Microsoft already has a retirement date for Windows 10 which is 2025. But Windows 11 still struggles with the old “The App Didn’t Start in the Required Time” error like its predecessor. The reasons for this error code range from common issues like a glitched process or service, or corrupt app files to a buggy update installation. But don’t fret! We will share multiple working methods to fix this issue on Windows 10 and 11.
Table of Contents
1. Do a Complete System Shutdown
Windows 10 and 11 use Fast Startup which puts the computer in hibernation mode. It doesn’t close the core system and kernel processes even when you shut down the system. If a system process glitches and doesn’t work, even shutting down the system won’t force close it. So, performing a complete shutdown and helping close everything and then start anew. Here’s how to do it:
1. Press the Windows key, type CMD, and click on the Run as administrator option.
2. Type the following command in the command prompt window and press Enter:
shutdown /s /f /t 0
3. Power on your system and try to run the app that encountered the error previously.
2. Try Windows Store Apps TroubleShooter
Windows has dedicated inbuilt troubleshooters for every possible hardware component and app. You can use the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter to diagnose and solve problems. Here’s how:
1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app. In the System section, scroll down and click on the Troubleshoot option.
2. Select the Other troubleshooters option.
3. Find the Microsoft Store Apps troubleshooter. Click on the Run button. Wait for the troubleshooter to identify and resolve problems. You can even take manual action based on the suggestions.
4. Click on the Close button to terminate the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter window.
Check if you still see the ‘The App Didn’t Start in the Required Time’ error on your Windows PC.
3. Adjust the System Date and Time
Incorrect system date and time settings can cause app launch issues. To rule out this possibility, check and update the system date and time. Here’s how:
1. Press the Windows key, type Date and time, and press Enter.
2. Scroll down to the Additional Settings section and click on the Sync now button. It will update the date and time on your computer using the Windows server.
4. Create a New User Profile
A corrupt or misconfigured user profile can be the reason behind the failure to launch the app error. You can create a new user account to fix this issue and start afresh. Follow the below-mentioned steps:
1. Disconnect your PC from the internet. Then press the Windows key, type Other Users, and press Enter.
2. Click on the Add account button. Type the username and password. After that pick three security questions and input their relevant answers and click on Next.
3. Windows will create a local account for you. Click on the arrow icon next to the newly created user account. Then click on the Change account type button next to the Account options.
4. A new window will pop up. Click on the arrow button to expand the drop-down list and select the Administrator option.
5. Click on the OK button to finalize the changes. Your newly created account now has administrator privileges.
6. Press the Windows key and click on the User icon. Select the newly created user profile.
7. Type the password and press Enter. It will take a while for Windows to finalize changes and boot to the desktop.
Now, run the app again and check if you face the same error.
5. Rollback Windows Update
If you are experiencing the “app didn’t start in the required time” error after updating your system, it is best to uninstall the update. Here’s how:
1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app. Click on the Windows Update icon in the top right section.
2. Click on the Update history option. Scroll all the way down and click on the Uninstall updates option.
3. Find the most recent update using the installation date and click on the Uninstall button. Windows will reconfirm your decision. Click on the Uninstall button.
4. Wait for the updates to uninstall. Restart your system and try running the app again.
6. Repair Or Reset the App
Windows offers the ability to reset inbuilt apps and the apps you download from Microsoft Store as well. But before resetting an app, try repairing it. Here’s how:
1. Right-click on the Start button and click on the Installed apps option in the Power User menu.
2. Locate the app in the list and click on the three dots icon. Click on the Advanced options.
3. Scroll down to the Reset section. Click on the Repair button and wait for Windows to execute the repair.
4. If repairing the app doesn’t fix the app launch issue on Windows, visit the Advanced options page again and click on the Reset button.
7. Re-Register the App
Rather than blatantly attempting a Windows Reset, you can try re-registering all the apps using PowerShell. It will remove the app packages and reinstall them. But this option is only applicable for inbuilt apps. You can find the complete list of apps on this forum. Here’s how to do it:
1. Press the Windows key, type PowerShell, and click on the Run as administrator option.
2. The command to re-register an app is:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name AppName | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml" -Verbose}3. Replace the AppName part with the package name of the application and press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.People | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml" -Verbose}
4. Wait for the command to remove and re-register the app on your system.
5. Close the PowerShell window and restart your system.
8. Reinstall the App
App files can get corrupted and fail to launch on your system. To remove corruption, you must reinstall the app on your system. For inbuilt apps, you will have to use PowerShell or Winget. If it is a third-party application, you can remove it using Control Panel or Settings app. Here’s how to reinstall an app using Settings:
1. Right-click on the Start button and select the Installed apps option from the Power User menu.
2. Now, locate the app you want to remove from the system. Click on the three dots and click on the Uninstall option.
3. Reconfirm your decision and click on the Uninstall button. Windows will remove the app.
4. Now, open Microsoft Store or Chrome and download and reinstall the app on your system. Run the app to check if it encounters any launch errors again.
9. Run an SFC and DISM Scan
If the errors persist even after re-registering and re-installing the app, there could be an issue with core system files. Running an SFC and DISM scan simultaneously can help you restore the corrupt or missing files and service the Windows image. Here’s how:
1. Press the Windows key, type CMD, and press the Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys to open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
2. Type the following command and press Enter:
sfc /scannow3. After that, execute the following command in the same fashion:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth4. Close the Command Prompt window.
10. Use Windows Restore
The last option is to use the Windows Restore feature to revert to a point in time when everything worked fine.
1. Press the Windows key + S, type rstrui, and press Enter to open System Restore.
2. Select a restore point from the list where you think the system was working fine. You can use the timestamp to make a better decision.
3. Click on Next and do exactly as the on-screen prompts advise. Your system will restart to apply the changes.
Get Apps Working Again
It can be extremely frustrating to have an app abruptly stop launching or working. Start with the basic troubleshooting methods before using an update rollback, reinstall, and system restore. We hope these methods helped you fix the app launch issue on your Windows computer.
