Fix We encountered an error please try signing in again later error with Microsoft Store

by Ivan Jenic

Passionate about all elements related to Windows and combined with his innate curiosity, Ivan has delved deep into understanding this operating system, with a specialization in drivers and... read more

Updated on

  • It can be quite frustrating to not be able to open Microsoft Store and open and download the apps and games that you purchased. This sign-in error happens quite often.
  • If you tried after a while and it still shows the same error here's what to do: Clear Cache, run the Troubleshoot, check firewall or antivirus. Still not working? Read on.
  • For other Store related articles, news, and glitches that are fixed go through the Microsoft Store Hub.
  • Do you want to get rid of other Windows errors? Check out the Windows 10 Errors Hub for step by step instructions for a wide range of problems.

Fix Microsoft Store sign-in error

XINSTALL BY CLICKING THE DOWNLOAD FILE

Microsoft Store is an essential part of Windows 10. Even though Microsoft is slightly forcing users to acknowledge it as a remarkable novelty, it still hasn't reached its full potential.

Especially if you're unable to sign in and access all apps that the Store offers. It's not uncommon for users to experience a pop-up notification that informs them that We encountered an error please try signing in again later.

Some users entered credentials and had to wait for quite some time just to be informed that there's an error at hand.

For that purpose, we provided a few workarounds that should help you resolve issues that bother you. In case you can't log in after more than a few tries, make sure to check the steps below.

Alternatively, here are some more error messages that basically mean the same:

  • Sorry there's a problem with the server so we can't sign you in right now
  • We encountered an error while trying to connect
  • We encountered an error connecting your accounts please try again later

How do I fix the Microsoft Store sign-in error?

Table of contents:

  1. Run the Store Troubleshooter
  2. Check your antivirus
  3. Clear the Store cache
  4. Disable Proxy or VPN
  5. Switch to Microsoft account from Local
  6. Re-register the Store App
  7. Rename the Microsoft Store cache folder
  8. Reinstall a problematic app
  9. Check your region settings
  10. Install the latest updates
  11. Create a new User account
  12. Check your Privacy settings

1. Run the Store troubleshooter

  1. Open theSettings app and go toUpdate & Security section.
  2. SelectTroubleshoot from the menu on the left.
  3. Select MicrosoftStore Apps from the right pane and clickRun the troubleshooter.
  4. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the troubleshooter.

2. Check your antivirus

Some third-party antivirus programs and Windows 10 system components don't actually get along well. Because of that, it's quite possible that your antivirus is the one that blocks the Store. To determine whether that's indeed the case, turn off the antivirus for a couple of minutes, and try to access the Store again.

If this solves the problem that you had, the next step is to change your antivirus. Choose ESET NOR32 if you are looking for an antivirus that is:

  • easy to use, with a nice interface
  • very good at detecting malware and protecting the computer
  • low on resource consumption

3. Clear the Store cache

Just like any other application, the Store app accumulates cache after some time. Sometimes, the stored cache can cause various issues with installed apps and the Store itself. Moreover, it can prevent you from login-in. It's safe to say that the optimization of the Store in Windows 10 isn't exactly flawless. However, there's a simple way to address Store-related issues by resetting it.

If you're unsure how to reset Microsoft Store, follow these instructions:

  1. Right-click on the Start menu and open Run.
  2. In the run command line, typewsreset.exeand press Enter.
  3. Now try to sign-in again.

If this wasn't enough to resolve the problem and your still sadly staring at your monitor, you can check the MicrosoftStore troubleshooter. This tool can be found here. After you download it, just run it and it should resolve all Store-related corruption.

4. Disable Proxy or VPN

Another reason for sign-in issues can be inflicted by a Proxy or VPN that may block the outgoing connection with the Store servers.

So, make sure to disable these before you try to log-in and connect to the Store. Of course, you must have a stable connection primarily, before we move to additional steps.

If your connection is flawless, but the problem is persistent, it's a valid solution to disable Proxy and VPN.

If you're unsure how to disable Proxy, follow the steps below:

  1. Right-click the Start menu and open Control Panel.
  2. Click Internet Options.
  3. Open the Connections tab.
  4. Click on LAN settings.
  5. Uncheck the box beside Use a proxy server for your LAN.
  6. Confirm changes and try to log-in again.

That should address some connectivity issues caused by Proxy server or VPN.

Still using a Proxy? It's really time to change that. A VPN is much better in terms of security, privacy and speed than a Proxy. It's a much more modern solution. One of the highly-rated VPNs is the Private Internet Access VPN.

Expert Tip: Some PC issues are hard to tackle, especially when it comes to corrupted repositories or missing Windows files. If you are having troubles fixing an error, your system may be partially broken. We recommend installing Restoro, a tool that will scan your machine and identify what the fault is.
Click here to download and start repairing.

It is focused on speed and simplicity with a really light VPN client. One of the safest VPNs that will not interfere with other system components such as the Microsoft Store.

Private Internet Access VPN

Private Internet Access VPN

Fast, privacy-focused VPN with flexible

5. Switch to Microsoft account from Local

As you already know, you can sign in with multiple accounts to access most of the Windows 10 features. Except you can't use them all. In order to utilize the Microsoft Store, you'll need to use exclusively the Microsoft Account connected to your copy of Windows 10. This is probably implemented for security measures, but it's not completely acknowledged by Microsoft.  If you're unsure how to do it, these steps should make it simple for you:

  1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Open Accounts.
  3. Click Email & App accounts.
  4. Under Accounts used by other apps, select Add a Microsoft account.
  5. Once you log-in, just log off from Windows.
  6. Next time you try to access Microsoft Store, you should be able to access the Store.

That should resolve log-in problems. However, if the problem is more complex, and you're unable to log in even with the Microsoft Account, we have 2 more steps you should take into consideration.

6. Re-register the Store App

Unlike some other apps, the Microsoft Store, as an essential Windows part, can't be uninstalled. That means, for more several issues with the Store, you have to turn to alternatives. Even though you can't reinstall the Store app, you can at least re-register it, which is kind of analogous.

These are the steps you should follow in order to re-register the Store App and, hopefully, resolve log-in problems:

  1. Right-click the Start Menu and open PowerShell (Admin).
  2. In the command line, copy-paste the following command and press Enter:
    • Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml"}
  3. Restart your PC and try to log-in again.

7. Rename the Microsoft Store cache folder

Temporary files are a need since everything would be much slower without them. We already explained how to reset the Microsoft Store cache, but there's a chance that some of them are still hidden in the folder. This calls for a manual approach since you have to navigate to the folder and rename it.

Follow the instructions below to locate and get rid of the Cache folder:

  1. Click on the Start button, type users and click on the Users folder from the results.
  2. Type windowsstore in the Search tab and double-click the folder.
  3. Now, double-click on the LocalState folder.
  4. If you find a folder inside named cache, right click on it and rename it to cache.old, then, create another folder named cache.

8. Reinstall a problematic app

Some users also report that a broken app can also cause various Store problems. If that's indeed the case, your best bet is to simply uninstall the problematic app.

But you probably don't know which app exactly causes the problem. And since uninstalling each app individually is a lengthy and painful job, check out this article for more additional tips on uninstalling Windows 10 apps.

9. Check your region settings

If your region settings are wrong, the Store won't function properly. So, make sure you got this one right:

  1. Open theSettings app and go toTime & language section.
  2. SelectRegion & language tab and change your country or region.We encountered an error connecting your accounts please try again later

You can also change your region by doing the following:

  1. OpenControl Panel and selectRegion from the list.
  2. When theRegion window opens go to theLocation tab and change the Home location. After you're done clickApplyandOK to save changes.
  3. Restart your computer and check if the issue is fixed.

10. Install the latest updates

Microsoft Store is a part of Windows 10, so installing Windows updates may affect it. Therefore, if this is a widespread problem, there's a good chance Microsoft will eventually release a fixing patch.

To make sure you receive all the necessary patches, keep your Windows 10 up to date. Even though Windows installs updates automatically, you can always check by yourself by going to Settings > Windows Update.

11. Create a new User account

Some users also suggest that creating a new User Account and accessing the Store from it can be helpful.

So, if none of the previous solutions resolved the problem, try creating a new User Account and access the Store from it. Here's how to do that:

  1. Open theSettings app and navigate toAccounts.
  2. Now in the left pane go toFamily & other people. In the right pane, clickAdd someone else to this PC.
  3. SelectI don't have this person's sign-in information.
  4. Now clickAdd a user without a Microsoft account.
  5. Enter the desired username and clickNext to proceed.

12. Check your Privacy settings

And finally, there's also a chance your privacy settings are blocking the Store. To eliminate this possibility, go and check your privacy settings:

  1. Open theSettings app and go toPrivacy section.
  2. WhenPrivacy window opens, turn on all options.

That should be enough to help you address log-in issues in Microsoft Store and we hope that now it's working properly.

If you have any questions or suggestions, we'll be glad to hear them in the comments section below.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • If you are having troubles connecting to the Store but your Internet Connection is good, it might be that the Store is temporarily down. Wait 5-10 minutes before trying again. Check this article to fix Microsoft Store won't open issues, if that doesn't work.

  • You can fix any issues with the Microsoft Store by resetting it. Read exactly what needs to be done to fix Microsoft Store.