Get-AppxPackage: The database disk image is malformed

You may be unable to install or update Store apps. Also, when you run the Get-AppxPackage command, the following error may appear:

Get-AppxPackage : The database disk image is malformed
The database disk image is malformed
At line:1 char:1
+ Get-AppxPackage
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (:) [Get-AppxPackage], Exception
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : System.Exception,Microsoft.Windows.Appx.PackageManager.Commands.GetAppxPackageCommand

In some cases, the database may be full or oversized. Add-ProvisionedAppPackage command may throw the following error:

Add-ProvisionedAppPackage : Insertion failed because database is full
At line:1 char:1
+ Add-ProvisionedAppPackage -online -PackagePath "C:\Apps\DesktopAppIns ...
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (:) [Add-AppxProvisionedPackage], COMException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : Microsoft.Dism.Commands.AddAppxProvisionedPackageCommand

Cause

The “The database disk image is malformed” or the “database is full” error occurs if the State Repository database is corrupt. This database stores information about every Store app installed on the computer. The database file names are below:

• StateRepository-Deployment.srd
• StateRepository-Deployment.srd-shm
• StateRepository-Deployment.srd-wal
• StateRepository-Machine.srd
• StateRepository-Machine.srd-shm
• StateRepository-Machine.srd-wal

Unfortunately, a repair installation using an in-place upgrade using the ISO may not resolve the issue.

However, resetting the StateRepository databases manually should fix the issue.

Resolution

To fix the error “The database disk image is malformed”, rebuild the State Repository database.

Important: The procedure will erase your Store apps. The Start menu and Settings might become inaccessible. However, a repair installation (after rebuilding the app repository) should fix all the issues.

Step 1: Rebuilding the State Repository database

1. Download AdvancedRun from Nirsoft.net.
2. Using AdvancedRun, open a TrustedInstaller Command Prompt. See the screenshot below.
   
   RELATED: How to Run Programs as TrustedInstaller
3. After the Command Prompt window opens, close the AdvancedRun utility.
4. In the TrustedInstaller Command Prompt, run the following commands:

   md C:\SRBackup

   cd /d C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\AppRepository

   sc config staterepository start= disabled

   net stop StateRepository

   Note: If you’re prompted to stop the Appx Deployment Service (AppxSVC) service, press Y to proceed. And, if the above command does not stop the State Repository service, you’ll get the error “The StateRepository service could not be stopped”. In that case, rerun the above command again.

   Then, run these commands:

   move StateRepository-*   C:\SRBackup

   sc config staterepository start= demand

   

The above procedure moves the existing State Repository database files to a folder for backup purposes.

Restart Windows. Or, click the Start button or an item in your notification area. This starts the State Repository service automatically and rebuilds the databases. A fresh set of StateRespository-* databases will be created. The newly built database will not contain information about your previously installed Store apps.

---

Step 2: Repair install Windows 10/11 using the ISO

Instructions to repair install Windows 10

1) Download Windows 10 Media Creation Tool (MCT) from this link:
https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=2265055

2) Run MCT and accept the license agreement.

3) Click “Upgrade this PC now”. This starts the repair installation.

Your apps, settings, and files will be kept by default during a repair install/in-place upgrade.

Instructions to repair install Windows 11

1) Download Windows 11 Media Creation Tool (MCT) from this link:
https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2156295

2) Run MCT and download the ISO it recommends for your system. Do not uncheck “Use the recommended options for this PC”.
https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/how-to-download-windows-11-iso/ (screenshots)

3) Right-click on the downloaded ISO and choose “Mount.” This assigns the ISO a drive letter.

4) Run setup.exe from the ISO drive. This starts the in-place upgrade/repair installation.

(Your files, settings and applications will be preserved if you use the ISO recommended for your system by the Media Creation Tool.)

This resolves the errors “The database disk image is malformed” and “Insertion failed because database is full” by rebuilding the StateRepository databases and allows you to install the Store apps.