How to Resolve Crashes of Third-Party Apps in Windows 10?

How to Resolve Crashes of Third-Party Apps in Windows 10: Are you experiencing frequent crashes of third-party apps on your Windows 10? Don’t worry, we have some effective fixes to help you overcome this problem.

Dealing with crashes in specific programs can be challenging since there are numerous potential causes. Microsoft deserves credit for the smooth performance of its native Windows apps like Mail, Calendar, and Sticky Notes, which rarely crash. However, the same cannot be said for several third-party apps that may exhibit instability or crash frequently.

If you’re encountering such issues, try the following universal solutions that can help you resolve the problem.

Common Fixes for App Crashes

Before diving into more complex solutions, consider checking the following:

1. Ensure that the application was installed correctly. Reinstall it to be safe.
2. Disable your antivirus software temporarily during the installation of trusted applications. Antivirus programs may interfere with the installation process.
3. Try downloading an older version of the app and observe if the error persists. If not, report the issue to the app publisher.

System File Checker (SFC)

SFC (System File Checker) is a useful utility in Windows 10 that identifies and repairs corrupt or missing system files. To use it, follow these simple steps:

1. Search for “cmd” in the taskbar, then right-click on “Command Prompt” and select “Run as administrator.”
2. In the Command Prompt window, enter the command “sfc /scannow” to initiate the scanning and repairing process.

While using SFC, keep the following points in mind:

1. Running this command resets Windows services to their default settings. If you want to avoid that, you can use the “sfc /verifyonly” command. It verifies the integrity of system files without making any repairs.
2. You can also use SFC to scan individual files by utilizing the “sfc /scanfile” or “sfc /verifyfile” commands followed by the full path of the file.
3. To view a comprehensive list of available commands with SFC, use the “sfc /?” command.

Run DISM

If SFC fails to repair corrupted files or doesn’t resolve the issue, you can try using DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management). DISM is a system utility that repairs Windows system images and other files. However, it should only be used after exhausting other options. Here’s how to run DISM:

1. Launch Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. In the console, enter the commands “DISM.exe /ONLINE /cleanup-image /Scanhealth” followed by “DISM.exe /ONLINE /cleanup-image /Restorehealth.”
3. Close Command Prompt and restart your PC.

In most cases, combining SFC and DISM can effectively resolve a significant portion of errors in Windows 10. Keep in mind that these commands make substantial core changes, so it’s advisable to back up your important data as a precaution.

Windows Store App Fixes

If you encounter issues with apps downloaded from the Windows Store, the following tips can help you address the problem:

Resetting Microsoft Store Process

1. Run Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Enter the command “WSReset.exe” in the console.
3. After the command finishes executing, restart your computer.

Clearing Microsoft Store Cache

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the path “C:\Users\your-username\Local\Packages\Microsoft.StorePurchaseApp_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache”.
2. Select all the files by pressing Ctrl+A and delete them.
3. Restart your PC.

Re-registering The Windows Store Ownership

1. Open File Explorer and go to the directory “C:\Program Files”.
2. Locate the folder named “WindowsApps” (enable the Hidden Items checkbox in the View tab of File Explorer).
3. Right-click on the “WindowsApps” folder, go to the Security tab, and click on “Advanced.”
4. Click on “Change” next to “Owner – Trusted Installer,” enter your username, and confirm.
5. Right-click on the “WindowsApps” folder again. Under the Security tab, click on “Add.”
6. Click on “Select a principal” and enter your username. Ensure that the permissions are set to “Full Control.”
7. Open Windows PowerShell as an administrator by searching for “Powershell” in the taskbar.
8. In the PowerShell console, type “Get-AppXPackage | Foreach {Add-AppXPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}” and press Enter. Finally, restart your computer.

By following the above steps, you can resolve errors caused by the Microsoft Store. It’s important to note that there are differences between Traditional Desktop Applications and Microsoft Store Applications.

Try a Clean Boot

To identify potential causes of crashes, you can perform a Clean Boot on your PC, focusing on the specific app that crashes while disabling other third-party apps. Here’s how:

1. Type “msconfig” in the search bar and click on “System Configuration.”
2. Under the Services tab, select the “Hide all Microsoft services” checkbox.
3. Deselect all services except the one related to the crashing app. Then, click on “Disable All” and click OK.
4. Open Task Manager and go to the Startup tab. Disable all services (except the crashing app) by individually clicking on each one and selecting “Disable.”

Scan for Malware

Sometimes, frequent app crashes can be attributed to malware. Employing some common-sense tips can help prevent malware from infecting your computer. However, if your PC is already infected, it’s best to perform a comprehensive system scan using third-party antivirus software or the built-in Windows Defender. To scan your computer using Windows Defender, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings from the Start Menu and click on “Update & Security.” Then, click on “Windows Defender” located on the right.
2. In the dialog box that appears, click on “Windows Defender Security Settings.”
3. In the new window, click on the button labeled “Virus & Threat Protection” (shaped like a shield).
4. Choose from the available scanning options: quick scan, custom scan, full scan, or offline scan. Performing a full scan is recommended, although it may take some time to complete.

Say Goodbye to Crashes and App Stops

The aforementioned tips should help you resolve any issues causing crashes or app stops in third-party applications. While these solutions can assist in diagnosing existing apps, there may be instances where apps fail to install altogether. It’s always best to be prepared for such scenarios as well.