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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →To stop Microsoft Store apps from updating automatically, use the Store’s own update control on a personal PC, or enforce Microsoft’s “Turn off Automatic Download and Install of updates” policy on supported business editions. The first option may be a switch or a temporary pause, depending on your Store build; Group Policy, registry, or mobile-device management (MDM) provides a device-wide setting that is designed to persist.
What this setting controls
Microsoft Store app updates are separate from Windows Update. Turning off Windows Update does not, by itself, disable the Store’s download and installation process. Conversely, disabling Store app updates does not stop Windows from receiving operating-system updates.
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Microsoft describes the behavior this way: “Microsoft Store on Windows can automatically install app updates.” Those updates can contain feature changes, bug fixes, compatibility work, and security fixes. If you disable the automatic flow, someone must check for updates and install them manually.
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- One unmanaged PC: check the Microsoft Store settings first. This is the least disruptive approach, but the control can vary by Store version.
- A business, school, or shared device: use Group Policy or an MDM profile so the setting applies to the whole device and does not depend on an individual user’s Store preferences.
- A Windows edition without the policy editor: a policy registry value can be deployed by an administrator, PowerShell, Configuration Manager, or Intune, provided the organization can manage the device by one of those methods.
Choose the right method
| Method | Scope | Edition and version notes | Persistence | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Store settings | Usually the current user or PC, depending on the Store build | Available only when the installed Store version exposes the control | A switch may remain in effect; a pause may expire | Simple, but the label and duration can change |
| Local Group Policy | Whole computer | Relevant policy tools are normally available on managed Pro, Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise installations; Home does not include the standard Local Group Policy Editor | Enforced until the policy is changed or set to Not Configured | Requires administrative access and policy maintenance |
| Policy registry value | Whole computer | Uses the same Windows Store policy as Group Policy; deployment method determines which editions an organization can manage | Persistent while the policy value remains present | A wrong key or value can affect policy behavior; back up and document changes |
| MDM / Intune | Whole device, centrally assigned | Microsoft documents Windows 10 version 2004 and later and Windows 11 version 21H2 and later on Pro, Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise editions for the ADMX-backed setting | Reapplied by device management | Requires an enrolled, managed device and administrator configuration |
Do not confuse this policy with blocking access to the Microsoft Store application. Access restrictions can prevent users from installing apps and can interfere with update and support workflows. The methods below target automatic app updating rather than Store access.
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Turn off updates in Microsoft Store on one PC
Use this route first when you control a personal Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer and do not need a centrally enforced rule.
- Open Microsoft Store from the Start menu.
- Open the Store’s account or profile menu, then choose Settings. Microsoft has changed the exact placement and wording between Store builds, so look for an update-related section rather than relying on one icon position.
- Find the control for App updates or automatic updates. If the page provides an on/off switch, turn automatic updates off.
- If the build offers only a Pause choice, select the available pause period and note its end date. A pause is not the same as a permanent policy; updates can resume when the period ends.
- Close and reopen the Store settings page to confirm that the selected state is still shown.
Some Store versions do not expose a permanent off switch. In that case, the absence of the control is a version or policy limitation, not evidence that Windows Update is responsible for the downloads. Use the policy method that matches your edition if you need an enforceable setting.
Disable automatic downloads with Local Group Policy
Group Policy is Microsoft’s documented administrator control for stopping Store app updates. It applies at the computer level, so it is suitable for shared PCs and managed installations where every user should receive the same behavior.
Open the policy
- Sign in with an administrator account.
- Press Windows key + R, type
gpedit.msc, and press Enter. On editions that do not include the Local Group Policy Editor, this command will not open the tool. - In the left pane, open Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Store.
- In the right pane, double-click Turn off Automatic Download and Install of updates.
- Select Enabled, choose Apply, and then OK.
- Restart Windows, or apply computer policy from an elevated Command Prompt with
gpupdate /force. Existing downloads may need to finish or be canceled separately; the policy controls future automatic download and installation behavior.
Verify the result
Open the policy again and confirm that it reads Enabled. You can also run gpresult /r in an elevated Command Prompt to review computer policies applied to the device. The Store may still display an update manually initiated by a user or administrator; disabling the automatic policy does not remove the Store’s ability to update an app on request.
Restore automatic updates
Return to the same policy, select Disabled or Not Configured, apply the change, and restart or run gpupdate /force. Leaving the policy at Not Configured allows the normal Store setting to govern the device.
Use the policy registry value
The Group Policy setting is backed by a registry value at:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsStore
Microsoft documents the AutoDownload value as follows:
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| Value data | Meaning |
|---|---|
2 |
Apps will not be updated automatically |
4 |
Apps will be automatically updated |
Set the value in Registry Editor
- Sign in as an administrator and create a restore point or export the relevant key if your organization’s change process requires a backup.
- Press Windows key + R, enter
regedit, and accept the elevation prompt. - Navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsStore. IfWindowsStoredoes not exist, create that key underHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoft. - Create or edit a DWORD (32-bit) Value named
AutoDownload. - Set its data to
2and use hexadecimal or decimal notation consistently; the value is the same for 2 in either base. - Restart Windows, or refresh computer policy, and then check the Store behavior.
To re-enable automatic updates through this policy, change AutoDownload to 4. If you want policy control removed entirely, delete the value or key only when no management system will recreate it, then refresh policy. A centrally managed device may overwrite a local edit at the next management check-in.
PowerShell deployment example
An administrator can create the policy key and set the disabling value from an elevated PowerShell session:
New-Item -Path 'HKLM:SOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsStore' -Force
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:SOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsStore' -Name 'AutoDownload' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -ForceRun the commands in an elevated session because they write under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. To restore the automatic setting, use the same command with -Value 4. Test registry deployment on a pilot device before applying it broadly.
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Enforce the setting with MDM or Intune
Organizations that manage Windows through MDM can deploy Microsoft’s ADMX-backed Store setting instead of editing each PC. The documented policy node is:
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_WindowsStore/DisableAutoDownloadWin8
When enabled, this setting turns off automatic download of app updates. Microsoft documents applicability for Windows 10 version 2004 and later and Windows 11 version 21H2 and later on Pro, Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise editions.
Use the ApplicationManagement CSP
The ApplicationManagement configuration service provider exposes AllowAppStoreAutoUpdate as a device-scoped setting on supported business editions:
| Value | State |
|---|---|
0 |
Not allowed; automatic Store app updates are disabled |
1 |
Allowed |
2 |
Not configured |
This CSP setting maps to the policy named Turn off Automatic Download and Install of updates. In Intune, select the corresponding Windows Store ADMX or administrative-template setting, assign it to a device group, and allow the device to check in. The exact portal labels can change, so verify that the resulting profile targets the Store automatic-update policy rather than a Store-access restriction.
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Microsoft also documents registry deployment through Intune, Configuration Manager, Group Policy, or PowerShell. A Windows app installed from the Microsoft Store follows Microsoft Store update settings, so the device policy affects that installation channel rather than only one visible Store window.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check for updates manually after disabling automation
Turning off automation transfers the maintenance task to you or your administrator. Establish a regular check rather than waiting for an app failure.
- Open Microsoft Store.
- Open Library (called Downloads and updates in some older layouts).
- Select Get updates or the equivalent check-for-updates command.
- Review the listed apps, start the updates you approve, and leave the Store open until downloads and installations complete.
- For managed computers, record the date of the check and any app that was deferred so security-sensitive updates are not forgotten.
If a Store app has its own in-app updater, that mechanism is separate and may still operate. Review the app’s documentation before assuming the Store policy governs every update path.
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Troubleshooting common outcomes
The Store setting is missing
Store UI controls vary by installed build. Install available Windows and Store servicing updates first if your organization permits them, then check the settings again. If only a temporary pause appears, use Group Policy, the registry policy value, or MDM for a persistent result.
Updates continue after enabling the policy
- Confirm that the policy was configured under Computer Configuration, not only under a user policy branch.
- Run
gpupdate /forceand restart the computer. - Check
gpresult /rto ensure another policy is not overriding the setting. - Inspect
HKLMSOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsStoreand verifyAutoDownloadis2. - On an MDM device, check the management status and wait for a successful policy check-in; local registry edits can be replaced by the next device sync.
The Store cannot install updates manually
Disabling automatic downloads should not require blocking Store access. If manual installation fails, check Store sign-in, network access, available disk space, system date and time, and any organization policy that restricts app installation. Removing a Store-access block may be necessary, but that is a separate administrative change.
A paused setting changed back
A pause is time-limited by design. When it expires, the Store can resume automatic updates. Replace the pause with the documented policy on a supported managed edition if the setting must remain off.
Security and maintenance consequences
Microsoft presents automatic updates as a way to deliver app security patches and new features without requiring a manual visit to the Store. Disabling them can be reasonable for bandwidth control, compatibility testing, kiosk change management, or a staged rollout, but it creates an operational obligation.
- Maintain an inventory of Store-installed apps and their approved versions.
- Schedule manual checks, especially after a security advisory or a Windows feature update.
- Test updates on a pilot device before releasing them to a large user population.
- Document who can override the policy and how to restore automatic updates.
- Remove the disabling policy when the original compatibility or bandwidth issue is resolved.
There is no official prevalence, failure-rate, or performance statistic establishing that disabling Store updates improves Windows performance. The measurable effect supported by Microsoft’s policy documentation is narrower: automatic download and installation are turned off, and responsibility for keeping apps current moves to the user or administrator.
Recommended decision
For a personal PC, use the Store setting when it provides a permanent switch and accept a pause only when a temporary stop is sufficient. For a managed Pro, Enterprise, Education, or IoT Enterprise device, enable Turn off Automatic Download and Install of updates through Group Policy or MDM; the registry value AutoDownload=2 is the equivalent policy state. Whichever method you choose, schedule manual checks so turning off automation does not turn into permanently unpatched Store applications.
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