We know that Microsoft's latest OS Windows 8 comes with brand new "Store" feature which is quite similar to Google Play or Apple's App Store. Windows 8 Store allows you to download and install various useful and interesting apps which are free as well as paid.
Windows 8 also comes with many preinstalled or built-in apps such as Mail, News, Finance, Sports, Maps, Weather, etc. If you don't like or need a built-in app, you can uninstall the app by right-click on the app and select "Uninstall" option from the bottom bar as mentioned here.
The problem comes when you uninstall an app but later you decide to use it. There is no easy way given to restore default apps in Windows 8 Start Screen. You can't find any option in Start Screen to reinstall those uninstalled apps.
So what to do? How to restore uninstalled apps in Windows 8? We have received lots of emails from AskVG readers asking the same question. Don't worry. Here is the solution. Today in this tutorial, we are going to tell you how to reinstall built-in apps in Windows 8 if you accidentally uninstalled them in past.
Actually you can reinstall or restore built-in apps using Windows Store. Just follow these simple steps to restore default apps in Windows 8:
1. Go to Windows 8 Start Screen and launch Store.
2. Once Store opens, right-click in empty space and you'll get an option at top to access "Your Apps" as shown in following screenshot:
3. Click on it and it'll ask to sign in. Sign in using your Windows Live ID. It'll take a few moments and will show a screen containing list of built-in apps which have been uninstalled.
4. Just click on the apps which you want to restore and then click on "Install" button given at the bottom.
5. That's it. It'll take a few seconds and the selected apps will be installed again in your Windows.
Do you use those built-in apps in Windows 8? Which one is your favorite? Feel free to share your experience with Windows 8 Store in your comment...
Posted by: Vishal Gupta | Categories: Troubleshooting, Windows 8
Vijay
Thank you so much VG. You are the best!!! I asked you about it and here is the solution. Worked like a charm. :D
William
I always wondered about it. Thanks for the guide.
Prabhjot sohal
I mostly use build in video player and pdf reader
Kyle
OMGGG THX VG U ARE A HACKING GENIUS, WELL DONE!!!
Gaurav
They couldn't have made "Your apps" harder to discover. :P
VG
^^ lol. Agree. ;)
@All
Thanks. :)
Konci
And what if someone uninstalls windows store? I know I uninstalled it when I had win8.
VG
^^ You cant uninstall Store in Windows 8. You can only unpin it from Start Screen. If you want to restore it, just re-pin it from All Apps screen.
Konci
Oh, I thought it was possible to remove it, but it was just a unpin... Thanks for the info :)
The Cyber Mafia
Thanks VG for helping. :)
Martin Paddock
I have lost my tile favorites at the bottom off my desk top how do I get them back
someone01
i installed skype from windows store.....after that i uninstalled it....... now it's always showing up in apps not installed section....... is there a way to remove it permanently?? (from Microsoft Account)
VG
^^ I dont think so. I think the history is stored online at Microsoft server. You can login using different Live account ID which will not show any app.
KLBrown
Love the suggestion, but what if I uninstalled the app store?
James Lundy
Thank you Vishal, I'm new to Windows 8, so you've been very helpful.
pujitha
That was great help !!! clear and saved my time...
King Onochie Chukwumere
How do I create a Windows Live ID. I wonder if I already have one.
Ben Melz
Can someone maybe help me fix this? I'm downloading my apps, but they all won't download. It just stays at the bar blank. I just checked on Speedtest.net, my download speed is 20 Mbps, and I don't know what's wrong with it! Help me please!
Ed van nielen (Holland)
Klasse!!!! erg bedankt voor deze goede tip...
BWarden
Here is my problem. I hope you can help. Somehow, all of my apps disappeared from my Metro screen, including Mail, Travel, Finance etc. When I look at the All Apps list, they are not displayed as being available on my computer. When I go into the Store and view all apps that are installed, they all show up there as being installed but I can't locate them on my computer so that I can re-pin them to my Metro screen. I tried the Install button again and it goes through the process of installing the app again but when I go back to the computer and the All Apps screen, they are not there. If I install a new app from the Store, it shows up fine. Hope this explains enough about my issue and maybe you can help me solve it.
Thanks
Iibarra
I have the same problem as BWarden; I uninstalled the mail app and is not on the apps installed or uninstalled. It just disappeared! very frustrating.
VG
^^ You can try Reset or Refresh PC options:
http://www.askvg.com/tip-reinstall-or-repair-windows-8-computer-using-reset-pc-and-refresh-pc-options/
Irshad Siddiqui
Thanks a lot, VG.
It helped me very much.