If there's something that should work in Safe Mode that you can compare when using Safe Mode with Networking you could try that for comparison.
Note that some features/apps will not work in Safe Mode.
Considering the update you consider a possible cause:
Have you tried an in-place upgrade repair install, and NOT received updates as part of that? (I suggested that previously, but I have no idea what you've actually tried of course).
Recall you said this started after the last update.
By doing this and ensuring no updates are received, your build should be set back before that update.
This also can effect some repairs.
the only other thing i would do as all else seems to have failed is to open the device manager and then network adaptors
and uninstall the network controllers by right clicking the network entry and then clicking uninstall.
close the device manager and the restart the system. Windows will reload and install the drivers on restart.
best of luck Steve ..
If the test shows TcpTestSucceeded : True - the network and TLS to the Store servers are working. Then the problem is almost certainly in the application itself (cache, registration, service). If False - the problem is at the network level (proxy, blocking, DNS, filters).
2.Open Settings → Network & Internet. Check the status of your current connection: Private or Public. If it's Public, switch it to Private (if it's a trusted network). This is critical for widgets and the Microsoft Store.
3.Dell SupportAssist / Dell Update. On Dell, these utilities can install their own network components and firewall rules. Sometimes after an update, they enable "restricted mode" or route traffic through their own proxies/filters, causing UWP apps (widgets, Store) to lose their "connected network status," even though the browser and SpeedTest are working. Check for any services like DellSupportAssistService, DellUpdateService, etc., and temporarily stop them for testing.
Network adapter drivers and utilities. Dells often have proprietary Wi-Fi utilities (for example, from Intel or Killer), which can force the network profile to "Public" or enable additional filters. This disrupts widgets and Store functionality, as they are, by design, restricted to "public" networks.
4.Check to see if airplane mode is accidentally enabled.
On Dells, this could be a hardware button or the Fn+F key combination. Even if Wi-Fi is connected, airplane mode can block some network APIs for UWP apps.
Update
Kaspersky Secure + Kill Switch.
When Kill Switch is active, the program monitors the status of the VPN tunnel. If the connection is interrupted (for example, due to a loss of network signal), Kill Switch instantly stops data transmission over a normal (unsecured) connection until the VPN reconnects. This protects against situations when data starts going through an unsecured channel.
