The humble calculator app in your Windows computer has received multiple updates over the year and is now a formidable tool in many users’ arsenal. But like any Windows app, Windows Calculator sometimes doesn’t work. Here are some fixes you can try when Windows Calculator is not working on your computer.
Table of Contents
1. Update OS and App
A simple act of updating the Windows OS and Calculator app may help fix the app. It will also reinforce your system’s security and privacy and may bring new features.
1. Open Windows Settings by pressing Windows+I and go to Windows Update. If the update has been installed, you will see Restart now button. If not, check if there are any.
2. Now open Microsoft Store and click on Library (books icon in the left sidebar) and check if there are any pending updates available. If yes, install them.
2. Restart Windows Explorer
Doing so will close all open apps so save all pending work first. Useful when Windows Calculator is stuck and not responding at all.
1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
2. Under the Processes tab, find Windows Explorer. Right-click on it and select Restart. Wait a few seconds for your desktop to refresh.
Launch Calculator and check if it is working now.
3. End RuntimeBroker Process
End RuntimeBroker Process is responsible for managing Universal Windows Platform or UWP’s permissions so that they work efficiently.
1. Open Windows Explorer (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) again and find RuntimeBroker process. Right-click on it and select End task.
Also Read: 6 Best Mileage Calculator and Tracking Apps for Android and iOS
4. Background App Permissions
Apps require permission to function and one of them is permission to run in the background.
1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Select Apps from the sidebar and then search for Calculator. Now select Advanced options from the kebab menu (three-dot icon).
3. Select Power optimized option from the drop-down menu.
Open Windows Calculator and see if it is working now.
5. Run Microsoft Store Troubleshooter
Each copy of Windows 10 and 11 comes bundled with a set of troubleshooters to help solve common problems like networking, Bluetooth, etc. There is one for apps installed via Microsoft Store.
1. Open Windows Settings (Windows+I) again, and search for Find and fix problems with Windows Store apps. Open it. Note that though Microsoft has renamed Windows Store to Microsoft Store, the name still pops-up here and there in Windows OS.
2. In the pop-up that follows, click on Next and follow the on-screen instructions after that.
6. Terminate
Terminating the app will close the app and related background processes immediately. You may then launch again. A simple trick that often fixes common Windows bugs.
1. Go back to Settings > Apps > Calculator > Advanced options and click on the Terminate button here.
7. Repair
Windows has a built-in repair function that tries to fix broken or malfunctioning apps automatically.
1. Again, go back to the same menu where you found the Terminate option and click on the Repair button this time.
8. Reset
If both the above options fail, you will find a third and last tool in that menu. Reset will delete all data and bring it back to the way it was when you first launched it.
Must Read: 9 Best Calculator Apps for iPad, Without Ads
9. Reinstall From GitHub or Store
Microsoft open-sourced the Calculator app and you can now directly download the latest version from GitHub. The Microsoft Store receives updates but a little late, so try the GitHub version if there is a bug.
But first, you did have to uninstall the one on your computer.
1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
2. Go to Apps in the left sidebar and select Installed apps on the right.
3. Search for Calculator app using the search bar, click on the kebab menu (three-dot icon), and select Uninstall option.
4. Follow on-screen instructions after that. Once done, go to GitHub or Microsoft Store.
10. Re-Register Using PowerShell
Each app installed on your Windows OS is registered with the system. Maybe the problem lies in there.
1. Open Windows Search (Windows key + S) and search for and open PowerShell with admin rights.
2. Copy-paste the command below and press Enter to execute it. Wait for the command to run completely. Close PowerShell and reboot your computer once.
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.WindowsCalculator | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml" -Verbose} 
11. SFC and DISM Scan
SFC or System File Checker will scan core system files and cross-check their integrity.
1. Open PowerShell with admin rights again as you did in the previous section.
2. Type the command below and press Enter key.
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
and then this:
sfc /scannow
When done, close PowerShell.
12. Clear Windows Store Cache
Windows Store may have some corrupt cache files that are causing issues causing the Calculator app to not work correctly.
1. Press Windows+R to open the Run prompt. Type wsreset.exe and press Enter.
13. Change Registry Editor Entry
1. Search for Registry Editor in the Windows Start menu and open it with admin rights.
2. Drill down to the below folder structure or copy-paste it into the search bar in the Registry Editor.
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppModel\StateChange\PackageList
3. Select the entries inside that folder on the right and delete them.
Be Calculative
As you noticed, there are quite a few reasons why Windows Calculator is not working on your computer. But that’s not the only calculator app. In fact, you can calculate right inside Google Search. Simply search ‘calculator’ in Google to open it right inside Google Search. Plus, there are many other downloadable calculator apps for Windows that you can find on the web. Try a few.
There are many awesome calculator apps for Android smartphones too. Which ones have you tried?
