How To Fix Windows Calculator Missing Or Uninstalled

Microsoft has replaced most of its legacy apps with modern apps in Windows 10 and Windows 11. This includes the Calculator app. Sometimes the Calculator app goes missing or is mistakenly uninstalled from the operating system.

It may also be possible that the files required to run the app are present on your PC, but the app itself doesn’t show up.

In this article, we will discuss how to fix Windows 10 calculator missing or how to install it again using different methods.

Install Calculator App on Windows

If your computer does not have the Calculator or has accidentally been deleted, there are multiple ways you can fix it. It can be reinstalled, or the current installation can be restored.

From Microsoft Store

You can download and install the application from the Microsoft Store. Note that you must be signed in to your profile using a Microsoft account to install the app.

Follow these steps to install the Calculator app from Microsoft Store:

1. Open the Windows Calculator app page in Microsoft Store and click Get in Store app.

   

2. You will now be prompted to open the Microsoft Store app. Click Open Microsoft Store.

   

3. The Store app will now open showing the Windows Calculator page. Click Get to install the app.

   

   The app will now begin downloading and installing.

4. When the installation is finalized, click Open.

   

The Calculator app should now be installed on your PC.

Using Windows PowerShell

Alternatively, you can also install the Windows Calculator app through Windows PowerShell using a single cmdlet.

Simply run the following cmdlet in an elevated PowerShell instance to install Windows Calculator:

Get-AppXPackage *WindowsCalculator* -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

After the app is installed, it can be accessed by searching for it from the Start menu or the search box in the taskbar. Alternatively, you can also type in calc in the Run Command box to launch the Windows Calculator app.

However, if this method did not work for you and it shows that the app is already installed but not showing up in your search results, then there are other methods to fix the problem.

Fix Calculator App Not Working

Uninstall and Reinstall Calculator App

Some users have reported that the Windows Calculator has somehow gone missing on their computers. However, upon trying to reinstall it using the method shared above, they are prompted with “The app is already installed.”

This is the perfect example of the installation packages remaining on the system, but the application is either removed or corrupted.

If you are in a similar situation, follow these steps to mitigate the issue and reinstall Windows Calculator:

1. Open Windows PowerShell with elevated privileges and run the following cmdlet:

   get-appxpackage *Microsoft.WindowsCalculator* | remove-appxpackage

   

   This will remove all traces of the Calculator app from your PC.

2. Now, run the following cmdlet to reinstall the Windows Calculator app:

   Get-AppXPackage *WindowsCalculator* -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

Once the Calculator app is reinstalled, check to see if you can run it. This method usually solves the issues.

However, if you find that the method has failed, you can try the given solutions discussed below.

Run Windows Store Troubleshooter

The Windows operating system comes with built-in troubleshooters for different components. It also has a combined troubleshooter for all Microsoft Store applications. If you find that the Calculator app is installed but not running, you can run the Windows Store troubleshooter. Here is how:

1. Navigate to the following:

   Settings app >> Update & security >> Troubleshoot >> Additional Troubleshooters

2. Here, scroll down and click “Windows Store Apps” to expand it, and then click Run the Troubleshooter.

   

   The troubleshooting wizard will now run. As it does, it will automatically scan and detect any problems with any of the apps.

3. Once this scan is complete (takes only a few seconds), it will recommend some actions to take or perform the less complex actions automatically to mitigate any detected issues. Follow the on-screen instructions and perform the necessary actions to fix the problem.

   Once done, close the wizard.

Now check to see if the problem has been solved and if you are able to run the Windows Calculator app.

Check for Updates

The first approach should be to check for any pending updates, both in Windows Updates as well as the Microsoft Store. Any pending updates can cause an application to malfunction.

1. Open Microsoft Store and click on the Pending updates button in the top-right corner of the app.

   If you do not see this button, it means your applications are already up to date.

2. Now click on Update all to begin updates for all Microsoft applications on your computer.

   

Once all the applications have been updated, including Windows Calculator, relaunch the application and check if the error is resolved.

Run the System File Checker (SFC)

The System File Checker (SFC) is a preinstalled Command Prompt tool in Windows that attempts to repair corrupted system files by replacing them with redundant files. However, this also requires that the system image is healthy, so it can perform a successful repair.

SFC is a mechanism of the Windows File Protection feature.

Simply run the following cmdlet in an elevated Command Prompt and the tool will do the rest:

sfc /scannow

The command will take a while to execute completely. When done, recheck if the Windows Calculator is functional now.

Reset the Windows Calculator App

If the method above did not work for you, try resetting the Calculator app. This will bring the app back to its default state.

1. Navigate to the following:

   Settings app >> Apps

2. Here, search for “calculator” in the text field.

   

3. Now click on the Calculator app below and then click Advanced Options.

   

4. On the next screen, scroll down and click Reset.

   

5. When asked for confirmation, click Reset again.

   

   The app will now reset to its default settings, removing all data and cache.

After the Windows Calculator app has reset, check to see if you are able to run it.

Update Windows OS

If none of these solutions have worked so far, then try updating your Windows 10 operating system through Windows Updates, since Microsoft often publishes app updates through the Windows Update as well.

Install any pending updates using these steps:

1. Navigate to the following

   Settings app >> Update & Security >> Windows Update

2. Now click Check for updates.

   

3. If any updates show up, we suggest that you install them.

4. Once installed, restart the computer and check to see if it resolved the Windows Calculator app problem.

The given solutions ought to fix any issues with the Calculator app. Let us now move on to other useful tips for the app.

Create Shortcut and Assign Shortcut Keys to Calculator App

Using shortcut keys to perform simple tasks has always been our favorite in Windows 10. However, by default, there are no shortcut keys assigned to the Windows Calculator app. We can assign a combination of keys using which we can open the Calculator app from anywhere.

The method shared below will create a Calculator shortcut on your desktop and assign shortcut keys to it.

1. Right-click on a blank space on the desktop, expand New from the context menu, and then click Shortcut.

   

2. Now enter the following path in the location text field inside the Create Shortcut wizard, and then click Next.

   C:\Windows\System32\calc.exe

   

3. On the next screen, enter a name for the shortcut and click Finish.

   

4. You will now see a Calculator icon on your desktop. Right-click it and then click Properties from the context menu.

   

5. In the Properties window, click on the text field in front of the Shortcut Key under the Shortcut tab, and then press the shortcut keys which you wish to set.

   In this example, we have set it to set Ctrl + Shift + C.

   

   When done, click Apply and Ok.

Now you can access the Windows Calculator simply by pressing the shortcut keys from anywhere within Windows, or through the shortcut icon on your desktop.

What Windows Calculator Offers

Unlike our physical calculators, the Windows Calculator consists of various other features that can be used for the user’s convenience. Let us see what some of these handy features are.

Upon launching the application, you will see a window such as the one shown below.

Apart from the basic calculations which can be performed from the keypad, the top bar consists of various features.

You can check the old calculations performed by clicking the clock-like icon on the top-right, or clicking on the middle button to keep the calculator always on top of other applications.

The Standard indicates that the calculator is currently in Standard mode, which can be changed by clicking on the three bars left of it.

Upon clicking the three bars, you are presented with a list of options to choose from. The calculator can be converted into the Scientific mode for more complex calculations, or into Graphical mode to plot graphs from equations. The Programmer mode can be used to convert values between decimals, hexadecimal, octanes, or binary.

Going further down the menu, the calculator also offers a range of different conversions for instant results.

These features indicate that this application can be extremely useful even when performing daily regular tasks.

If you do not like the Windows Calculator app, you can try these alternatives instead.

Closing words

The Windows Calculator is a handy application when it comes to solving complex mathematical equations and conversions. Rather than switching between devices for calculations, Microsoft offers a list of features within its application.

Windows Calculator can also be added to hotkeys for quick access from anywhere within Windows. If the application is missing or malfunctioning on your device, this article offers various fixes on different levels for you to troubleshoot.

How often do you use the calculator on your computer?