Notepad, Calculator, or Camera Not Working in Windows 11? Fix It Step by Step

Is Notepad, Calculator, or the Camera App Suddenly Not Working?

You sit down to do something simple on your PC—write a quick note, run a calculation, or check your webcam—and suddenly it feels like Windows is fighting you:

• Notepad won’t open (or flashes and closes)
• Calculator freezes or shows “Not responding”
• Camera shows a black screen (or “No camera attached”)
• Other built-in apps like Photos, Snipping Tool, or Microsoft Store refuse to launch

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. On Windows 11, built-in apps can sometimes break after updates, cache corruption, permission changes, driver issues, or interference from security/optimizer tools.

The good news: in most cases, you don’t need to factory-reset your PC. This guide walks you through safe fixes first, then more powerful repairs when basic steps don’t work.

• Why Windows built-in apps stop working
• Beginner-friendly fixes you can try first
• App-specific fixes for Notepad, Calculator, and Camera
• Deeper repair options for “everything is broken” cases

Let’s go step by step—starting with the lowest-risk options.

1. Symptoms and What Might Be Going On

Common symptoms include:

• Clicking an app does nothing (no window appears)
• The app opens, then instantly closes
• The app opens but freezes (white/blank window)
• The Camera app shows a black screen even though the webcam exists
• Several Microsoft Store apps fail at the same time

Behind the scenes, typical causes are:

• A Windows update didn’t install cleanly
• App cache/data became corrupted
• The Microsoft Store licensing platform glitched
• Privacy permissions were changed (especially Camera)
• Drivers (GPU/camera) are outdated or broken
• Third-party “optimizer” or security software is blocking app components
• Your Windows user profile is damaged

We’ll start with easy fixes that won’t risk your files, then move to stronger repairs only if needed.

2. Before You Start: Safety Tips (Do This Once)

Most steps in this guide are safe, but it’s smart to prepare:

• Restart once before you do anything advanced (it clears a surprising number of glitches).
• If possible, create a Restore Point: search Create a restore point → Create.
• For command steps, use an Administrator account.
• When you see commands, copy/paste them to avoid typos.
• If a step feels too advanced, skip it and move to the next beginner-friendly option.

Important: “Reset” for an app usually means “clear the app’s data and settings,” not “delete your documents.” Still, if you keep important notes inside an app (rare, but possible), do a quick backup first.

3. Basic Fixes You Should Try First (Works for Most Apps)

3-1. Restart Windows (Clean Restart)

This sounds obvious, but it’s the correct first step because built-in apps rely on background services that can get stuck.

1. Click Start
2. Click the Power icon
3. Select Restart (not Shut down)

After reboot, try Notepad, Calculator, and Camera again. If they work now, you’re done.

3-2. Repair System Files (SFC + DISM)

If core Windows files are damaged, apps can fail in weird ways. These two tools repair Windows itself.

1. Right-click Start
2. Open Windows Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin)
3. Run:

sfc /scannow

When it finishes, run:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Restart your PC once both complete, then re-test the apps.

3-3. Install Windows Updates (Including Optional Fixes)

Microsoft often fixes built-in app issues through quality updates.

1. Open Settings → Windows Update
2. Click Check for updates
3. Install what’s offered, then restart

If you see an Optional updates link and your problem started recently, it can be worth installing relevant driver/quality updates too.

4. Fast Fix: Repair or Reset the App (Settings Method)

Windows 11 lets you repair modern apps without uninstalling everything. This is one of the most effective “safe” fixes.

1. Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps
2. Search for the app (Notepad / Calculator / Camera / Microsoft Store)
3. Click the ⋯ menu → Advanced options
4. Click Repair first
5. If it still fails, click Reset

Tip: Do this for Microsoft Store too if several apps are failing. A broken Store platform often causes “multiple apps won’t launch” problems.

5. Fixing Notepad When It Won’t Open

Notepad on modern Windows behaves more like a Store-delivered app, which is great for updates—but also means it can break like other Store apps.

5-1. Try Launching Notepad the “Classic” Way

This tells you whether the shortcut/UI is the issue or Notepad itself is broken.

• Press Windows + R → type notepad → Enter
• Open File Explorer → go to C:\Windows\ → double-click notepad.exe

If notepad.exe works but Start/Search doesn’t, the app alias or packaging may be confused—keep reading.

5-2. Turn On “App Execution Aliases” (If Needed)

Windows can control which apps respond to commands like notepad. If the alias is off, launching can behave strangely.

1. Go to Settings → Apps → Advanced app settings
2. Open App execution aliases
3. Find Notepad-related entries and ensure they’re On

5-3. Reinstall Notepad from Microsoft Store (Cleanest Fix)

If Repair/Reset didn’t help, a clean reinstall is often faster than hunting down the exact corrupted file.

1. Open Microsoft Store
2. Search Windows Notepad
3. Install/Update it

If the Store itself won’t open, skip ahead to the Microsoft Store repair section first.

6. Fixing Calculator When It Freezes or Won’t Open

6-1. Repair/Reset Calculator

Use the Settings method:

• Settings → Apps → Installed apps → Calculator → Advanced options → Repair, then Reset if needed

6-2. Reinstall Calculator from Microsoft Store

Calculator is Store-delivered on many Windows 11 systems. Reinstalling often fixes persistent blank/freezing issues.

1. Open Microsoft Store
2. Search Windows Calculator
3. Install/Update

6-3. Quick Alternative While You Repair

If you urgently need a calculator right now:

• Use Windows Search for Calculator (sometimes it opens from Search even if the taskbar shortcut fails)
• Type math directly into the search box (Windows often calculates basic expressions)
• Use a browser calculator as a temporary workaround

7. Fixing the Camera App When the Screen Is Black

Camera issues usually come from one of three places: permissions, another app “hogging” the webcam, or drivers/hardware.

7-1. Check Camera Privacy Permissions

1. Open Settings → Privacy & security → Camera
2. Turn on Camera access
3. Turn on Let apps access your camera
4. Make sure the Camera app is allowed (and any video apps you use)

If camera access was off, the black screen often disappears immediately after enabling it.

7-2. Close Apps That Might Be Using the Webcam

Zoom, Teams, Discord, browsers, and recording tools can “lock” the webcam.

• Close all video apps completely
• Open Task Manager → end leftover processes (Zoom/Teams/Browser helpers)
• Try the Camera app again

7-3. Check Physical Camera Switches (Easy to Miss)

Many laptops have a webcam shutter or a keyboard camera toggle. If it’s disabled at hardware level, software fixes won’t help.

• Look for a slider near the webcam
• Check for a keyboard key with a camera icon (often Fn + key)

7-4. Re-detect the Camera in Device Manager

This refreshes how Windows sees your webcam.

1. Right-click Start → Device Manager
2. Expand Cameras (or Imaging devices)
3. Right-click your webcam → Disable device (wait 10 seconds) → Enable device

If that doesn’t help, try uninstall/reinstall:

1. Right-click your webcam → Uninstall device
2. Restart Windows

Windows will usually reinstall the driver automatically after reboot.

7-5. Update the Camera (and GPU) Driver

Camera preview relies on graphics too. A GPU driver update can fix black screens in camera apps.

• Windows Update → Optional updates → install driver updates if offered
• Or get drivers directly from your laptop manufacturer (often best for camera)
• For GPU: use official NVIDIA/AMD/Intel drivers if needed

8. If Multiple Apps Are Broken: Fix Microsoft Store and Store Components

If Notepad and Calculator and Photos and Snipping Tool are failing, the common root cause is often the Microsoft Store platform (cache, licensing, or app registration).

8-1. Clear Microsoft Store Cache (wsreset)

1. Press Windows + R
2. Type wsreset.exe and press Enter

A blank window may appear briefly, then Microsoft Store should open. Restart once after this if apps are still stuck.

8-2. Repair/Reset Microsoft Store

• Settings → Apps → Installed apps → Microsoft Store → Advanced options → Repair, then Reset if needed

8-3. Re-register Built-in Apps (PowerShell Method)

This is a stronger repair that re-registers app packages. It looks technical, but it’s a common fix when Store apps refuse to launch.

✅ This does not wipe your personal files. It re-registers Windows app packages.

1. Right-click Start → Windows Terminal (Admin)
2. Paste and run:

Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | ForEach-Object {  Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

Restart your PC after it completes, then test the apps again.

If you only want to target specific apps (less “wide” changes), you can re-register individual packages like this:

# NotepadGet-AppxPackage -AllUsers Microsoft.WindowsNotepad | ForEach-Object {  Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}# CalculatorGet-AppxPackage -AllUsers Microsoft.WindowsCalculator | ForEach-Object {  Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}# CameraGet-AppxPackage -AllUsers Microsoft.WindowsCamera | ForEach-Object {  Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}# Microsoft StoreGet-AppxPackage -AllUsers Microsoft.WindowsStore | ForEach-Object {  Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

9. Check These Windows Services (Rare, but Very Real)

Some built-in apps depend on background services. If these are disabled, apps can fail silently.

1. Press Windows + R
2. Type services.msc and press Enter
3. Check these services:

• AppX Deployment Service (AppXSVC)
• Client License Service (ClipSVC)
• Microsoft Store Install Service (name may vary)

If any are set to Disabled, set them back to Manual or Automatic (default varies) and restart Windows. If you’re unsure, leave them alone and use the other fixes—this section is mostly for systems that have been “optimized” aggressively.

10. Narrow Down the Cause: Safe Mode, Clean Boot, and a New User Account

If repairs didn’t help, the goal now is to determine whether this problem is:

• System-wide (Windows installation issue), or
• Profile-specific (your user account is corrupted), or
• Caused by third-party software interference

10-1. Test in Safe Mode

Safe Mode loads Windows with minimal drivers and services.

1. Settings → System → Recovery
2. Under Advanced startup, click Restart now
3. Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart
4. Press 4 to enable Safe Mode

If apps work in Safe Mode, something in normal mode (security suite, optimizer, overlay, screen recorder, “debloat” tool) is likely interfering.

10-2. Clean Boot (If Safe Mode Suggests Interference)

A Clean Boot starts Windows with Microsoft services only, but still in normal mode—useful for finding conflicts.

1. Press Windows + R → type msconfig
2. Services tab → check Hide all Microsoft services
3. Click Disable all
4. Startup tab → open Task Manager → disable startup items
5. Restart and test apps

If apps start working, re-enable items in small batches to find the culprit.

10-3. Create a New Local User Account (Profile Test)

Sometimes the Windows user profile gets corrupted. Testing a new account is one of the fastest ways to confirm this.

1. Settings → Accounts → Family & other users
2. Under Other users, click Add account
3. Select I don’t have this person’s sign-in information
4. Choose Add a user without a Microsoft account
5. Create a simple test account
6. Sign out → sign into the new account → test the apps

If everything works on the new account, your original profile is the likely problem. In that case, moving to the new profile can be a clean long-term fix.

11. Optional Checks That Prevent Repeat Breakage

11-1. Check Free Disk Space (Low Space Can Break Apps)

When storage is extremely low, app updates and caches fail, and corruption becomes more likely.

• Open Settings → System → Storage
• Try to keep at least 10–20 GB free on the system drive for stable updates

11-2. Avoid “Debloat” or Aggressive Optimizer Tools

Many “PC optimizer” apps disable services, remove Store components, or block background tasks that built-in apps depend on. If your issues started after using one, consider undoing changes or uninstalling it (then reboot).

11-3. Test with an External Webcam (Camera Hardware Check)

If Camera still shows a black screen after permissions + driver steps:

• Plug in a USB webcam and test the Camera app
• If USB works but the internal camera doesn’t, the built-in camera module (or its cable) may be faulty

12. Last Resort: Repair Install Windows (In-Place Upgrade)

If multiple built-in apps are broken and nothing fixes them, the Windows installation itself may be damaged.

A repair install (also called an in-place upgrade) is often the best “final fix” because:

• It refreshes Windows system files
• It can keep your files and installed apps
• It’s far less disruptive than a full reset

Use official Windows installation media (ISO) and choose the option to keep personal files and apps. This process takes time, but it’s a strong fix for deep corruption.

Tip: If you’re nervous, do a quick backup of important folders first (Documents/Desktop/Pictures) before running a repair install.

13. Quick Cheat Sheet (Copy This Into a Summary Box)

• Fastest first try: Restart Windows
• Repair Windows: sfc /scannow → DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth → restart
• Repair an app: Settings → Apps → Installed apps → Advanced options → Repair / Reset
• Fix Store platform: wsreset.exe + Repair/Reset Microsoft Store
• Many apps broken: Re-register packages via PowerShell (section 8-3)
• Camera black screen: Privacy permissions → close Zoom/Teams → Device Manager → driver update
• Find the root cause: Safe Mode / Clean Boot / New user account
• Last resort: In-place repair install (keep files and apps)

14. Final Thoughts: Don’t Panic When Windows Default Apps Won’t Open

When Notepad, Calculator, or the Camera app suddenly stops working, it can feel like your entire PC is broken. But most of the time the issue is limited to:

• Corrupted app cache/data
• A Microsoft Store platform glitch
• Permissions or driver problems (Camera)
• A damaged user profile or third-party interference

The key is to start simple, repair safely, and only move to advanced steps when needed. With the right approach, most built-in app failures can be fixed without resetting your PC or starting over.

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タグ: Windows 11, Notepad not opening, Calculator not working, Camera app black screen, Microsoft Store apps, Windows apps not opening