Windows 8.1 Tip: Modern App Errors (This App Can’t Open)

Note the small “x”‘s in the corners, and that the apps with Live Tiles (e.g., Nextgen Reader) are not displaying updated information.

Occasionally, I’ll run into an issue on my desktop where my modern Windows 8.1 apps won’t run and have small “x”‘s in the lower right-hand corner of their tiles. This only happens with apps that I’ve downloaded from the store, not the standard apps that install with Windows 8.1, and if I try to run the apps I get the following dialog:

This app can’t open

Check the Windows Store for more info about <AppName>.
Go to the Store

If I do go to the store, sometimes the app will reinstall and sometimes it’s listed as installed with no other options. Microsoft has a support page on the topic, but the steps provided typically don’t fix the issue for me.

Fortunately, there’s a trick that most often works for me. There was one occasion where it did not, and only a refresh via Charms > Settings > Change PC Settings > Update and recovery fixed it for me.

To apply the trick, open up the Windows Store app, then Charms > Settings > App updates, then click on “Sync licenses.” The system will churn for a few seconds, and then if all is well you’re apps will once again be functioning and the “x”‘s will be gone.

App errors resolved. Note that the small “x”‘s are gone, and apps with Live Tiles are now populated with updated information.

If you run into the problem and this trick fixes it for you, please let me know in the comments.