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Hi,
Is this happening with any application, or only with Microsoft Store apps (APPX)?
If possible, could you take a screenshot of the error when trying to open the app?
Did this happen after installing a specific application or an update?
Thanks.
Null is not available error
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(275.2, 37%, 36%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EBS%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Bob Smith
0
Reputation points
I am getting null is not available errors when trying to open apps on my windows 11 home laptop
Windows for home | Windows 11 | Windows update
2 answers
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AI answer
2026-09-09T11:15:31.94+00:00 If Windows apps fail to open with a "null is not available"-type error on Windows 11 Home, use these fixes in order:
- Restart the PC
Go to Start > Power > Restart. - Try opening the app again
For some Windows apps, the first launch can fail temporarily and the app may open on the next attempt. - Check Windows Update
Go to Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates.
Install any available updates, then restart and test the app again. - Repair or reset the affected app
Go to Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
Select the app > Advanced options > Repair.
If that does not help, select Reset.
Note: not all apps have these options. - If the app came from Microsoft Store, update or reinstall it
- Open Microsoft Store
- Select Library > Get updates
- If needed, find the app in Library and select Install to reinstall it
- If this started after System Restore
Windows apps that use the MSIX app package format can temporarily fail after System Restore. In that case, Microsoft recommends:- starting the app again
- reinstalling the app from Microsoft Store
- reinstalling the app from its original source
- running Windows Update
- If the problem is with Microsoft 365 apps such as Word or Excel
Repair Office:- Go to Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & features
- Select the Office app
- Open Advanced options and select Repair
- If needed, use Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features, right-click Microsoft Office, then select Repair or Change
If the issue affects many apps, not just one, and the steps above do not help, a Windows repair installation can be the next step.
- KB5023152: “This app can’t open” error message after running system restore and then starting a Windows app in Windows 10 and later versions
- Fix problems that block programs from being installed or removed
- Fix problems with apps from Microsoft Store
- "Something went wrong" error when you try to start a Microsoft 365 app
- Widget Error/ Command Promt/ unable to run any applications please help - Microsoft Q&A
AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information. - Restart the PC