How to Disable Windows Store in Windows 10 & Windows 8, 8.1

The "Windows Store" or "Microsoft Store" is the official app store for Microsoft Windows metro style (modern) apps for Windows 8, 8.1 and Windows 10 based systems. In Microsoft Store you can find and install free or paid applications according your needs to your device. 

In all Windows 10, 8.1 & 8 based devices the "Store" app is a system application that is used in relation with your Microsoft Account (or your Windows Live ID) to download and install modern apps from the Windows Store.

Although the Store app is a important app for managing modern apps, many network administrators or simple users doesn't not want to use it and they want to disable the access to Windows Store app in their Windows 10 or Windows 8 system(s).

In this tutorial you can find detailed instructions on how to disable or enable the access to the Windows Store app in Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10.

How to prevent the access to Windows Store app in Windows 10, 8 & 8.1.

Choose your Windows Edition if you want to deny the access to Windows Store app:

Windows 8 PRO, Windows 8.1 PRO or Windows 10 Enterprise.

Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 Home Edition.

Windows 10 Home & PRO Editions.

How to disable Windows Store App in Windows 8 PRO, Windows 8.1 PRO & Windows 10 Enterprise Editions.

To prevent the access to Store app in Windows 8 – 8.1 PRO & Windows 10 Enterprise:

1. Right-click on Start button and select Run.

2. Type gpedit.msc and press OK.

3. Inside Local Group Policy Editor click to expand at the left pane:

Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components and click Store.

4. At the right side double click to open Turn off the Store application settings.

5. At the Turn off the Store application settings window, click Enabled and press OK. *

Note: If you want to enable (allow) the access to Windows Store app, set to "Not Configured".

6. Close group policy editor and you 're done!

How to disable Windows Store App in Windows 8 & Windows 8.1 Home Editions.

To prevent the access to Store app in Windows 8 – 8.1 Home:

1. Right-click on Start button and select Run.

2. Type regedit and press OK.

3. Inside Registry Editor click to expand at the left pane:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE –> SOFTWARE –> Policies –> Microsoft and click the WindowsStore key.

Note: If the "WindowsStore" key doesn't exist, right click at Microsoft key and select New –> Key and give at the new key the name "WindowsStore" (without quotes).

4. Right click at an empty space on the right pane and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.

5. Give at the new value the name RemoveWindowsStore and then double click on it and type at value data 1 and click OK.

Note: If you want to unblock the access to Windows Store app, set the Value data to "0" (zero or just delete the "RemoveWindowsStore" key.

6. Close Registry Editor and restart your computer.

How to disable Windows Store App in Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 PRO Editions.

Unfortunately there is not a group policy or registry setting that can block the access to Windows Store app on a Windows 10 Pro or Home computer. Additionally, if you want to deny the access to the Store app on a Windows 10 Pro or Home based computer, you have the folllowing two (2) options:

1. To completely uninstall the Windows Store App from your Windows 10 computer by following the instructions from this article: How to easy Uninstall Apps and Programs in Windows 10
2. To block (deny) the access to all Store Apps if you own a Windows 10 Pro (only) computer by using the instructions below: *

* To deny the access to all Windows Store Apps in Windows 10 PRO:

1. Right-click on Start button and select Run.

2. Type gpedit.msc and press OK.

3. Inside Local Group Policy Editor click to expand at the left pane:

• Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components and click Store.

Note: If the Store option is missing, then proceed and uninstall the Update KB3147458 as mentioned in this article: How to fix the “Resource ‘$(string.RequirePrivateStoreOnly” error and restore the “Store” setting(s) in Windows 10 Pro Group Policy Editor.

4. At the right side double click to open the “Disable all apps from Windows Store” settings.

5. At the Disable all apps from Windows Store settings window, click Disabled and press OK to disable the access to all store apps. *

Note: If you want to enable the access to all Windows Store apps, set to "Not Configured".

6. Close group policy editor and you 're done!

That’s all! Did it work for you?

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Konstantinos Tsoukalas

Konstantinos is the founder and administrator of Repairwin.com. Since 1995 he works and provides IT support as a computer and network expert to individuals and large companies. He is specialized in solving problems related to Windows or other Microsoft products (Windows Server, Office, Microsoft 365, etc.).

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