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How to Turn off Automatic Updates for Microsoft Store Apps in Windows 10

We show you how to turn off automatic updates for the Microsoft Store to prevent performance or network issues.

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The Windows Store's ability to update apps automatically can be a very useful tool, but it can also be a nuisance. Often, users will notice that the service host network service is taking up a lot of their bandwidth and slowing things down. Other times, users want to turn off automatic updates because they prefer a certain version of an app.

Today we're going to show you how to turn off automatic updates for the , but it's worth noting that this won't prevent it from installing unwanted apps. We're also not going to cover fixing the Store if it isn't working or how to uninstall it entirely. For those, you can check their respective links.

Though it is possible to set upload and download limits for the Store, this still isn't an ideal for those with slow connections. Automatic app downloads and installation can also use system resources, resulting in high CPU utilization and I/O and fears of a svchost virus. In reality, installing and updating apps just takes an unavoidable chunk of system resources, which can be a problem when you're gaming. You can follow the steps below to remove this annoying default behavior:

How to Stop Automatic Updates via the Microsoft Store

The simplest way to stop apps from updating automatically is via the Store itself. This is a quick process, but only works for that user and can reset after a feature update.

  1. Open the Microsoft Store


    Press the “Start” button or click the search bar on your taskbar and type “Microsoft Store”.

    Windows 10 - Open Microsoft Store

  2. Open Microsoft Store Settings


    In the Microsoft Store, press the three dots in the top-right corner and click “Settings”.

    Windows 10 - Microsoft Store - See More - Open Settings

  3. Turn off automatic updates for the Microsoft Store


    Toggle the “Update apps automatically” option, which can be found under the “App updates” heading.

    Windows 10 - Microsoft Store - See More -Settings - Updates App Automatically

How to Turn Off Automatic Microsoft Store Updates via Group Policy

Users on Windows 10 Pro or higher will have access to the Group Policy Editor, a handy tool for changing the OS' default behavior which is often more permanent. You can stop automatic updates via this method for all users on the PC.

  1. Open the Group Policy Editor (GPO)


    Press the “Start” button or click the Windows search bar and type “Group Policy”. Click the first result.

    Windows 10 - Open Local Group Policy Editor

  2. Navigate to the “Turn off Automatic Download and Install of updates” policy


    You can find this in Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/Windows Components/Store. Double-click it to open the editing menu.

    Windows 10 - Local Group Policy Editor - Store - Open Turn Off Aut. Download and Instal of Updates

  3. Turn on or off Windows 10 auto update for apps


    Click the “Enabled” option to stop auto download of app updates, or “Disabled” to let the Microsoft Store update apps automatically. “Not Configured” will have the policy follow the existing system settings.

    Windows 10 - Local Group Policy Editor - Store - Turn Off Aut. Download and Instal of Updates - Select an Option

 

How to Stop Automatic Store Updates on Windows 10 Home with Regedit

Users on Windows 10 Home won't have access to the Group Policy editor, which makes it a bit more challenging to turn off automatic updates for all users. Thankfully, you can perform the same policy switch via the registry, but you should ideally read our safe registry editing guide first.

  1. Open the Registry Editor


    Press “Windows + R” to open the Run dialog, type “regedit”, and press “OK”.

    Windows 10 - Run - Open Registry Editor

  2. Go to the Windows Store key and create a new DWORD


    You'll find the Microsoft Store key in Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsStore. Right-click the empty space in the main pane and choose “New > DWORD (32-bit) Value”.

    Windows 10 - Run - Registry Editor - Enter the HKEY - New DWORD

  3. Create a disable auto download DWORD


    Set the “Value name” to “AutoDownload”. To disable automatic app download, set the “Value data” to “2”. To force the Microsoft Store to update apps automatically no matter what, set it to “4”. When you're done, press “OK” and close the Registry Editor.

    Windows 10 - Run - Registry Editor - Enter the HKEY - New DWORD - Autodownload - Always Off

 

Ryan Maskell
Ryan Maskellhttps://ryanmaskell.co.uk
Ryan has had a passion for gaming and technology since early childhood. Fusing the skills from his Creative Writing and Publishing degree with profound technical knowledge, he enjoys covering news about Microsoft. As an avid writer, he is also working on his debut novel.