Apps & Features Choose where to get apps missing

Welshnel · 30 Mar 2020

I have started coming across some users having an issue where when I get them to download our remote client from our website. Windows sends the user to the store instead of just using the installation file that has been downloaded. I know there is a setting in the app settings page that can be changed to prevent this. The problem I am finding is that the feature (in the image) is sometimes not available.

I have tried to search for a fix for this but I am having no luck so could someone help with this, please.

Apps & Features Choose where to get apps missing-image.png

Thanks

Brink · 30 Mar 2020

Hello Welshnel, and welcome to Ten Forums.

If any of these Windows 10 computers are a Windows 10 on ARM device, they will only be able to install apps from the Microsoft Store.

If not, then you may be able to use another option in the tutorial below to "Choose where to get apps" instead.

Choose Where Apps can be Installed from in Windows 10

Welshnel · 31 Mar 2020

The problem I'm having is that windows is defaulting to the store when installing programs and not using the executable file that has been downloading

Brink · 31 Mar 2020

Just to verify, did you already try using another option in the tutorial above to set "Anywhere" for "Choose where to get apps" to see if that may help?

Does this happen with other executable installers?

Welshnel · 31 Mar 2020

That's the problem. Option 1, I can't do because the options are missing. I know there is a reg fix but I want to know why I am missing the normal way to change these settings from the "Apps & features" menu

Brink · 31 Mar 2020

I'm not sure why "Choose where to get apps" is missing in Settings.

I was hoping using another option to set it may be used as a workaround for now until a solution for the missing setting can be found.

Welshnel · 03 Apr 2020

Yea the work around works fine thanks :). I just feel like going to the registry edit to fix a problem for something so simple is wrong lol.

In my case i'm trying to remote onto a users PC to support them and when I can't do the simple thing as install our remote software because Windows 10 wants to use the app from the store and that doesn't work for us. Trying to then get the user to go through the registry to fix the problem can be time consuming and dangerous.

Thank you for you help again though.

Brink · 03 Apr 2020

I hear that.

Hopefully, it's a bug that will be fixed in the next release.

Bree · 03 Apr 2020

Welshnel said:

I know there is a setting in the app settings page that can be changed to prevent this. The problem I am finding is that the feature (in the image) is sometimes not available.

That setting is only visible if you are signed in with an administrator account. A standard user will not see it.

Two accounts on the same PC, the first a standard user, the second an admin: