How to Turn On Automatic Updates in the Microsoft Store on Windows 11
- 10 steps
- Includes a restart or sign-out
Automatic updates in the Microsoft Store on Windows 11 download and install newer versions of your apps in the background. Whenever your PC is online, Windows handles app updates itself, so you get bug fixes and improvements without checking for them by hand.
The setting is in the Microsoft Store app and takes less than a minute to change. It works the same on Windows 11 Home and Pro. Once it is on, you don’t need to restart the PC or do anything else.
Open the Microsoft Store, click your profile icon in the top-right corner, choose Store Settings (or App settings in some versions), and switch App updates to On. Windows then downloads and installs newer versions of your apps in the background whenever the PC is online. No restart is needed.
Get New Features Faster
App developers fix bugs, patch security problems and add features all the time. With automatic updates on, those changes reach your PC soon after they are released. You don’t have to remember to check, and you are less likely to run an old version with a known problem.
Let’s Turn On Automatic Updates!
Turning this on takes a few clicks. You open the Store, go to its settings, and flip one switch. The steps below show each part.
Step 1Open the Microsoft Store
First, open the Microsoft Store.
- Click the Start button. By default it is the Windows logo in the middle of the taskbar. If you have moved the taskbar icons to the left, it is in the bottom-left corner.
- Type “Microsoft Store” in the search box. The search results appear as you type.
- Click Microsoft Store in the results. The Store window opens on its home page.
If the Store doesn’t appear in the search, it may be missing or damaged. Check Windows Update, then try again.
Step 2Go to Store Settings
Next, find the Store’s settings once the window is open.
- Look at the top-right corner of the Store window for your profile picture or icon. If you aren’t signed in, it shows a generic person icon.
- Click the profile picture. A small menu opens.
- Choose Store Settings from the menu. In current versions of the Store this entry may be labeled App settings. It is the same page. The settings page then opens.
Step 3Turn On App Updates
In short, to turn on Microsoft Store auto updates in Windows 11, open the Microsoft Store app, click your profile icon, open the settings page, and switch the App updates toggle to On. Windows then downloads and installs new versions of your installed apps in the background, and you no longer have to check for them yourself.
- Scroll down the settings page if you don’t see the app update options at the top.
- Find the section for app updates.
- Look for the option called App updates.
- Click the switch next to App updates so it reads On. The switch changes color and moves to the right. Some versions also show a checkmark.
Reference:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/turn-on-automatic-app-updates
Summary
With automatic app updates on, your installed apps refresh themselves, stay stable and pick up new features soon after release. You no longer have to check for updates by hand, and the setting is easy to switch off if you ever want to control updates yourself.
Frequently asked questions
How to install optional 🪟 Windows 11 updates?
Open Settings, go to Windows Update, and select Advanced options, then Optional updates. Windows lists driver and feature updates there. Check the boxes for the ones you want, select Download & install, then restart if Windows asks. Optional updates are not installed automatically, so check this page now and then.
How to schedule updates in 🪟 Windows 11?
Windows 11 does not let you pick an exact time for updates to install. Instead, set Active hours so Windows avoids restarting while you work. Open Settings, go to Windows Update, and select Change active hours. Choose your start and end times. Windows won't restart your PC during those hours.
How to disable automatic updates in 🪟 Windows 11?
Windows 11 has no simple switch to turn off automatic updates, and fully disabling them leaves your PC exposed to security flaws. To pause them for a while, open Settings, go to Windows Update, and select Pause updates. Choose a date up to five weeks away. Only turn updates off completely if you have a specific reason.
How to schedule automatic updates in 🪟 Windows 11?
Windows 11 has no setting to pick an exact time for automatic updates. Instead, set Active hours, and Windows will only restart your PC outside that window. Open Settings, select Windows Update, then Change active hours. Pick a start and end time for the window.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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