This article explains enabling or disabling “Update Microsoft Store Apps Automatically” in Windows 11.
Windows Update lets you install patches, upgrade the OS to address bugs and security vulnerabilities, and improve your apps’ overall security, protecting your personal information.
Two categories of apps can be installed on Windows: Microsoft Store and Transitional Apps. The traditional apps are available via Windows installer and from third parties outside the Microsoft Store. They typically come with an installer which usually ends with .exe.
Microsoft Store apps are available from the Microsoft Store and can only be installed there. By default, apps installed from the Microsoft Store will automatically be updated when new versions are available.
You can turn off updating Microsoft Store apps automatically if you want to.
Enable or disable Automatically updating Microsoft Store apps
As mentioned above, Microsoft Store apps will automatically be updated after installation. If you don’t want that, you can turn it off.
Here’s how to do that on Windows.
First, open the Microsft Store app.
Then click on your profile image and select Settings.
On the Settings page, select the App updates tile. Then toggle the switch button to the On or Off position to enable or disable automatic app updates.
Close the Microsoft Store app once done.
Turn On or Off the Microsoft Store app’s automatic update
Another way to turn on or off the Microsoft Store app’s automatic update is to use the Local Group Policy Editor.
To do that, first, open the Local Group Policy Editor.
Then expand the following folders Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Store.
Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Store
Next, click on the Store folder on the left panel, and double-click the setting on the right called “Turn off Automatic Download and Install of updates” to open.
When the setting window opens, select one of the options:
- Not Configured – Same as Disabled. Automatic download and installation of app updates are turned on.
- Enabled – Automatic download and installation of app updates are turned off.
- Disabled – Automatic download and installation of app updates are turned on.
Save your settings and restart your computer for the changes to apply.
Enable or disable Automatic Windows Store app updates via Windows Registry Editor
Yet another way to turn on or off Automatic app updates in the Microsoft Store in Windows is to use the Windows Registry Editor.
If you can’t open the Local Group Policy Editor, use the Windows Registry editor instead.
Open the Windows Registry, and navigate to the folder keys below. Use the MACHINE key to disable or enable all users.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsStore\WindowsUpdate
If you don’t see the WindowsUpdate folder key, right-click on the WindowsStore key, then create the subkey (WindowsUpdate) folders.
Right-click the WindowsUpdate folder key’s right pane and select New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value. Type a new key named AutoDownload.
Double-click the new key item name (AutoDownload) and make sure the Base option is Decimal, and then update the Value data:
- To disable the Registry Editor, type 4.
- To enable the Registry Editor, type 2.
Next, open the folder key below to always enable or disable Automatic Microsoft Store app updates.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsStore
Right-click the WindowsStore folder key’s right pane and select New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value. Type a new key named AutoDownload.
Double-click the new key item name (AutoDownload) and make sure the Base option is Decimal, and then update the Value data:
- To disable the Registry Editor, type 4.
- To enable the Registry Editor, type 2.
Save your changes and restart your computer.
That should do it!
Conclusion:
This post showed you how to turn on or off automatic updates for Microsoft Store apps in Windows 11. If you find any errors above or have something to add, please use the comments form below.
Leave a Reply