[Updated with Fall Creators update]Steps for fixing broken apps in Windows 10

by Sumit · Published October 24, 2017 · Updated December 4, 2018

With the introduction of Windows 8, Microsoft introduced modern apps that are very different to traditional desktop apps.

Modern apps can only be installed via Microsoft store, that carries some advantages like:
• Less malware risk (can only be Installed via store)
• No running multiple apps at the same time.
• Improved permissions
• Good UI
However, these apps in many cases, do not work-the common issue being the apps close on the start screen itself. There can be many reasons for this and I am covering the resolutions for the same here:

Run the App troubleshooter

An app troubleshooter is a tool provided by Microsoft in the windows itself which identity and tries to fix the store app-related issues.
It is located in Control Panel>Troubleshooting>View all(left)>Windows store apps. You can open Control Panel by right clicking the start menu and selecting the same.

I have found it quite handy to identify the issues and fixing any permission related issues if there are present.

Reset an app individually

Starting with Windows 10 Anniversary update, you can reset an individual app using settings. This is quite handy when only one or two apps are not working. Here is the process for the same:

Open Settings app.
Navigate to System>Apps and features.
Select the app which doesn’t work properly and click Advanced options just below.

Click Reset button in the next screen that opens.
This feature is only available after Anniversary update to Windows 10, aka 1607. This is not available in version 1507/1511 versions of Windows 10 released in July/November of 2015.

Create a new user account

If the Powershell script is unable to make the apps working, the next step is to create a new user account and see if the apps work there.
First, create a local account:
1. Open Settings and click Accounts
2. Click on family and other users and select add someone else to this PC.
3. In the new window that opens, click The person doesn’t have an email address at the bottom
4. Then click on Add a user without Microsoft account.
5. Enter the username and password you wish and click finish
6. The new user would be a standard account by default.To change it click Options and user type as shown:

If the apps work there, move your data from the old account to the new one and then delete the old account.

Do a Repair Install

If none of the Powershell or new user account helped, you would need to do re-install windows keeping your files, applications, and settings to fix broken apps.
It requires an Installation media to download unless you have one. You can download it from here

Upgrade to Fall creators update Windows 10 or download Installation files

Download the Installation media according to your Edition(Home/pro or N or KN etc), language(The one on which the existing PC is, an ISO of EN-UK cannot upgrade a computer running EN-US) and architecture(32/64)
When the file is downloaded, double-click it to mount and click on setup.exe to start the reinstall.

Then click on next and your computer would restart. It would take some hours to complete. Further, read:

How to do a Repair Install to fix a broken windows

Reset your PC

If you can afford to remove your installed applications, do a reset that would keep all your files(you have the option to remove also)
A reset removes all your applications and reinstalls the modern apps again.
To do a reset, open Settings.
Click Update and security.
Under Recovery>Reset this PC, click get started.

Miscellaneous

1. If you have a recent restore point, reverting back to it might also help you.
2. Keep windows updated.
Let me know if there are any other workarounds you know..