Activation of the Windows Store app ... failed with error 'The app didn't start'

Question

ISSUE

Unable to start any UWP app (blank app, UWP samples) in Release/x86.

However, Debug/x86, Debug/x64, Release/x64 are OK.

RELATED

Build -> Configuration Manager
New...
Copy Settings from Debug
Same error

ERROR

Visual Studio Output

Symbols for ntdll.dll could not be downloaded from the Microsoft Symbol Servers. Exception settings and call stacks may not work correctly.  Make sure you have a network connection and try again.'App1.exe' (Win32): Loaded 'C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ntdll.dll'. Cannot find or open the PDB file.

The thread 0x2e74 has exited with code -1073741792 (0xc0000020).
The thread 0x780 has exited with code -1073741792 (0xc0000020).
The thread 0x1930 has exited with code -1073741792 (0xc0000020).
The thread 0x1b24 has exited with code -1073741792 (0xc0000020).
The program '[13492] App1.exe' has exited with code -1073741792 (0xc0000020).
Activation of the Windows Store app '451e4789-01f8-4e4e-b28d-fbfa813a4513_v5p8rpnswjrxg!App' failed with error 'The app didn't start'.

Event Viewer #1

Activation via contract helper of the app 451e4789-01f8-4e4e-b28d-fbfa813a4513_v5p8rpnswjrxg!App for the Windows.Launch contract failed with Server execution failed.

Event Viewer #2

Activation of the app 451e4789-01f8-4e4e-b28d-fbfa813a4513_v5p8rpnswjrxg!App for the Windows.Launch contract failed with error: The app didn't start..

Event Viewer #3

ActivateApplicationForContractByAppIdAsUserWithHost of the app 451e4789-01f8-4e4e-b28d-fbfa813a4513_v5p8rpnswjrxg!App for the Windows.Launch contract failed with The app didn't start..

TO REPRODUCE

New Project -> Visual C# / Blank App (Universal Windows)

ENVIRONMENT

Visual Studio 2015 Community Edition Update 1
Windows 10 Pro 64bit Version 1511 10586.122

TRIED

Repair Visual Studio
Everything in Unable to activate windows store app the app didn't start
Rebuild, Clean, Manually delete bin, obj folders
Uninstall app
Checked permissions https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2798317
Project is in C:\ Unable to activate Windows Store app (Visual Studio 2015, Windows 10 Version 1511)
There is no file 'app.config'
sfc /scannow

I have wasted couple of days on this. Please help.

Messaging and Weather Apps also same error.

Yes, it is in developer mode. I have been actively submitting to windows store. — user1083577, Mar 06 '16 at 09:23
If your code works fine in debug mode, but not in release mode, it is possible the problem with your code, [UWP apps use CoreCLR for Debug and .NET Native for Release](https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/dotnet/2015/07/30/universal-windows-apps-in-net/). — Grace Feng, Mar 08 '16 at 07:30
As mentioned, release mode x64 is OK. Also its a blank app / uwp samples app — user1083577, Mar 08 '16 at 13:17
I have a similar issue - but for debug x86. The only solution is reboot. — Alex Erygin, Aug 06 '16 at 19:28
My developer workstation upgraded to Windows 10 Creator's Update. Now -- every single x64 Debug app exhibits this same failure signature. x64 Release is OK. Happens with a vanilla blank UWP app. MS #FAIL — Shaun, Apr 05 '17 at 01:44
Restarting visual studio solves the problem temporarily. After a while, it will have the same problem again. — Lance, Jun 12 '17 at 13:50
I have the same problem, several months passed, no solution is found. — ravin.wang, Jul 31 '17 at 09:24

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 18 '17 at 15:21

1

To get the C# UWP to run in debug I went to Properties->Build and checked Compile with .NET Native tool chain. This allowed me to debug.

answered Apr 18 '17 at 15:21

Steno

9
3

2

That didn't solve the problem for me. Still can't debug, app launches but closes immediately. – Lance Jun 12 '17 at 13:37
2

I am facing the exact same problem, however it runs if I uncheck "Compile with .NET Native tool chain" – DirtyNative Mar 07 '19 at 09:48

score -6 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 12 '16 at 07:38

-6

Solution is the following...

Open Weather App
Error will popup, click Store link
Reinstall Weather app (ignore install error)

answered Mar 12 '16 at 07:38

user1083577

71
2
5

Activation of the Windows Store app ... failed with error 'The app didn't start'

2 Answers2