

Double-click on 'Background Intelligent Transfer Service' to open its properties window.
Make sure the 'Startup type' is set to 'Automatic' and the Service status is Running. Then, click 'Apply' and 'OK'.

If the service is stopped, right-click and select 'Start'. If it is started, right-click and select 'Restart'.
Next, repeat steps 3 to 5 for 'Windows Update', ensuring its 'Startup type' is 'Automatic' and its Service status is 'Running'.

Click 'Apply' and then 'OK' to save the changes.

Reset the Windows Store App and Clean the Cache

It’s possible that the issue is occurring due to a corruption in the Microsoft Store cache or a dependency issue related to the Microsoft Store. In this case, resetting all Microsoft Store components might be a viable solution.

Open the Run dialog box, type ‘cmd’ and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter. This will open Command Prompt with administrator privileges.
Click 'Yes' in the UAC prompt to grant administrative access.
In the elevated Command Prompt, type the following command:

WSRESET.EXE

Once the command finishes, close the elevated Command Prompt.
Restart your computer to complete the resetting process.

When you run WSReset.exe, it clears temporary files and data that may be causing problems. It also restores the Store to its default configuration.

Run SFC & DISM Scan

The error could also be caused by the damaged or missing system files. This can be fixed by running the System File Checker (SFC) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) tools.

Open Command Prompt as administrator.
In the elevated Command prompt, type the following command and press Enter:

sfc /scannow

This command will scan your system files and attempt to repair any damaged ones. The process may take some time, so please be patient.

Once the SFC scan is complete, run the DISM scan.

Copy and paste the following commands one at a time, waiting for each to finish before running the next:

dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth

dism /online /cleanup-image /checkhealth

dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

These commands perform additional checks and repairs to your system image if necessary. Once all the commands have been completed, restart your computer.

Re-register All Your Store Apps

Reregistering the Microsoft Store app can sometimes fix the error code 0x803fb005 on Windows 11 systems. It can fix issues with the app's registration, which could be preventing it from working properly. It also clears the app's cache and data, which can sometimes fix issues related to corrupted or outdated data.

Right-click the Start button and select ‘Terminal (Admin)’ or launch PowerShell as administrator.
Type in the following command in the window and press Enter:

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

Then, restart your PC to apply the changes.

Repair and Reset Windows Update Components

Repairing and resetting Windows Update components can fix several potential causes of the 0x803fb005 error code by cleaning up temporary files, resetting essential services, and ensuring proper communication with Microsoft servers.

Open Command Prompt as administrator and run these commands one by one:

net stop bits

net stop wuauserv

net stop appidsvc

net stop cryptsvc

Del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\*.*"

rmdir %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution /S /Q

rmdir %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 /S /Q

regsvr32.exe /s atl.dll

regsvr32.exe /s urlmon.dll

regsvr32.exe /s mshtml.dll

netsh winsock reset

netsh winsock reset proxy

net start bits

net start wuauserv

net start appidsvc

net start cryptsvc

Once it's done, restart your PC and check you can install the app in Microsoft Store.

Uninstall and Reinstall the Microsoft Store

If you've tried all the other methods, but the error code 0x803fb005 persists, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling the Microsoft Store app. This can potentially fix any deeper issues within the app that other solutions might not be able to fix.

Right-click on the Windows icon and choose 'Terminal (Admin)'.
Click 'Yes' to confirm access when the UAC window pops up.
In the PowerShell window, type or copy-paste the below command, and press Enter:

Get-AppxPackage -allusers *WindowsStore* | Remove-AppxPackage

This removes the entire Microsoft Store app from your system. Next, copy-paste the below code and press Enter:

Get-AppxPackage -allusers *WindowsStore* | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}

Wait for the process to complete. This command reinstalls the Microsoft Store app with a fresh start.
After that, close the PowerShell window and restart your computer.
After restarting your computer, launch the Microsoft Store app and try installing the same app. Check if the error code 0x803fb005 still appears.

Reset Windows

If reinstalling the Microsoft Store doesn't resolve the error, the issue might be more deeply rooted. In such cases, resetting Windows might be your last resort. Resetting Windows is not a complicated process, and you can easily perform a factory reset without losing your valuable data and apps.