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In addition to Windows 10 system updates, Store apps are set to update in the background automatically by default. Here’s how to turn it off. Windows 10 is set to update automatically, but it does offer several ways for you to control the way your PC gets system and feature updates. We have shown you how to disable or delay automatic Windows 10 system updates. This comes in handy if you want to hold off on a feature update or are on metered connection and want to wait until you’re connected to Wi-Fi or Ethernet. We have also shown you how to set upload and download limits for system updates to save on bandwidth. You should also know that by default, Windows Store apps are set to update automatically. This includes native Microsoft apps like Mail & Calendar, News, and Sports. It also holds true for any apps or games you download from the Microsoft Store. Depending on the app – games in particular – the updates can be quite large. If you have limited bandwidth or are on a metered connection you might want to turn the updates off. Whatever the reason, you can disable automatic Store app updates, too. Here’s how. Launch the Microsoft Store app and click Options button (…) in the upper-right corner and choose Settings. Then on the following screen, turn off the “Update apps automatically” switch in the App Updates section. Now, to get updates, you will need to manually update them. You can do that by clicking the Options button (…) in the upper-right corner and choose Downloads and updates from the menu and then the “Get updates” button. You will get a list of apps with available updates and you can update them individually or all of them at once. It’s also worth noting that if you have set up your system as a metered connection to disable system updates, it will also stop Store apps from updating. In general, you want to keep everything up-to-date on your system. Microsoft is trying to make it easier for you by having your core OS and apps update automatically in the background. Still, it’s good to know that the company is giving you control to either turn off updates or delay them for a time that’s more convenient. When it comes to Windows Store apps, it’s also worth reminding that Microsoft now allows you to install them on multiple PCs at once. The Microsoft Store is an awesome tool that helps you download your favorite games and other apps. However, there are times when you might want to disable this tool. For example, you could disable the Microsoft Store if other people use it to download apps without your permission. Or, you could disable the tool if it keeps sending you random notifications (no matter how many times you disable those notifications.) As such, let's explore the solutions for disabling and enabling the Microsoft Store. 1. Use the Local Group Policy Editor (LGPE)You can apply this method only if you’re using Windows Pro, Education, and Enterprise versions. If you’re using the Home edition, you'd first need to apply some tricks to access the LGPE on Windows Home. Otherwise, here are the steps for disabling or enabling the Microsoft Store using the LGPE:
To disable the Microsoft Store, select Enabled. Otherwise, select Not Configured or Disabled to enable the Microsoft Store app. Finally, click Apply and then click OK to save these changes. 2. Use the Registry EditorThe Registry Editor is an incredible tool that can help you configure various system settings. In this case, we’ll check out how you can use it to disable or enable the Microsoft Store app. Before you get started, back up the Registry just in case something goes wrong. Now, here are the steps for enabling or disabling the Microsoft Store using the Registry Editor:
From there, follow these steps:
Next, right-click on the WindowsStore key and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. From there, name the value as “RemoveWindowsStore” and then press Enter. To disable the Microsoft Store, double-click on the RemoveWindowsStore value and set its Value Data to 1. Otherwise, set the Value data to 0 (zero) to enable the Microsoft Store. From there, press the OK button. Finally, close the Registry Editor and restart your device to save these changes. 3. Use the Software Restriction Policies in the Local Security PolicyThe Software Restriction Policies option in the Local Security Policy can help. Here's how you can use this feature to enable or disable the Microsoft Store:
To disable the Microsoft Store, click the Security level drop-down menu and select Disallowed. Alternatively, click the drop-down button and select Unrestricted to enable the Microsoft Store. Finally, press Apply and then press OK. 4. Use the AppLocker Settings in the Local Security PolicyThe AppLocker tool also makes it easy for you to enable or disable the Microsoft Store. In fact, this is a brilliant feature to use in case you want to enable or disable any Windows app. Here are the steps you need to follow:
Click Next to continue. From there, follow these steps once you land on the Publisher screen:
Click Next on the Publisher screen, and then click Next again when you get to the Exceptions screen. Finally, type a name in the Description: (Optional) box on the Name and Description window. For example, you can type something like “A tool for enabling or disabling the Microsoft Store.” Otherwise, you can skip this step. Finally, click the Create button. If you selected “Deny” in the Permissions screen, the Microsoft Store should be disabled. To re-enable the Microsoft Store at a later stage, follow these steps:
5. Use the System Settings to Enable or Disable the App From Running in the BackgroundThere are times when you don’t want to completely disable the Microsoft Store. Instead, you might only be interested in stopping the app from sending you tons of notifications. In this instance, you can disable the tool from running in the background. That way, the app won’t send you notifications randomly. Here are the steps for disabling the Microsoft Store from running in the background:
Enabling or Disabling the Microsoft Store Isn’t ComplicatedDisabling the Microsoft Store prevents others from downloading unwanted apps on your device. Meanwhile, enabling the app can help you get rid of error messages like, "Microsoft Store is blocked." Now, whether you want to disable or enable the Microsoft Store, try any of the tips we’ve covered. If you can’t run the app while it’s enabled, then you need to try a few other solutions. |