Table of contents

While Windows 10 is mostly a reliable operating system, users often face unexpected issues on the OS. The Microsoft Store Sign-In Error 0x801901f4 may not be common but it still poses a challenge to a considerable number of users. This post will show you how to resolve it.

We will also look at what to do if you can’t verify your Microsoft account after clean installing your OS.

What Is the Error 0x801901f4 on Windows 10?

When you have a Microsoft account, you get to enjoy an all-access pass to premier services from Microsoft, including Windows, Outlook, Skype, Store, One Drive, Office, Xbox Live, and MSN. Your account enables you to manage all these services across all your devices, including Android and iOS.

However, the Error 0x801901f4 prevents you from using your Microsoft account to sign into Store or any other service. When you try, you are presented with the following error message:

“Something went wrong
Please try again later.
0x801901f4
User profile cannot be loaded.”

Fortunately, there are solutions that can help you remediate the issue. Keep reading to discover them.

How to Fix the Microsoft Store Sign-In Error 0x801901f4

You can resolve the Microsoft Store Sign-In Error 0x801901f4, using any one these methods:

  1. Run the System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) command-line utilities
  2. Run the Store app troubleshooter
  3. Clear the Store cache
  4. Re-register Microsoft Store
  5. Reset the Store app to fix the Error 0x801901f4
  6. Try restoring Windows to a previous working state
  7. Create a new Microsoft account

Let us now go through the procedure for these fixes.

Fix 1: Run the System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) Command-Line Utilities

The DISM and SFC are built-in command-line tools in Windows that help to fix issues with system files.

You have to run the DISM scan first, especially if you are using Windows 8, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10. The command line scans and repairs the ‘install.wim’ image, which then enables the SFC command line to successfully replace any corrupt or missing system files.

Follow the procedure below to run the utilities. They may help resolve the error you are dealing with.

  1. Turn on your Internet connection.
  2. Press the Windows logo + X combination on your keyboard to open the Power-user menu.
  3. Locate Command Prompt (Admin) and click on it.
  4. Click the ‘Yes’ button when the UAC (User Access Control) prompt requests confirmation to allow Windows Command Processor to make changes to your computer.
  5. When the elevated Command Prompt window opens, run the DISM scan first by entering the following line:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

  1. Wait for the scan to complete. It may take a few minutes.
  2. When the DISM scan is complete, you can now run the System File Checker to fix any inconsistencies with your system files. It will replace any corrupt or missing files with fresh copies from the local archive (Namely, C:\Windows\System32\dllcache). Type in or copy and paste the following command and then press Enter to run SFC:

sfc /scannow

Note: When typing the command, make sure to leave a space between ‘sfc’ and ‘/scannow.’

  1. Wait for the scan to complete.

If you still face the error when you try signing in with your Microsoft account, simply move on to the next fix.

Fix 2: Run the Store App Troubleshooter

The Store apps troubleshooter is a built-in tool in Windows that help fix issues with the Microsoft Store or any of its apps. It will scan your system to detect problems that prevent Store from working correctly. It automatically repairs any problems it finds.

Here is how to run the tool:

  1. Open the Windows Settings by pressing the Win key + I on your keyboard.
  2. Open the Update & Security option.
  3. Click on Troubleshoot on the left pane of the next page.
  4. Locate Store in the list of apps displayed on the right page. Click on it and click Run the Troubleshooter.
  5. The tool will begin detecting problems. Wait for it to complete the process. This only takes a few minutes.
  6. After detecting issues, the troubleshooter will attempt to resolve them. It could also show you the steps to resolve them yourself. If there are multiple solutions, you can see them by clicking ‘Next.’

Fix 3: Clear the Microsoft Store Cache

Clearing the cache helps resolve issues with your app. It is a very simple process:

  1. Open the Run command accessory. To do this, go to the Start menu and type “Run” (no quotes) in the search bar. Then, click on the option from the search results. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard combination to quickly open the utility. Press the Windows icon key +R combination.
  2. Type “exe” (no quotes) in the text field and click ‘OK’ on the screen or press the Enter key on your keyboard. This opens a blank Command Prompt window. After the cache has been cleared, the CMD window closes and Store opens automatically. Try signing in and see if the error has been resolved.

Fix 4: Re-Register Microsoft Store

When an app is misbehaving, you can fix it by doing a reinstallation. But since the Store app comes with Windows, reinstalling it is not an option. Instead, you can re-register it. This is done by running a command line in PowerShell (Admin). PowerShell is a scripting environment for running automated tasks.

Here is how to re-register Store:

  1. Go to the Start menu and type “Powershell” (no quotes) in the search menu. When the option appears in the results, right-click on it and select Run as Administrator.
  2. Click ‘Yes’ when prompted by UAC (User Account Control) to allow the program to make changes to your computer.
  3. Once the PowerShell (Admin) window opens, enter (type or copy and paste) the command below and press Enter on your keyboard to run it:

PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command “& {$manifest = (Get-AppxPackage sMicrosoft.WindowsStore).InstallLocation + ‘\\AppxManifest.xml’ ; Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $manifest}”

  1. Close the PowerShell window and restart your computer. Then try signing in to Store. See if the sign-in error has been resolved.

Fix 5: Reset the Store App to Fix the Error 0x801901f4

Resetting the Store app clears all its stored data and sets the program back to its default state. Your settings will be cleared but your installed apps or purchases will remain.

Here is how to reset Microsoft Store:

  1. Go to the Windows Settings app by pressing this keyboard combination: Windows key + I key.
  2. Click the ‘Apps & features’ option.
  3. Locate Store in the list of apps and click on it.
  4. Click on Advanced Options.
  5. Now, scroll down and click Reset. A prompt will be displayed. Click Reset to confirm that you want to delete the app’s data.

Fix 6: Try Restoring Windows to a Previous Working State

If the Error 0x801901f4 is a new issue on your computer, you can try restoring your OS to a point in time when you did not experience the issue. It is likely that the problem was precipitated by recent changes in your OS.

Here is how to run System Restore:

  1. Open the Start menu and type “Create a restore point” (no quotes).
  2. Click the option from the search results to open the System Properties window.
  3. Switch to the ‘System Protection’ tab and click the ‘System Restore’ button.
  4. Click Next when the System Restore window opens.
  5. Choose a restore point. You can then click the ‘Scan for affected programs’ button to see the installed apps that will be removed on your system when you go ahead with the restore. They will no longer be available because they were installed after the restore point you chose was created.
  6. Click Next and confirm that you want to execute the restore point. Then, click Finish.

Fix 7: Create a New Microsoft Account

If none of the above fixes worked for you, another option you have is to create a new Microsoft account. It is likely that your current user account is corrupt and causing the sign-in error.

Visit account.microsoft.com and click on Sign in > Create one. After creating a new account, use it to sign in to MS Store and see if it will be successful.

How to Fix the ‘Can’t verify MS Account on Win10 Clean Installs’ Issue

Now, we will look at what to do if you cannot verify your new Microsoft account, especially after clean installing your operating system. First, let us outline two methods you can use to verify your Microsoft account:

  1. Verify account via Account Settings
  2. Verify account online

Method 1: Verify Account via Account Settings

Follow these steps:

  1. Sign in to Windows with your Microsoft account.
  2. Open the Start menu and open Settings. Then, click on Accounts.
  3. On the next page that opens, click on Your Account.
  4. On the right pane, scroll to the ‘Manage my Microsoft account’ section.
  5. Click the Verify link. The link is under the ‘You need to verify your identity on this PC’ section.
  6. Enter the password for your Microsoft account and click OK.
  7. Click the drop-down menu to choose how you would like to receive the security code for your verification.
  8. Click Next.
  9. Enter the security code you received and submit it.

Method 2: Verify Account Online

  1. Visit ‘https://login.live.com/’ and sign in with your MS account.
  2. Click on Security and Privacy > More Security Settings to verify your device.
  3. Click the ‘Verify’ link under ‘Security info helps keep your account safe.’
  4. Enter the security code you received and click the ‘Verify’ button.

If you used any of the above methods to try verifying your Microsoft account without making any headway, visit ‘https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12401/microsoft-account-get-help-by-email’ to report the issue to Microsoft.

Pro Tip: If there is a problem with your Windows registry, you will face all sorts of issues. To ensure that your registry is in good condition, we recommend running a scan with Auslogics BoostSpeed. The registry cleaner in BoostSpeed will safely resolve errors so that your system can function optimally once more. Auslogics products have been certified by experts and backed by Microsoft. You can rest easy knowing that your PC is in safe hands.

Conclusion

The Sign-In Error 0x801901f4 prevents Windows users from accessing any Microsoft service, including Store, with their Microsoft account. The issue can be quite discomfiting. However, we’re certain that one or more of the solutions we shared in this article will help you.

If you have clarifications or comments regarding our instructions, feel free to comment below!