Unable to activate windows store app the app didn't start

Question

First of all I would like to say that I already tried all the solutions I could find on the internet, including Unable to Activate Windows Store App

I recently upgraded my Windows 7 machine to Windows 8.1 to be capable of developing Windows Store apps using Visual Studio 2013. When I open a blank project (Windows Store -> Blank App) and run it I get this error:

Unable to activate Windows Store app 'Package Name'. The App1.exe process started, but the activation request failed with error 'The app didn't start'.

See help for advice on troubleshooting the issue.

I already tried:

• Reinstalling Windows (Clean install)
• Reinstalling Visual Studio 2013
• Installing Visual Studio 2012 (same error)
• Deleting "bin" and "obj" folder
• Cleaning the solution
• Uninstalling the app from start menu
• Creating a new project
• Acquiring the license multiple times (the license is valid)
• Making sure that app.config doesn't exist
• Investigating the Windows Event Log which says

Activation of the app 'Package Name' for the Windows.Launch contract failed with error: The app didn't start..

but found nothing useful

• Adding a new Windows user
• Run everything as administrator
• and at last, changing the desktop background

None of this did bring a solution. Does anyone have an idea what else could be the reason for this error?

Answer 1

There are can be a couple of things that might be causing this problem. Here are the trouble shooting steps that helped me out:

Step 1 : Check to see if running visual studio in the elevated mode (Run as an Administrator) helped solve the problem. (Sometimes, your folder permissions might get mangled due to various softwares that you might have install)

Step 2 : Delete all the bin and obj folders in your project and rebuild the projects in your solution manually.

Step 3 : Do a quick check of your System Type (x64 or x86 etc) and see if your project is targeted for the same.

Here is how to do know your system type: Win + R > cmd > systeminfo

If it says x64, then make sure to select the Solution Platforms (In visual studios top action bar) as x64 or so forth depending on your architecture.

That's all I did to solve my problem.

Answer 2

I had the same issue with a Windows Store App after moving some files around. I ended up opening an older file (as Admin) to see if it would run and found that it did. I then returned to the file that would not and it ran also. I believe opening the older file (as Admin) reset the paths for development and the permissions.

Answer 3

Moved my project from the TrueCrypt Partition and all was fine.

Answer 4

If you are receiving this error and are developing for Microsoft Hololens:

You are trying to build to a device that is asleep. To wake your device, tap on the button on the back (on/off button).

Answer 5

If switching from x86 to x64, make sure your Project Properties Platform Target and Configuration Platform are BOTH set to X64.Hint you need to change to x64 debugging in the Build menu/Configuration Manager dialog to get the Configuration Platform in Project Properties to update.

This caused the activation error problem to be resolved for me.

Answer 6

A simple restart helped me out.

Also tried this one?: http://irisclasson.com/2012/11/04/problem-unable-to-activate-windows-store-app-the-app1-exe-process-started-but-the-activation-request-failed-with-error-the-app-didnt-start/

Answer 7

A rather niche situation and solution...

I was remote debugging a UWP app for a while successfully. After some reworking, I ran into this issue. In the main app project I had set the windows version compatibility accordingly (I am running the app on a Windows 10 IoT Enterprise 2019 device) but had forgotten to match those windows target and minimum versions for the Library Project that was in my solution.

After cleaning and re-deploying the solution (first uninstalling the app from the remote device), the problem went away.

Answer 8

I had unticked an option while trying to get debugging working prior to this error, the fix for me was to re-check the "Compile with .NET Native tool chain"

Answer 9

I had the same problem on a UWP app when creating a package for Testing, but not when runing directly from Visual Studio 2017.

The solution was to select only the architecture that I am using to Debug the App, Instead of all options (x86, x64, ARM).

Here is the option choosed on Visual Studio

Answer 10

I had same issue. Selecting proper Platform solved my problem. i.e. My application was selected to run under x86 platform, while my OS & SDK supports x64. Selecting x64 solved my problem.

Answer 11

In my solution, I have a non-UWP project (Multiplatform development) that builds with a different Solution Platform.

I was attempting to run the UWP project in Debug, but as the wrong Solution Platform.

Edit: I also get this when I build my project for Any-CPU, instead of x64.

Answer 12

I had a similar issue, solved by choosing a new publisher certificate. And of course restarting Windows

Answer 13

I had the same problem in Visual Studio 2015 Update 3, Windows 10 Build 10586.494.

The error came up when trying to start any UWP app that I compiled without .NET Native Toolchain. With Native Toolchain enabled, the apps would start.

Installing a new (blank) app manually fixed the error for me:

• Start VS 2015
• File > New > Project.
• Blank App (Universal Windows) Visual C#. OK.
• Make sure to be in Debug config
• Right click on Project > Store > Create App Packages
• No. Next.
• Select Debug for all architectures.
• Create
• When packaging is finished, open Explorer to the project path / AppPackages / [...]_Debug_Test
• Right-click on Add-AppDevPackage.ps1 > Run with PowerShell
• Follow the instructions
• Start the installed app from Start Menu

Answer 14

I had the same problem with Visual Studio Community 2015 while trying to debug an Blank App (Universal Windows) using Visual C#.

Visual Studio was installed on Disk C:(SSD), and Project files were placed on D:(HDD). I´ve created a Folder on C: Drive and placed my test project there. After that Error messages gone.

Answer 15

I have tried many solutions and nothing worked. At the end what worked for me was to change the startup project to windows phone 8.1 and after it runs OK I changed it back to windows 8.1 and it runs OK. It works for me as I am making a universal app. Hope it helps anyone else.

Answer 16

Ensure that ALL APPLICATION PACKAGES has "read" permissions on C:\Windows.

My organization's group policy likes to strip all permissions from C:\Windows, including the ALL APPLICATION PACKAGES group . By adding it back in and setting Read & execute, List folder contents, and Read, I'm able to run the app from Visual Studio without any problems.

See What to do if your Windows 8 Modern App fails to start for more tips, including this one.

Answer 17

I had the same Error and tried after loading the SQLite Package for WP 8.1 some things above:

not working:

• Clean and Rebuild
• Restart Computer/Phone

what did the deal (for me)

• I put Platform Target under Properties -> Build to ARM instead of x86

Hopefully this might help somebody else facing this ridiculously informative Errormessage.

Answer 18

I've tried all the solutions found on the net and none applied to my case, not even this one.

The only way I could make it work was changing the Package Name in the appxmanifest. This made me think there must be some leftovers somewhere around with the old package name, that are either corrupted or inaccessible because of some permissions issues.

It might be just a coincidence but the problem appeared twice after I tried using the app verifier (appverif.exe)

Now I reassociated my app to a store app package and things seem to continue working...

Answer 19

I managed to fix the same problem by rebuilding the solution. (In Vis Studio 2012)

Answer 20

I found a solution. The problem was that the drive I was working on was encrypted (TrueCrypt). Moving the output folder to an unencrypted drive solved the problem.