How to Enable or Disable access to Microsoft Store in Windows 10

We have seen how to Disable Automatic App Updates in Windows 10/8. If you do not have any use for the Windows Store and never use any Windows Store apps, you may, if you wish, disable access to or turn off the Windows Store in Windows 10/8.1, using the Group Policy Editor.

Turn off or Disable Microsoft Store

You can use the Group Policy, AppLocker or the Registry Editor to enable or disable access to Microsoft Store in Windows 10.

1] Using Group Policy Editor

To disable access to or turn off the Windows Store, type gpedit.msc in Run box and hit Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor. Navigate to the following setting:

Computer Configuration > Administartive Templates > Windows Components > Store

Here, in the right pane, you will see the setting Turn off the Store application.

Double-click on it to open the Settings box, select Enabled and click Apply.

This setting denies or allows access to the Store application. If you enable this setting, access to the Store application is denied. Access to the Store is required for installing app updates. If you disable or don't configure this setting, access to the Store application is allowed.

Exit Group Policy Editor.

To re-enable it, you will have to select Not configured and exit.

2] Using Registry Editor

If your version of Windows does not have the Group Policy Editor, Run regedit and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor. Navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsStore

Create a new DWORD value in the WindowsStore key. Name it RemoveWindowsStore and give it a value of 1. If the WindowsStore key does no exist, create it, first.

Restart your Windows 10/8.1 computer.

You will have disabled the Windows Store application, and if anyone tried to open it, they will receive the following message:

Windows Store isn't available on this PC. Contact your system administrator for more information

To re-enable the Windows Store, give RemoveWindowsStore a value of 0.

Hope this helps.

3] Using AppLocker

You can block access to Microsoft Store app with AppLocker by creating a rule for packaged apps. You'll give the name of the Microsoft Store app as the packaged app that you want to block from client computers.

NOTE: Our Ultimate Windows Tweaker will let you do this in a click!

UPDATE: In Windows 10 Pro now and later, you will find that you will not be able to disable Windows Store. It is available in Windows 10 Enterprise & Education only.