Error 0x80073CFA is an uninstallation issue for Microsoft Store apps in Windows 10 and 11. It usually happens when you try to uninstall an app, accompanied by an error message that says, “we couldn’t uninstall <app name>.”

Unfortunately, if you're trying to uninstall the app to fix a bug, the error can prevent you from doing any kind of diagnostics. As such, here are some potential resolutions for the 0x80073CFA error in Windows 11 and 10.

1. Run the Windows App Troubleshooter

The Windows Store Apps troubleshooter is a tool for fixing all manner of MS Store app issues. That doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed to resolve error 0x80073CFA, but it’s a troubleshooter worth trying nonetheless.

Here's how to run it on Windows 11:

  1. Launch Settings by clicking that app’s pinned shortcut on the Start menu.
  2. Select Troubleshoot (a navigation option on Settings’ System tab) and Other trouble-shooters.
  3. Scroll down to Windows Store Apps, and click the Run option for launching that troubleshooter.
    The Run button for Windows Store Apps
  4. Apply any potential fixes the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter presents to you.
The Windows Store Apps troubleshooter

As Windows 10’s Settings app has a slightly different layout, you’ll need to select Update & security > Troubleshoot. Then select the Additional troubleshooters navigation link from there. In the list of troubleshooters, click "Windows Store Apps."

2. Run System Image and File Scans

Corrupt system files are a common culprit for uninstallation errors. The System File Checker and Deployment Image Servicing and Management command-line tools can repair and restore files to fix Windows functions. Here's how to use them:

  1. Bring up the Command Prompt with administrator rights. Our beginner's guide to the Command Prompt has more information on how to do this.
  2. Input and execute (press Enter) this image-servicing command:
            DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth 
        
    The image scan command
  3. Then tap in and run the following scan command:
            sfc /scannow
        
    The SFC command
  4. The scan will likely take 15-30 minutes to complete, but it'll sometimes take longer. Hold on tight until the scan states that it has finished.
  5. Reboot Window after running the scans.

3. Reset Microsoft Store’s Cache

A corrupted Microsoft Store cache data is another possible cause for uninstallation error 0x80073CFA in Windows 11 and 10. Resetting the cache will help clear out any corrupted data it may contain. This is how to reset the cache’s data with the WSReset.exe command:

  1. Open the Command Prompt window with administrator user rights.
  2. Input this command for resetting Microsoft Store’s cache:
            WSReset.exe 
        
    The WSReset.exe command
  3. Press Enter to execute the WSReset command and clear the cache.
  4. Select the Restart (Windows) option after resetting Microsoft Store.

4. Uninstall the Affected Apps With PowerShell

Most users trying to fix the 0x80073CFA error are likely using Windows Settings to uninstall their MS Store apps. However, the error may not occur if you try a different way to uninstall your apps. For instance, you can try uninstalling affected apps with PowerShell like this:

  1. Press Win+ S on your keyboard, and type PowerShell in the file search box.
  2. Open Windows PowerShell by clicking its matching search result with the right mouse button and selecting Run as administrator.
  3. Next, input this command for listing apps and press Return:
            Get-Appxpackage -Allusers 
        
  4. Copy the PackageFullName for an app by selecting it and pressing Ctrl + C.
    The app list displayed by the  Get-Appxpackage command
  5. Input this uninstall app command and press the Return button, replacing [PackageFullName] with the name of the app title you copied in step four. No need to type it out; just press CTRL + V to paste it in.
            Remove-AppxPackage -Package [PackageFullName]
        
The remove app command

For example, the command for uninstalling the Photos app looks like this:

        Remove-AppxPackage -Package Microsoft.Windows.Photos_2022.31070.26005.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
    

5. Switch to an Administrator Account

Uninstallation issues can arise when a user's account doesn't have the sufficient admin account permissions to remove certain software. If you’re using a standard Windows user account, you may need to switch to an admin one to resolve the 0x80073CFA error.

You can switch a standard user account to an admin alternative via the Control Panel as follows:

  1. Open Run and type Control Panel in that accessory’s command box.
  2. Click OK to view the Control Panel.
  3. Select User Accounts to open that applet.
  4. Click the Change your account type navigation option.
    The Change your account type option
  5. Select the Administrator radio button.
    The Change Your Account Type window settings
  6. Press the Change account type option.
  7. Restart your computer, and then try uninstalling apps in your admin account.

Alternatively, you can try setting up a completely new admin account and uninstalling apps from it. You can transfer user data from your old account into the new one. Our guide for creating a new user account to resolve Windows issues provides further details about how to do so.

6. Uninstall Apps After Clean-Booting Windows 11

Clean booting sets the boot setup in System Configuration to exclude all third-party apps and services from startup. Doing so will ensure there aren’t any third-party programs that can conflict with the uninstall process for UWP apps. One of our guides tells you how to perform a clean boot in Windows 11 with MSConfig and Task Manager.

The System Configuration window

Restart Windows 11 when you’ve set up the clean boot, and then try uninstalling UWP apps to check if error 0x80073CFA persists. If not, you’ll know there must have been at least one conflicting third-party app or service causing the issue. The error will probably return if you restore your original boot settings without identifying what service or app is causing the issue.

7. Reinstall the Microsoft Store App

Users have confirmed reinstalling the Microsoft Store App can resolve the 0x80073CFA error. To do that, you can run a general command for reinstalling all pre-installed Windows 11 apps within an elevated PowerShell. Here are the steps for reinstalling Microsoft Store in Windows:

  1. Launch Windows PowerShell as outlined in the first two steps of resolution four.
  2. Then input this reinstall app command:
            Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"} 
        
    The reinstall MS Store command
  3. Press Enter to reinstall MS Store.
  4. Restart Windows after executing the PowerShell command.

If the above command returns an error, try adding -Verbose to the end of it before executing. Then rerun the original command specified in step two. The modified command should look like this:

        Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml" -Verbose} 
    

8. Factory Reset Windows

Factory resetting restores Windows to a default configuration by reinstalling the platform. Windows 11/10. We only recommend you try this possible solution for error 0x80073CFA as a final resort since you’ll need to reinstall software packages that weren’t pre-installed with Windows. However, the Reset this PC tool does at least have an option you can select to retain user files after resetting.

The Reset this PC tool

If you want to try applying this resolution, check out our guide for factory resetting Windows. That guide includes four alternative methods with which you can restore the OS to factory settings. Reset Windows 11/10 with the Reset this PC utility so that you can select to preserve user files.

Get Error 0x80073CFA Sorted on Your PC

Those resolutions will probably get error 0x80073CFA sorted on your Windows 11/10 PC so that you can uninstall UWP apps again. However, we don’t promise guaranteed fixes for everyone. At least give some of those potential solutions a try before contacting the Microsoft Windows support service about error 0x80073CFA.