How to Fix the Calculator App Not Working in Windows

Like many Windows applications, the Calculator app can also suddenly stop working. In such cases, you must run several diagnostics to troubleshoot the problem, like resetting and updating the app. Read on to learn all the methods to fix it when the Calculator app is not working on your Windows PC.

Most Common Calculator App Errors

• The app won’t launch: most often, the Calculator app seems entirely unresponsive and indicates no sign of the process trying to start.
• It closes immediately: the Calculator app crashes immediately upon launch due to corrupt system files.
• The application doesn’t work for a particular user: sometimes the Calculator app works fine for all users except one. Such issues are also fixable using the methods below.
• Calculator crashes after launch: the Calculator app opens normally, then crashes unexpectedly in the middle of work, forcing users to start over again.

No matter what is going on with your Calculator app, you can try one of the verified approaches mentioned below to restore it in a few minutes.

1. Reset the Calculator App

Windows settings allow users to reset applications to their starting point, thus wiping away all of the possibly faulty configurations.

1. Press the Windows + I keys to open Settings on your computer.
2. Select “Apps” on the left and open “Apps & Features.”

3. Find the Calculator app in the list, click on the three dots to open the drop-down menu, and choose “Advanced Options.”

4. Scroll to the Reset section and select “Reset.”

5. Wait for the process to finish.
6. Test the Calculator App to see if the issues are gone.

Good to know: don’t like Windows’s native antivirus? Here’s how you can disable Windows Defender on your PC.

2. End Task for the Runtimebroker.exe Process

Runtime Broker is an executable file whose main job is to make sure that applications running on your PC have the required permissions to run on the system.

In some cases, specific background processes like this one can cause crashes and bugs in various applications, such as the Calculator app. To fix this:

1. Right-click on the Start menu and select “Task Manager.”
2. Click on “More details” on the following page to expand the window.

3. Navigate to the “Processes” tab and scroll down to find “Runtime Broker” (sometimes there is more than one), then right-click on it and choose “End task.”

3. Update the App

Keeping all of your software up to date is critical to avoiding faulty processes and application crashes. The Calculator app is part of the Library group of apps. Follow the steps below to check whether there are any available updates.

1. Click the Start menu, type “Microsoft Store,” and press Enter.
2. Click on “Library” on the following page.

3. Select “Get Updates.”

Want to work without any interruption? Learn how to prevent apps from going online in Windows.

4. Reinstall the Calculator App

Some complex problems only disappear when an application is uninstalled and reinstalled to restore its original state. Follow the instructions below to do so.

1. Open Settings on your computer.
2. Click on “Apps -> Apps & Features.”

3. Find the Calculator app on the list, click on the three dots to open the drop-down menu, and choose “Uninstall.”

4. Use the Microsoft Store to reinstall the app.
5. Type “Windows Calculator” in the search bar at the top.

6. Once you’re on the Calculator page, click on the “Get” button.

7. Select “Install” and wait for the app to download and install.
8. Alternatively, you can utilize Windows Terminal to uninstall and reinstall the Calculator app. Right-click on the Start menu and select “Windows Terminal (Admin).”
9. Enter the following command in Power Shell and press Enter to uninstall that app.

Get-AppxPackage *windowscalculator* | Remove-AppxPackage

10. Enter the following command and press Enter to reinstall Windows Calculator.

Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers *windowscalculator* | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}

5. Re-Register All Microsoft Apps

Since the Calculator App is a default application in Windows, you can use Windows Terminal to repair it by re-registering all system apps.

1. Right-click on the Start menu and select “Windows Terminal (Admin).”
2. Enter the following command in Power Shell and press Enter.

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

3. Wait for the process to finish, then try using the Calculator app again.

6. Run the Store App Troubleshooter

Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter is a built-in tool that helps you fix common problems with applications on your PC or tablet.

1. Go to Settings on your computer.
2. Click on “System -> Troubleshoot.”

3. Select “Other troubleshooters” on the following page.

4. Scroll down to the “Windows Store Apps” section and click “Run.”

5. Finish the process, then check whether the Calculator app works as intended.

Tip: when your PC feels sluggish, try cleaning your Windows registry. It may help!

7. Edit the Registry Keys

The Windows Registry is a database that stores configuration settings and other information about applications, user preferences, and system settings. Removing specific registry keys could fix the malfunctioning Calculator .

1. Press the Windows + R keys to open Run on your computer.
2. Type regedit and click “OK.”

3. Paste the following line in the search bar in the Registry Editor window:

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppModel\StateChange\PackageList

4. Select all registry entries inside the PackageList folder, right-click the selection, and choose “Delete.”

5. Restart the computer after the process and check whether the Calculator has resumed its normal function.

Frequently Asked Questions

Image credit: Pexels. All screenshots by Farhad Pashaei.

Farhad Pashaei - Staff Writer

As a technophile, Farhad has spent the last decade getting hands-on experience with a variety of electronic devices, including smartphones, laptops, accessories, wearables, printers, and so on. When he isn’t writing, you can bet he’s devouring information on products making their market foray, demonstrating his unquenchable thirst for technology.