In Windows 8.1, one of the many things Microsoft wanted to do was to remove the fiction installing new software on your PC. With the Windows Store, users can easily find apps, hit “Install” and like if it was magic, the app installs. But it’s not always the case as many users will experience a “Pending” status while installing or updating apps.
This can be a bit frustrating as relaunching the Windows Store or restarting the PC won’t fix the problem, and it is not easy to find Microsoft documentation to fix this problem. As such, what follows is a list of steps you can easily follow to resolve this issue:
Instructions
1. Use the 
+X and then hit “A” to open the Command Prompt with administrator rights.
2. Type the following command to stop the Windows Update service:
3. Now navigate to:
And rename the SoftwareDistribution folder to SoftwareDistribution.old
4. While in the Command Prompt re-start the Windows Update service:
5. Restart your PC and try to update or install the Windows 8.1 apps you were unable before because of the “Pending” status.
That’s all there is to it.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].