How to Fix Windows Store Error 0x80072f7d

Understanding Error 0x80072f7d: SSL/TLS Connection Failure

Error 0x80072f7d translates to "ERROR_WINHTTP_SECURE_FAILURE" in Windows error terminology, indicating a secure connection (HTTPS) could not be established. Here's the technical breakdown:

What happens during this error:

• Windows Store attempts to connect to *.microsoft.com or *.windowsupdate.com
• The connection requires SSL/TLS encryption (HTTPS)
• Your system validates the server's SSL certificate
• If validation fails (certificate appears expired, invalid, or untrusted), the connection is rejected
• Windows Store displays error 0x80072f7d

Primary causes in order of frequency:

• Incorrect system date/time (70% of cases) - Makes SSL certificates appear expired or not yet valid
• Proxy server conflicts - Corporate or VPN proxies interfering with Store connections
• Firewall blocking SSL/TLS traffic - Security software blocking ports 443 or 80
• Corrupted SSL certificate cache - Windows certificate store has damaged entries
• Network adapter issues - Driver problems or incorrect TCP/IP settings
• Windows Update service stopped - Store relies on this service for downloads
• Regional restrictions or ISP blocking - Less common but possible

Affected Microsoft services:

• Microsoft Store (app downloads and updates)
• Windows Update (in some cases)
• Xbox app and Game Pass
• Microsoft Office updates via Store
• OneDrive synchronization

Method 1: Correct System Date and Time (Fixes 70% of Cases)

An incorrect system clock is the #1 cause of error 0x80072f7d. SSL certificates are only valid during specific date ranges. If your system time is off by even a few hours, certificates appear invalid.

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings
2. Go to Time & language → Date & time
3. Check if your displayed time matches the correct current time
4. If incorrect, turn on Set time automatically
5. Also enable Set time zone automatically
6. If automatic setting fails, manually set the correct values:
   • Click Change next to "Set the date and time manually"
   • Enter the correct date and time
   • Click Change to apply
7. Verify your time zone is correct
8. Click Sync now under "Additional settings" to force synchronization with time.windows.com
9. Restart your computer
10. Open Microsoft Store and try downloading/updating again

Why this works: SSL certificates contain "Valid From" and "Valid Until" dates. If your system time falls outside this range, Windows rejects the certificate as expired or not yet valid, causing 0x80072f7d. Correcting the time makes certificates valid again.

Common scenarios:

• CMOS battery died - Desktop PCs may lose time when powered off
• Dual-boot systems - Windows and Linux handle time zones differently
• Travel across time zones - Manual time zone selection needed
• Recent BIOS reset - Time defaults to factory settings

Method 2: Reset Microsoft Store Cache

Corrupted Store cache files can interfere with SSL/TLS connections. Resetting the cache clears temporary data and resets Store to default settings.

1. Press Windows + R to open Run dialog
2. Type: wsreset.exe
3. Press Enter
4. A blank Command Prompt window will appear (this is normal)
5. Wait 10-15 seconds—do not close this window
6. The window will close automatically
7. Microsoft Store will open automatically with a fresh cache
8. Try downloading or updating apps

What wsreset does:

• Clears Store's temporary files and cache
• Resets Store settings to defaults
• Does NOT delete installed apps or purchases
• Does NOT require re-login (usually)
• Fixes corrupted app metadata

Alternative manual cache clearing:

1. Close Microsoft Store completely
2. Press Windows + E to open File Explorer
3. Navigate to: C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsStore_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache
4. Delete all files in the LocalCache folder (you may need administrator permission)
5. Restart your computer
6. Open Microsoft Store

Method 3: Disable Proxy Settings

Proxy servers—whether configured manually, by VPNs, or by corporate networks—can interfere with Microsoft Store's SSL connections, causing error 0x80072f7d.

Disable via Windows Settings:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings
2. Go to Network & internet → Proxy
3. Under "Manual proxy setup", turn OFF Use a proxy server
4. Under "Automatic proxy setup", turn OFF Automatically detect settings
5. Click Save (if available)
6. Restart Microsoft Store and test

Reset Proxy via Command Prompt (More Thorough):

1. Press Windows + X and select Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin)
2. Run: netsh winhttp reset proxy
3. You'll see: "Current WinHTTP proxy settings: Direct access (no proxy server)."
4. Also reset Internet Explorer proxy (Store uses IE settings): netsh winhttp reset proxy
5. Restart your computer
6. Open Microsoft Store and test

If you need a proxy for work:

• Temporarily disable it to test if it's causing the error
• If disabling fixes it, configure Microsoft Store to bypass proxy:
  • In proxy settings, add exceptions: *.microsoft.com; *.windowsupdate.com; *.msftncsi.com
• Contact your IT department for proper Store proxy configuration

Method 4: Check and Configure Firewall/Antivirus

Overly aggressive firewall or antivirus software can block Microsoft Store's HTTPS connections on port 443, triggering SSL failures.

Windows Defender Firewall:

1. Press Windows + R, type firewall.cpl, press Enter
2. Click Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall
3. Click Change settings (requires administrator rights)
4. Scroll down and ensure these are checked for both Private and Public:
   • Microsoft Store
   • Microsoft Store Install Service
   • Windows Update
5. If they're not listed, click Allow another app and add them
6. Click OK
7. Restart and test Microsoft Store

Third-Party Antivirus/Firewall:

1. Temporarily disable your antivirus (right-click system tray icon → Disable/Pause)
2. Try Microsoft Store again
3. If this fixes it, add exceptions for:
   • All Microsoft Store executables (typically in C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\)
   • Domains: *.microsoft.com, *.windowsupdate.com
   • Ports: 443 (HTTPS), 80 (HTTP)
4. Re-enable your antivirus after adding exceptions

Advanced: Check SSL scanning features

Many antivirus programs have "SSL scanning" or "HTTPS scanning" that intercepts encrypted traffic. This can break Store connections:

• In your antivirus settings, find "SSL scanning", "HTTPS protection", or "Web protection"
• Add Microsoft Store domains to exclusions
• Or temporarily disable SSL scanning to test

Method 5: Reset Network Settings

Corrupted TCP/IP stack, DNS cache, or Winsock settings can prevent proper SSL/TLS connections. A complete network reset often resolves stubborn connection issues.

Via Windows Settings (Easiest):

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings
2. Go to Network & internet → Advanced network settings → Network reset
3. Click Reset now
4. Confirm by clicking Yes
5. Your PC will restart automatically
6. After restart, reconnect to your network (Wi-Fi password will be required)
7. Test Microsoft Store

Via Command Prompt (Manual Method):

1. Open Command Prompt (Admin)
2. Run these commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:

Reset TCP/IP stack:

• netsh int ip reset

Reset Winsock catalog:

• netsh winsock reset

Flush DNS cache:

• ipconfig /flushdns

Release and renew IP address:

• ipconfig /release
• ipconfig /renew

Reset firewall:

• netsh advfirewall reset

After running all commands, restart your computer and test.

What this fixes: Corrupted network adapter configurations, invalid DNS entries, stuck routing tables, and broken SSL/TLS protocol settings.

Method 6: Re-register Microsoft Store

If Store itself is corrupted or improperly registered with Windows, re-registering it via PowerShell can restore functionality.

1. Press Windows + X and select Terminal (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin)
2. If Terminal opens in Command Prompt mode, type powershell and press Enter
3. Copy and paste this command:
4. Get-AppXPackage *WindowsStore* -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
5. Press Enter
6. You may see red error text—this is often normal for system packages
7. Wait for the command to complete (30-60 seconds)
8. Restart your computer
9. Open Microsoft Store (it may take longer than usual on first launch)
10. Test downloading or updating apps

What this does: Re-registers the Microsoft Store app package with Windows, resetting its integration with the operating system, repairing broken app manifests, and clearing registration corruption.

If PowerShell command fails: Try resetting Store via Settings:

1. Go to Settings → Apps → Installed apps (Windows 11) or Apps & features (Windows 10)
2. Find Microsoft Store
3. Click the three dots (⋮) and select Advanced options
4. Scroll down and click Reset
5. Confirm by clicking Reset again
6. Restart and test

Method 7: Clear SSL Certificate Cache

Windows caches SSL certificates to speed up connections. If these cached certificates become corrupted, SSL validation fails, causing error 0x80072f7d.

1. Press Windows + R, type inetcpl.cpl, press Enter
2. This opens Internet Properties
3. Go to the Content tab
4. Click Clear SSL state
5. You'll see a confirmation: "SSL cache was successfully cleared"
6. Click OK
7. Now go to the Advanced tab
8. Scroll down to the Security section
9. Ensure these are checked:
   • Use TLS 1.2
   • Use TLS 1.3 (if available)
10. Uncheck older protocols if checked:
    • SSL 2.0 (should be unchecked for security)
    • SSL 3.0 (should be unchecked for security)
11. Click Apply, then OK
12. Restart your computer
13. Test Microsoft Store

Why this works: Corrupted or expired cached certificates can cause validation failures even when the actual server certificate is valid. Clearing the cache forces Windows to retrieve fresh certificates.

Method 8: Run Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter

Windows includes a built-in troubleshooter specifically for Store app issues that can detect and fix configuration problems automatically.

Windows 11:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings
2. Go to System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters
3. Find Windows Store Apps
4. Click Run
5. The troubleshooter will scan for issues (2-3 minutes)
6. Follow any on-screen recommendations
7. Apply suggested fixes
8. Restart and test Store

Windows 10:

1. Open Settings → Update & Security → Troubleshoot
2. Click Additional troubleshooters
3. Select Windows Store Apps
4. Click Run the troubleshooter
5. Follow prompts

What the troubleshooter checks:

• Windows Update service status
• Store cache corruption
• License validation
• Network connectivity to Microsoft servers
• App registration issues

Method 9: Check Windows Update Service

Microsoft Store depends on Windows Update service for downloads. If this service is stopped or disabled, Store connections may fail with error 0x80072f7d.

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, press Enter
2. In the Services window, scroll down to Windows Update
3. Check the Status column—it should say "Running"
4. If not running, right-click and select Start
5. If it won't start, right-click and select Properties
6. Set Startup type to Manual (or Automatic)
7. Click Apply, then Start
8. Also check these related services are running:
   • Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)
   • Cryptographic Services
   • Windows Installer
9. Restart your computer
10. Test Microsoft Store

Additional Troubleshooting Tips

Change DNS Servers

ISP DNS servers may block or fail to resolve Microsoft Store domains:

1. Open Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi (or Ethernet)
2. Click your connected network
3. Click Edit next to DNS server assignment
4. Select Manual
5. Turn on IPv4
6. Enter Google DNS: Preferred: 8.8.8.8, Alternate: 8.8.4.4
7. Or Cloudflare DNS: Preferred: 1.1.1.1, Alternate: 1.0.0.1
8. Click Save
9. Restart and test Store

Create a New User Account

If error is profile-specific, create a new Windows user account:

• Go to Settings → Accounts → Family & other users → Add account
• Create a new local or Microsoft account
• Sign in to the new account and test Microsoft Store
• If it works, the original profile has corruption—migrate your data

Check Regional Settings

Some apps are region-restricted:

• Go to Settings → Time & language → Language & region
• Verify your Country or region matches your actual location
• Microsoft Store availability varies by region

Prevention and Best Practices

• Keep time synchronized: Enable "Set time automatically" to prevent certificate issues
• Use reliable internet: Avoid unstable connections during downloads
• Configure antivirus properly: Whitelist Microsoft Store domains
• Avoid VPN/proxy when possible: Disconnect temporarily for Store downloads
• Keep Windows updated: Updates include Store improvements
• Don't modify system files: Tweaking software can break Store functionality
• Regular maintenance: Run wsreset monthly to clear cache buildup

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why does error 0x80072f7d only occur on Microsoft Store and not in my browser?

A: Browsers have their own SSL certificate handling and trust stores, separate from Windows. Microsoft Store uses Windows' system-level certificate validation and WinHTTP API, which are more strict. Incorrect system time affects Store but not browsers because browsers use their own time validation or are more lenient with certificate date checks.

Q: I fixed my date/time but still get the error. What next?

A: After correcting time, you must clear the SSL certificate cache (Method 7) so Windows re-validates certificates with the correct time. Also restart your computer to ensure all services recognize the new time. If still failing, the issue is likely proxy, firewall, or network-related—proceed to Methods 3-5.

Q: Will resetting Microsoft Store delete my installed apps?

A: No. Resetting Store (via PowerShell or Settings) only resets the Store app itself—your installed apps, games, and purchases remain intact. However, you may need to sign in to Store again, and some Store app preferences may be lost.

Q: Can a VPN cause error 0x80072f7d?

A: Yes. VPNs can interfere with Store connections in several ways: (1) SSL/TLS inspection by VPN may alter certificates, causing validation to fail; (2) VPN server may block Microsoft domains; (3) Proxy settings added by VPN conflict with Store. Disconnect VPN temporarily and test. If that fixes it, configure VPN to split-tunnel Microsoft Store traffic.

Q: Why does the error happen on only one device on my network?

A: Error 0x80072f7d is typically client-side, not network-wide. If only one device is affected, the issue is specific to that device: incorrect time, corrupted Store cache, local firewall settings, user profile corruption, or antivirus configuration on that device. Network issues would affect all devices simultaneously.