Disable Microsoft Store Apps in Windows 10

As you may already know, Windows 10 comes with its own Store app. Like Android has Google Play, and there's the App Store in iOS, the Microsoft Store app (formerly Windows Store) adds the ability to deliver digital content to the end user in Windows. There is a group policy that can be used to restrict access to all Microsoft Store apps, including pre-installed and manually downloaded packages. The Microsoft Store app will also be disabled.

Modern UWP apps can be installed and updated with one click thanks to the My Library feature of Microsoft Store. It saves the list of apps you have installed and purchased, so you can quickly get the required app on another device you own without searching for it again in the Store. When you have signed in to the Store with your Microsoft account on a new device, you will be able to install the apps you already own (which you previously purchased from another device). Microsoft Store saves the list of your devices for that purpose. This works when you are signed in with your Microsoft Account.

Tip: If you are having issues installing new apps, or if the Store fails to update apps, then it might be useful to reset the Store app. While Windows comes with a special "wsreset.exe" tool, modern versions of Windows 10 provide a more efficient and useful way to reset the app. See How to Reset the Microsoft Store App in Windows 10.

Disable Microsoft Store Apps in Windows 10

You can use either a Registry tweak or Local Group Policy Editor (where available) to apply the restriction. Here's how it can be done. You must be signed in with an administrative account to continue.

To disable Microsoft Store apps in Windows 10, do the following.

1. Open Registry Editor.
2. Go to the following Registry key:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsStore

   Tip: See how to jump to the desired Registry key with one click.

   If you do not have such a key, then just create it.

3. Here, create a new 32-bit DWORD value DisableStoreApps. Note: Even if you are running 64-bit Windows, you still need to use a 32-bit DWORD as the value type.
   Set it to 1 to disable Microsoft Store apps.
4. To make the changes done by the Registry tweak take effect, you need to restart Windows 10.

To save your time, I made ready-to-use Registry files. You can download them here:

Download Registry Files

The undo tweak is included.

If you are running Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education edition, you can use the Local Group Policy Editor app to configure the options mentioned above with a GUI.

Disable Microsoft Store Apps with Local Group Policy Editor

1. Press Win + R keys together on your keyboard and type:

   gpedit.msc

   Press Enter.

2. Group Policy Editor will open. Go to Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Store.
3. Set the policy option Disable all apps from Microsoft Store to Disabled.

That's it.

Articles of interest:

• How to Terminate Store Apps in Windows 10
• Create Check for Store Updates Shortcut in Windows 10
• Create Shortcut to App Page in Microsoft Store in Windows 10
• Hide or Show Apps in Microsoft Store My Library
• Install Apps from Microsoft Store My Library in Windows 10
• Remove Windows 10 Device from Microsoft Store Account

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