How to fix the "The page could not be loaded" Error in the Microsoft … – MUO – MakeUseOf

The Microsoft Store is a great place to get apps on Windows 11. But despite its tremendous ease of use, you will run into issues from time to time. One such issue is the “The page could not be loaded” error message that appears when searching for apps on the Microsoft Store.

As such, if you’re also seeing this error message on the Microsoft Store, that’s where you need to be. Here we will share seven different ways to fix “The page could not be loaded” error message.

What is the Microsoft Store error “The page could not be loaded”?

Usually, the error message “The page could not be loaded” appears when the application you are looking for is not available on the Microsoft Store. But sometimes it even appears while searching for available apps like Minecraft. The error message is accompanied by the code 0x80131505.

Some of the major culprits behind this error are corruption in the Microsoft Store, incorrectly configured date and time, and any active proxy server. Luckily, you can make some changes to fix the problem.

1. Sign out and return to the Microsoft Store

Most Microsoft Store errors often appear due to a temporary account issue and can be resolved by logging into the Microsoft Store again. So, sign out and come back to the Microsoft Store to check if that fixes the problem. Here’s how:

1. Launch the Microsoft Store app and click your profile icon on the top bar.
2. Choose the Sign out option.

3. Then restart the Microsoft Store, click on the profile icon and choose Login.

   

4. Select your account then click on the Continue option.
5. Enter your PIN to confirm your identity.

2. Change the Microsoft Store region to the country you are in

If you’re using the Microsoft Store in another country, be sure to change the region; otherwise, you will have problems accessing it. You can do this by following the instructions below:

1. press the Win + S shortcuts to open the Search menu.
2. In the search bar, type Regional Settings and choose Open from the right pane.

   

3. Click the drop-down icon next to Country and region and choose your country name from the list.

   

That’s it. You may need to restart your computer (see how to restart a Windows PC) for the changes to take effect.

3. Use the Built-in Windows Troubleshooter

Microsoft is aware of the problems that users regularly encounter; that’s why they offer various troubleshooters that can be helpful in fixing them. To rule out any kind of Microsoft Store issue, you can use the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter.

Here’s how to access and use the Windows Store App Troubleshooter:

1. press the Win + I shortcuts to open the Settings app.
2. Select System in the left sidebar, then Troubleshoot option in the right pane.
3. Choose Other convenience stores.
4. Under the Other section, click the Run button next to Windows Store apps convenience store.

   

Now the troubleshoot window will appear and start detecting the issues. If it finds any, it will automatically fix it without too much user intervention.

4. Check your system date and time

No matter how extravagant it may seem; The error message “The page could not be loaded” is likely to appear if your computer displays an incorrect date and time. The reason is that Microsoft Store matches the official time with the time displayed on your computer.

If there is any difference between them, then Microsoft Store poses different issues, one of which is at hand. So you need to set your computer’s date and time correctly to get rid of the error. Here’s how:

1. In the Settings app, choose Time and language from the left sidebar.
2. Click on Date & time.
3. Enable the toggle next to Set time automatically And Set time zone automatically options.

   

Now open the Microsoft Store and check if you are still facing the problem. If so, try the next solution on the list.

5. Reset the SoftwareDistribution Folder

Corruption in the SoftwareDistribution folder can also be a reason behind the error message. You will need to reset this folder to remove the corruption.

Here’s how:

1. Open Windows Search, type Command Prompt in the search bar, and choose Execute as administrator from the right pane.
2. Whether Yes to the UAC that pops up.
3. In the elevated Command Prompt window, type and press Enter after each of the following commands.

    Net Stop bits
   Net Stop wuauserv
   Net Stop appidsvc
   Net Stop cryptsvc
   Ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.bak
   Ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.bak
   Net Start bits
   Net Start wuauserv
   Net Start appidsvc
   Net Start cryptsvc 

6. Disable all active proxy server settings

Using a proxy server can come in handy when you want to access websites and apps that are blocked in your region. But on the negative side, it can cause issues in apps like Microsoft Store, Xbox, and YouTube.

So, disable any proxy server and check if it fixes the problem. Follow these steps to do so:

1. In the Settings app, choose Network & Internet from the left sidebar.
2. Choose Proxy.
3. Click it Facility button.
4. Disable the toggle under the Use a proxy server option.

   

7. Repair and Reset the Microsoft Store

Windows offers repair and reset troubleshooting options for most built-in apps. The Repair option repairs broken and corrupt application files. The Reset option, on the other hand, deletes all app data.

To use these troubleshooting options, follow the instructions below:

1. Open Apps and Features in the Settings app. Our guide to launching apps and features in Windows 11 shows you how to access this option.
2. Find and click on the three points next to the Microsoft Store.
3. Choose Advanced options.
4. Click it Repair.

   

Windows will now start repairing the Microsoft Store. Once the process is complete, you will see a checkmark next to the repair option.

Now launch the Microsoft Store and check if the issue still occurs. If yes, then click Reset present under the Repair option.

Fix “The page could not be loaded” error in Windows Store

It is very common to encounter problems in the Microsoft Store. Luckily, most of these issues can be easily resolved by applying a few simple fixes. If you see the error message “The page could not be loaded”, you can fix it using the solutions above.

However, if none of the solutions helped, consider resetting your computer to factory settings.