PC App Store is best treated as a potentially unwanted app and adware risk, not as a normal Microsoft Store component. If it appeared after a free download, opened pop-ups, changed browser behavior, or refuses to uninstall cleanly, remove the app, check startup persistence, clean browser changes, and run a malware scan before you trust the PC again.
The confusing part is the name. “PC App Store” sounds like a legitimate software catalog, but it is not the Microsoft Store. Some users see a desktop app, some see installer leftovers, and others only notice browser redirects or a stubborn entry under installed apps. This guide focuses on the practical cleanup path for Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Is PC App Store a virus?
PC App Store should not be handled like a trusted app marketplace. Gridinsoft Website Reputation Checker classifies pcapp.store as an unwanted application distributor and shows a low trust score for the domain.[1] That does not prove every file with the same name is the same payload, but it is enough reason to treat an unexpected installation as a PUA/adware incident.
| What you see | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| PC App Store installed after another download | A bundle or download wrapper likely added it. |
| Uninstall button fails or loops | The uninstaller may be broken, blocked by a running process, or missing metadata. |
| It opens on startup | Check Startup apps, scheduled tasks, and Run keys. |
| Browser search, home page, or pop-ups changed | Clean extensions, notification permissions, and browser shortcuts. |
If Microsoft Defender, Gridinsoft Anti-Malware, or another security tool names a specific detection, follow that detection first. If the only visible issue is PC App Store itself, use the steps below to remove the unwanted app and verify that nothing else came with it.
Before you start
Do not install random “removal tools” from search ads just because the app is annoying. Use Windows removal options first, then a trusted security scanner if leftovers remain. If you recently ran the installer, close browsers, save your work, and avoid entering passwords until the cleanup is complete.
- Create a restore point if the PC is stable enough.
- Write down the install time from Settings or Control Panel. That timestamp helps you find other bundled apps.
- Disconnect from the network only if pop-ups, unknown browser tabs, or account prompts keep appearing.
- Keep important files backed up before you delete folders by hand.
How to remove PC App Store from Windows
Start with the normal uninstall path. Microsoft documents the standard Windows method: Settings, Apps, Installed apps, then the three-dot menu or uninstall option for the target program.[2] Restart after the uninstall, even if the wizard says it finished.
- Close the running app. Open Task Manager with
Ctrl+Shift+Esc. End tasks named likePC App Store,PCAppStore, or unfamiliar installer/update processes that started at the same time. - Uninstall the visible entry. Go to
Settings -> Apps -> Installed apps. Search forPC App Store,PCAppStore, and recently installed apps with publisher names you do not recognize. - Check Control Panel too. Some desktop apps still register under
Control Panel -> Programs -> Programs and Features. Sort by install date and remove suspicious neighbors from the same session. - Restart Windows. A reboot releases locked files and shows whether the app re-created a startup entry.
If you see PC App Store or other suspicious applications that you don't remember installing, you should remove them as well.
- Right-click the Start button and select Installed Apps (or Apps & Features).
- Scroll through the list to find PC App Store or any other unfamiliar program.
- Click the three dots (...) next to it and select Uninstall.
- Open Finder and go to the Applications folder.
- Locate PC App Store or any app you don't recognize.
- Drag it to the Trash.
- Empty the trash to remove it permanently.
- Go to Settings > Apps > See all apps.
- Find PC App Store or any suspicious app in the list.
- Tap on it and select Uninstall.
If PC App Store will not uninstall
If the uninstall option is missing, crashes, or claims the program cannot be removed, do not keep clicking through pop-ups. The safest next step is to stop the running components, reboot into Safe Mode if needed, and repair the broken uninstall metadata.
- Open
Task Manager -> Startup appsand disable entries that mention PC App Store, PCAppStore, or a suspicious updater. - Open Task Scheduler and check the Task Scheduler Library for recently created tasks that launch from
AppData,ProgramData,Temp, or a PC App Store folder. - Try the uninstall again after a reboot. If it still fails, use Microsoft’s Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter, which is designed for blocked installs/removals and corrupted uninstall registry keys.[3]
- When a file is locked, boot into Safe Mode and repeat the uninstall. Do not delete random system files just because they appeared near the same date.
After the uninstaller finishes, search these locations for obvious leftovers. Delete only folders that clearly belong to PC App Store or the same unwanted bundle:
C:Program FilesPC App StoreC:Program Files (x86)PC App Store%LocalAppData%PC App Storeor%LocalAppData%PCAppStore%AppData%PC App Storeor%AppData%PCAppStore%ProgramData%folders created at the same time as the unwanted install%AppData%MicrosoftWindowsStart MenuProgramsStartupshortcuts that point to the unwanted app
If you see a suspicious executable but are not sure what it is, scan the file before deleting it. A real malware payload should be removed by a security tool, not handled by guesswork.
Clean browser changes and notifications
PC App Store incidents often come with browser-side changes: an extra extension, changed search provider, pop-up permission, or shortcut that opens a promotional page. Check every browser profile you use, not only your default browser.
- Remove extensions you did not intentionally install.
- Reset the home page, startup page, and search engine if they changed.
- Open site settings and revoke notification permissions from unknown domains.
- Right-click browser shortcuts and confirm the Target field ends with the browser executable, not an extra URL.
- If sync is enabled, remove bad extensions from the synced account so they do not return.
- Launch Chrome.
- Click the three dots (...) in the top right corner.
- Select Extensions > Manage Extensions.
- Click Remove next to the extension you want to delete.
Quick Access: Type chrome://extensions/ in the address bar.
- Open Safari.
- In the menu bar, click Safari and select Settings (or Preferences).
- Click on the Extensions tab.
- Select the extension and click Uninstall.
- Click the menu button, select Add-ons and themes.
- Go to the Extensions tab.
- Click the three dots (...) next to the extension and select Remove.
Quick Access: Type about:addons in the address bar.
- Launch Microsoft Edge.
- Click the three dots (...) in the top right corner.
- Select Extensions.
- Find the extension and click Remove.
Quick Access: Type edge://extensions/ in the address bar.
- Launch Brave browser.
- Click the menu icon > Extensions.
- Find the extension and click Remove.
Quick Access: Type brave://extensions/ in the address bar.
- Launch Opera.
- Click the Opera logo in the top left corner.
- Select Extensions > Extensions.
- Click the X or Remove button next to the extension.
Quick Access: Type opera://extensions/ in the address bar.
- Tap on the three dots (...) in the top right corner and Choose Settings.
- Choose Reset and Clean up and Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Tap Reset settings.
Quick Access: Type chrome://settings/reset in the address bar.
- Open Safari.
- In the menu bar, click Safari > Clear History.
- Select all history and click Clear History.
- Go to Safari > Settings (or Preferences).
- Click the Privacy tab and select Manage Website Data... > Remove All.
- In the Advanced tab, check Show features for web developers.
- In the menu bar, select Develop > Empty Caches.
- Launch Brave browser.
- Click the menu icon in the top right corner and select Settings.
- Click Additional settings > Reset settings.
- Tap Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm by clicking Reset settings.
Quick Access: Type brave://settings/reset in the address bar.
- In the upper right corner tap the three-line icon and Choose Help.
- Choose More Troubleshooting Information.
- Choose Refresh Firefox... then Refresh Firefox.
Quick Access: Type about:support and click Refresh Firefox.
- Tap the three dots.
- Choose Settings.
- Tap Reset Settings, then Click Restore settings to their default values.
Quick Access: Type edge://settings/reset in the address bar.
- Launch the Opera browser.
- Click the Opera menu button in the top left corner and select Settings.
- Scroll down to the Advanced section in the left sidebar and click Reset and clean up.
- Click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Click Reset settings to confirm.
Quick Access: Type opera://settings/reset in the address bar.
After reset, verify that PC App Store is no longer set as your default search engine or homepage.
For broader browser cleanup, the PUA and browser hijacker removal guide explains how unwanted apps, redirects, and extensions can reinforce each other. If you see fake optimizer behavior as well, compare it with the PC Accelerate removal guide. If Defender names a download-manager PUA, the OnePlatform PUA removal guide is a useful adjacent checklist.
Scan for bundled payloads
Removing the visible PC App Store entry is not always the end of the incident. Bundled installers can leave adware, browser helpers, fake optimizers, or download managers behind. Run a full scan with Gridinsoft Anti-Malware after manual cleanup, especially if the app was installed from a download portal, crack page, ad redirect, or fake update prompt.
After the scan, reboot and verify four things: PC App Store no longer appears in installed apps, no matching process starts after login, browsers open with your chosen search/home page, and no new unknown scheduled task was created. If the app returns, the remaining problem is persistence, not the normal uninstall entry.
FAQ
Is PC App Store the same as Microsoft Store?
No. Microsoft Store is the built-in Windows app store. PC App Store is a separate third-party app name and should not be trusted just because the name sounds similar.
Why does PC App Store still show in installed apps?
The uninstall entry can remain when the original uninstaller failed or registry metadata was damaged. Reboot first, then use the Microsoft Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter or remove the remaining entry only after the files and startup items are gone.
Should I reset Windows to remove PC App Store?
Usually no. Try uninstall, Safe Mode cleanup, browser cleanup, and a security scan first. Reset Windows only when the system remains unstable, security tools keep detecting active malware, or you cannot trust the account/session state.
Do I need to change passwords?
Change passwords from a clean device if you entered credentials after the unwanted install, browser tabs opened by themselves, or a scanner found a stealer or backdoor. For a simple PUA/adware install with no credential activity, cleanup and monitoring may be enough.
References
- Gridinsoft. “Pcapp.store Reviews: Unwanted App, Legit or Safe?” Gridinsoft Website Reputation Checker, accessed June 5, 2026. https://gridinsoft.com/online-virus-scanner/url/pcapp-store
- Microsoft Support. “Uninstall or remove apps and programs in Windows.” Microsoft, accessed June 5, 2026. https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/uninstall-or-remove-apps-and-programs-in-windows-4b55f974-2cc6-2d2b-d092-5905080eaf98
- Microsoft Support. “Fix problems that block programs from being installed or removed.” Microsoft, accessed June 5, 2026. https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/topic/fix-problems-that-block-programs-from-being-installed-or-removed-cca7d1b6-65a9-3d98-426b-e9f927e1eb4d
