How to fix missing Windows 10 default apps – Easy Steps

Windows 10 comes with a considerably large library of stock apps that aim to meet the general needs of users, and more. The goal is to provide users with an operating system that can do the most basic things without the user having to install third-party applications. It is an attempt to offer a ‘complete’ product while still offering users the option of installing a different application that has better features or works more to their liking.

Windows 10 default apps are missing

The default apps in Windows 10 are present in the operating system when you install it again and when you create a new user account. This means that if you removed some of the standard Windows 10 apps when you first started using it and then created a new user account much later, the new account will be created with all the default apps.

If the default app is missing on your Windows 10 system, here is what you can do.

1. Install the missing apps

Windows 10 doesn’t delete its own default apps, even when you’re low on space for an update. If the default apps are missing, it is likely that you either removed them yourself or installed a cleaning tool that did. It’s easy to get them back.

1. Open PowerShell with administrator rights.
2. Run this command: Get-AppXPackage | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml"
3. The applications will return when the command completes.

2. Clean boot Windows 10

The default apps in Windows 10 are almost all UWP apps and many of them run in a suspended state even if they are not open. This can cause problems when opening the application. Try a clean boot.

1. Tap the Win + R keyboard shortcut to open the run box.
2. In the run box, enter msconfig and hit the Enter key.
3. Go to the Services tab.
4. Select the ‘Hide all Microsoft services’ option at the bottom.
5. Select all other services and disable them.
6. Click Apply
7. Open Task Manager.
8. Go to the Home tab.
9. Disable all applications so that they do not run when the system boots.
10. Restart the system.

Note: Once the default applications reappear, you can reboot the system normally.

3. Check the antivirus settings

Windows 10 comes with a default Windows Defender antivirus, however, users can use any other antivirus of their choice. Many third-party antivirus tools tend to be overzealous and will flag some of the default apps as malicious. Check your antivirus settings to see if it could be blocking them.

4. Repair applications

It is quite possible that the missing applications are still present on your system, but they may have been corrupted. This can happen during in-place upgrades, system restore, and when migrating large amounts of data. Applications can be easily repaired.

1. Open the Settings app with the Win + I keyboard shortcut.
2. Go to Apps and Features.
3. Select the application from the application list and click Options.
4. Select the repair option.

5. Create a new user

If you can’t make the default apps reappear, it may be easier to create a new user account. It will give you a fresh start, all the default apps will be present, and you won’t have to move too many files.

1. Open the Settings app with the Win + I keyboard shortcut.
2. Go to Accounts.
3. Go to Family and other users.
4. Click Add a user.
5. Follow the instructions on the screen to create a new user.
6. After the new user account is set up, grant it administrator rights and delete the old, problematic account.

conclusion

Windows 10 allows users to remove quite a few default apps. This can be done from the Start menu or with PowerShell commands. It’s pretty easy to do and many users do it because they want to free up a bit more space (and the apps are useless). It’s easy to forget when you delete a default app. Usually this is the reason why the apps cannot be found, but can always be reinstalled.