How to disable or enable Microsoft Store in Windows

Microsoft Store is an amazing tool that helps you download your favorite games and other applications. However, there are times when you may want to disable this tool.

For example, you could disable the Microsoft Store if other people use it to download apps without your permission. Or, you can disable the tool if it keeps sending you random notifications (no matter how many times you disable those notifications).

As such, let’s explore the solutions to disable and enable Microsoft Store.

1. Use the Local Group Policy Editor (LGPE)

You can apply this method only if you are using the Pro, Education and Enterprise versions of Windows. If you are using the Home edition, you will first need to apply a few tricks to access the LGPE in Windows Home.

Otherwise, here are the steps to disable or enable the Microsoft Store using the LGPE:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run command dialog box.
2. Write gpedit.msc and press Get into to open the LGPE.
3. navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Store.
4. Double click on the Turn off the Store app option in the right side panel.

To disable Microsoft Store, select Activated. Otherwise, select not configured either disabled to enable the Microsoft Store app. Finally, click on Apply and then click okay to save these changes.

2. Use Registry Editor

Registry Editor is an amazing tool that can help you configure various system settings. In this case, we will see how you can use it to disable or enable the Microsoft Store app.

Before you begin, back up your Registry in case something goes wrong.

Now here are the steps to enable or disable Microsoft Store using Registry Editor:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run command dialog box.
2. Write regedit in the search box and press Get into to open Registry Editor.
3. Copy and paste the following command into the address bar and press Get into:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\

From there, follow these steps:

1. Right click on the Microsoft key and select New > Key.
2. Name the new key as Windows Store and then press Get into.

Then right click on the Windows Store key and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. From there, name the value as “RemoveWindowsStore” and then press Get into.

To disable Microsoft Store, double-click the RemoveWindowsStore value and set its value data a 1. Otherwise, set the value data a 0 (zero) to enable Microsoft Store.

From there, press the button okay button. Finally, close Registry Editor and reboot your device to save these changes.

3. Use Software Restriction Policies in Local Security Policy

The Software Restriction Policies option in Local Security Policy can help. This is how you can use this feature to enable or disable Microsoft Store:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run command dialog box.
2. Write secpol.msc in the search box and press Get into to open the Local Security Policy.
3. Click on the Software restriction policies option on the left side. Then right click on additional rules to the right and select new route rule.
4. Write %program files%\WindowsApps\Microsoft.WindowsStore* in the route box.

To disable Microsoft Store, click the Security level dropdown menu and select not allowed. Alternatively, click the dropdown button and select Unrestricted to enable Microsoft Store. Finally press Apply and then press okay.

4. Use AppLocker settings in local security policy

The AppLocker tool also makes it easy to turn the Microsoft Store on or off. Indeed, this is a brilliant feature to use in case you want to enable or disable any Windows application.

Here are the steps you need to follow:

1. Write local security policy in the search bar of the Start menu. Then right click on the best match result and click Execute as an administrator.
2. navigate to App Control Policies > AppLocker > Packaged App Rules.
3. Right click on a blank space on the right side and select Create new rule.
4. Click on the next button on the Before you start screen.
5. check the Deny button on the permissions screen to disable Microsoft Store. Alternatively, click on the Allow button to activate the tool.

Click next continue. From there, follow these steps once you land on the Editor screen:

1. check the Use an installed package app for reference option. From there, click on the Select button to search Microsoft Store.
2. On the next screen, check the Microsoft Store box and then click okay. This should take you back to the Editor screen.

Click next about him Editor screen and then click next again when you get to the exceptions screen.

Finally, write a name in the Description (optional) box in the name and description window. For example, you can write something like “A tool to enable or disable Microsoft Store.” Otherwise, you can skip this step.

Finally, click on the To create button.

If you selected “Deny” in the permissions screen, Microsoft Store must be disabled. To re-enable Microsoft Store at a later stage, follow these steps:

1. Open the local security policy and navigate to Packaged app rules option according to the steps above.
2. Double click on the Microsoft Store option on the right side.
3. navigate to the General tab.
4. check the Allow button to re-enable Microsoft Store. Finally press Apply and then press okay to apply these changes.

5. Use system settings to enable or disable app running in the background

There are times when you don’t want to completely disable the Microsoft Store. Instead, you may just be interested in preventing the app from sending you tons of notifications.

In this case, you can disable the tool from running in the background. That way, the app won’t send you random notifications.

Here are the steps to disable Microsoft Store from running in the background:

1. Write Settings in the Start menu search bar and select the best match. Alternatively, try the various ways to access Windows Settings.
2. Select Privacy of the options. Next, scroll down on the left side and then select background apps.
3. Scroll down and locate the Microsoft Store the right side. To disable running the tool in the background, to turn off the button next to this option. Alternatively, light the button to allow the app to run in the background.

Enabling or disabling Microsoft Store is not complicated

Disabling Microsoft Store prevents others from downloading unwanted apps to your device. Meanwhile, enabling the app can help you get rid of error messages like “Microsoft Store is locked”.

Now, whether you want to disable or enable the Microsoft Store, try any of the tips we’ve covered. If you are unable to run the app while it is enabled, you should try some other solutions.