SOLVED: How to Disable the STORE App in Windows 10

May 20th 2016 UPDATE: We have a solution to disabling the STORE in Windows 10 Pro using a Group Policy Object . To avoid confusion I started a new post HERE.

JANUARY 28 2016 UPDATE: I have found this GPO to cause the STORE to fail to download apps but it does not block the store outright like it did in Windows 8.   “Roy” in Microsoft Partner Support, worked with the Windows Dev Team to find out that this policy only works on Windows 10 ENTERPRISE and intentionally does not work on Windows 10 Pro.

We are working on finding a solution that does not involve deleting (or renaming) the Store app in every profile.  In case you want to do that the path to the Windows 10 Store is C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsStore_8wekyb3d8bbwe\

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In Windows 8 you could disable the Microsoft STORE app using the Local Group Policy editor:

  1. click START, type GPEDIT.MSC and press the Enter key
  2. Expand USER CONFIGURATION > ADMINISTRATIVE TEMPLATES > WINDOWS COMPONENTS > STORE
  3. Set TURN OFF THE STORE APPLICATION

You can use the above path to disable the Windows STORE in Windows 10 if you are on a corporate network with a Windows Domain Controller, using your Active Directory GROUP POLICY assuming you have loaded the Windows 10 ADMX template (click to download directly from Microsoft)

However the STORE key does not exist in Windows 10 LOCAL Group Policy, sooo you need to edit the registry manually:

  1. Click START, type REGEDIT.EXE and press ENTER Key
  2. Expand KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsStore
  3. Right click and select NEW > REG_DWORD
  4. Name it RemoveWindowsStore
  5. Set the value to 1
  6. Reboot the PC and notice that the store is locked

View Comments

  • To Get GPEDIT here for windows 10 GPEdit.msc
    Download the file and install it as admin
    Go to C:\Windows\SysWOW64
    copy the following:
    Folders: GroupPolicy
    GroupPolicyUsers
    and
    gpedit.msc
    Paste them in the following locations:
    C:\Windows\System
    C:\Windows\System32
    Now hit WINDOWKEY + R
    Type: gpedit.msc
    And you are done.
    If you are still unable to fix it, you can visit the given below website and talk to a Tech expert.
    https://www.scislides.com/microsoft-windows-upgrade-installation-support.php

  • thank you for information. it works fine on windows 10

    we have a network and around 100 computers are connected to domain.
    is there anyway that I can disable Microsoft Store from there just for one time and all the computers should not be able to use Store?

    • Unless you are running Enterprise or Education, which support the block store GPO, this post is the only way I have found to kill the store.

  • Just a reminder that although that's a user policy, you can use GPO loopback mode to turn it into a computer policy.

    • The GPO to disable the STORE in Windows 10 ONLY functions on the ENTERPRISE and EDUCATION versions of Windows 10. This makes me very unhappy and so the solution shown in this post is a solid work around for many organizations.

  • Yo homie

    Your first set of steps says TURN OF THE STORE

    Hate to be that guy, but OF should be OFF

    Sorry for being the weird spelling guy lol... I appreciate the time you spent on this article and the only reason I'm here is because I'm someone that needed your help. I only add this comment so you can further help people. I can see how that might throw someone off because they're looking for your exact instructions. I won't be offended or upset if you don't approve this comment or delete it. It doesn't add real value to your comments section. I just wanted to help you have the most accurate blog post possible regarding this, especially where it counts most.

    • Thank you! My greatest weakness is my greatest strength. If speed doesn't get the job done, it kills. I should slow down and proof these better. Thank you for your help it is GREATLY appreciated.

  • I have had Windows 10 Pro on my home computer for almost 1 year. I used the store for a while to download a couple of game apps.

    Recently I noticed that the store no longer worked. The app's usual blue screen with the spinner came up and then it said it could not connect to the server. Obviously this was a network/access issue. I did a bit of digging and tried many "solutions" but could not find a way to fix the problem.

    Two nights ago I was signed onto my computer using my MS account (instead of the local account). I was able to install the Crackle App from the store. That's when a thought occurred to me. MS is watching you :-P

    The store and other unwanted apps can uninstalled ...

    http://www.howtogeek.com/224798/how-to-uninstall-windows-10s-built-in-apps-and-how-to-reinstall-them/

    I deleted my MS account and went back to the local account.

  • how to you enable the store because I don't even have the option to in the registry to change it because the folder doesn't exist.

    • Adding the line to the registry worked for me. I tried all kinds of other things, but this worked.

    • Hi Josh. I am now arguing this with MS and very hope they correct their unacceptable position on this matter.

Published by
Ian Matthews

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