How to Allow or Block Access to Microsoft Store App in Windows 10


The Microsoft Store app in Windows 10 offers various apps, games, music, movies & TV, and books that users can browse through, purchase, or get for free to download and install for their Microsoft account in Windows 10 PCs and devices.

If you like, you can turn off the Store app to deny users access to the Store.

This tutorial will show you how to allow or block access to the Store app for all users in Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to allow or block access to the Store app.

Access to the Store is required for users to install app updates, so you may wish to make sure that automatic app updates are turned on before blocking access to the Store app.

UPDATE: This policy will now only work in the Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 10 Education editions for version 1511 and later.

For more details, see:
* Microsoft no longer allows to block Store access in Windows 10 Pro
* Can't disable Windows Store in Windows 10 Pro through Group Policy - KB3135657

Contents

• Option One: To Allow or Block Access to Store App in Group Policy
• Option Two: To Allow or Block Access to Store App using a REG file

EXAMPLE: The Store app is blocked

OPTION ONE

To Allow or Block Access to Store App in Group Policy

The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option TWO below.

1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2 In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)

Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Store

3 In the right pane of Store in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Turn off the Store application policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4 Do step 5 (allow) or step 6 (block) below for what you would like to do.

5 To Allow Access to the Store App

A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

Not Configured is the default setting.

6 To Block Access to the Store App

A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

7 When finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.

OPTION TWO

To Allow or Block Access to Store App using a REG file

The downloadable .reg files below will add and change the registry key and DWORD value below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsStore

RemoveWindowsStore DWORD

delete or 0 = allow
1 = block

1 Do step 2 (allow) or step 3 (block) below for what you would like to do.

2 To Allow Access to the Store App

This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Allow_Access_to_Store_app.reg

Download

3 To Block Access to the Store App

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Block_Access_to_Store_app.reg

Download

4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7 If you like, you can now delete the downloaded .reg file.

That's it,
Shawn

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• How to Re-register the Store in Windows 10
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• How to Use AppLocker to Block Running Microsoft Store Apps in Windows 10
• How to Enable or Disable Microsoft Store Apps in Windows 10

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