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After a while Windows 8.1 apps won't open anymore. Opening the app will show the splash screen and then exit to the desktop with the icon still present in the task bar. A restart temporarily solved the problem.

After checking the windows event log I found this error message, but am not able to glean anything useful from it.

Activation of application microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.WindowsLive.Mail failed with error: This application does not support the contract specified or is not installed. See the Microsoft-Windows-TWinUI/Operational log for additional information.

The additional log information shows the following.

The application DefaultBrowser_NOPUBLISHERID!Microsoft.InternetExplorer.Default is not registered for the Windows.Launch contract or is not installed.

This seems to happen for every app installed, does anyone have a fix for this issue?

I've also looked at this question but without any luck: Metro apps crash on startup, driver or permissions issue?

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1 Answer 1

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I had the same issue on Windows 10 Technical Preview.

After some digging, I've found answers on MS Community and in this blog entry. Just to summarize - to fix a single application (PC Settings in this case), type in Administrative Powershell console:

Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $Env:SystemRoot\ImmersiveControlPanel\AppxManifest.xml -Verbose

For fixing all applications run:

Get-AppxPackage | % { Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppxManifest.xml" -verbose }

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  • Can you explain the reason this fixes the problem? What it seems to do seems semi-hostile to a secure environment
    – Ramhound
    Jan 16, 2015 at 20:49
  • In the second command: Get-AppxPackage gets a list of installed app packages (.appx) and Add-AppxPackage installs an app package. So the command kind of reinstalls metro applications, but with DevelopmentMode disabled. It shouldn't be harmful in a sense that it won't install anything new or remove existing apps. And in the first command, $Env:SystemRoot\ImmersiveControlPanelAppxManifest.xml is just the install location of windows.immersivecontrolpanel package (get-AppxPackage | ? { $_ -match "panel" })
    – qbik
    Jan 16, 2015 at 21:09
  • Here is why I ask; At times I am unable to launch any Modern UI application, if I perform a restart, I am able to launch those same applications. My research is tough because people have an entirely different problem caused by their various permission hacks. I might have to try this next time it happens.
    – Ramhound
    Jan 16, 2015 at 22:02
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    @AnthonyHorne Hi, It is I that created that insider thread linking to this code, I didn't make that :( Please check my profile image if you don't believe me. Just don't put any credit on me :) May 6, 2015 at 14:45
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    There is a little mistake in the first script. Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $Env:SystemRoot\ImmersiveControlPanelAppxManifest.xml -Verbose There's a "\" missing. It should be Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $Env:SystemRoot\ImmersiveControlPanel\AppxManifest.xml -Verbose
    – user453660
    May 31, 2015 at 7:09

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