Choose Where Apps can be Installed from in Windows 10  

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    Choose Where Apps can be Installed from in Windows 10

    Choose Where Apps can be Installed from in Windows 10

    How to Choose Where Apps can be Installed from in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Apps & Features
    04 Mar 2023
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Choose Where Apps can be Installed from in Windows 10


    Starting with Windows 10 build 15042, you can choose where apps can be installed from.

    This Application Installation Control feature has been officially announced starting with Windows 10 build 15046.
    • Anywhere - Users will be able to install both desktop and Store apps without getting a message dialog.
    • Anywhere, but let me know if there's a comparable app in the Microsoft Store
    • Anywhere, but warn me before installing an app that's not from the Microsoft Store - Users will be able to install both desktop and Store apps. Users will get a "The app you're installing isn't from the Windows Store" message dialog when trying to install a desktop app to see if they want to visit the Store for more apps.
    • The Microsoft Store only - Users will only be able to install apps from the Store. If users try to install a desktop app, they will get a "You can only install apps from the Windows Store" message dialog to visit the Store for more apps. Limiting installations to apps from the Store helps to keep you PC safe and reliable. Users will still be able to run desktop apps that were previously installed.

    This tutorial will show you how to choose where apps can be installed from for all users in Windows 10.

    You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to choose where apps can be installed from.


    If you are using a Windows 10 on ARM device, it will only be able to install apps from the Microsoft Store.

    If you have a Windows 10 in S Mode edition, then you will only be able to install apps from the Microsoft Store unless you switch out of S Mode.



    Contents

    • Option One: To Choose Where Apps can be Installed from in Settings
    • Option Two: To Choose Where Apps can be Installed from using a REG file
    • Option Three: To Choose Where Apps can be Installed from via Policy in Local Group Policy Editor
    • Option Four: To Choose Where Apps can be Installed from via Policy using a REG file



    EXAMPLE: Messages when trying to install desktop app
    Choose Where Apps can be Installed from in Windows 10-setup.png Choose Where Apps can be Installed from in Windows 10-appblock.png






    OPTION ONE

    To Choose Where Apps can be Installed from in Settings


    1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the Apps icon.

    2 Click/tap on Apps & features on the left side, select Anywhere (default), Anywhere, but let me know if there's a comparable app in the Microsoft Store, Anywhere, but warn me before installing an app that's not from the Microsoft Store, or The Microsoft Store only for what you want from the Choose where to get apps drop down on the right side. (see screenshot below)

    The Choose where to get apps setting will not be available if you are currently sign in as a standard user. This setting is only available for administrators.


    3 When finished, you can close Settings if you like.

    Choose Where Apps can be Installed from in Windows 10-choose_where_to_get_apps.png






    OPTION TWO

    To Choose Where Apps can be Installed from using a REG file


    The downloadable .reg files below will modify the string value in the registry key below.

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

    AicEnabled string value

    Anywhere = Anywhere
    Recommendations = Anywhere, but let me know if there's a comparable app in the Microsoft Store
    PreferStore = Anywhere, but warn me before installing an app that's not from the Microsoft Store
    StoreOnly = The Microsoft Store only


    1 Do step 2 (Anywhere), step 3 (recommendations), step 4 (warn me), or step 5 (Store only) below for what you want to choose.


     2. Set to install apps from "Anywhere"

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.

    Anywhere.reg

    Download


     3. Set to install apps from "Anywhere, but let me know if there's a comparable app in the Microsoft Store"

    This is the default setting.

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.

    Anywhere-but_let_me_know_if_compatible_app_in_Microsoft_Store.reg

    Download


     4. Set to install apps from "Anywhere, but warn me before installing an app that's not from the Microsoft Store"

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.

    Anywhere-but_warn_me_before_installing_app_not_from_Microsoft_Store.reg

    Download


     5. Set to install apps from "The Microsoft Store only"

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.

    The_Microsoft_Store_only.reg

    Download

    6 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

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

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

    9 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.






    OPTION THREE

    To Choose Where Apps can be Installed from via Policy in Local Group Policy Editor


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

    All editions can use Option Four below.


    1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

    2 Navigate to the location below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)

    Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Defender SmartScreen > Explorer

    Choose Where Apps can be Installed from in Windows 10-choose_where_apps_can_be_installed_from_gpedit-1.jpg

    3 In the right pane of Explorer in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Configure App Install Control policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

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


     5. To Not Specify Where Apps can be Installed from

    This is the default setting to allow changing Option One and Option Two.

    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 Specify Where Apps can be Installed from

    This will override and prevent changing Option One and Option Two.

    A) Select (dot) Enabled, Pick one of the following settings below, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
    • Turn off app recommendations
    • Show me app recommendations (default)
    • Warn me before installing apps from outside the Store
    • Allow apps from the Store only

    Choose Where Apps can be Installed from in Windows 10-choose_where_apps_can_be_installed_from_gpedit-2.jpg

    7 Close the Local Group Policy Editor.






    OPTION FOUR

    To Choose Where Apps can be Installed from via Policy using a REG file


    The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD and string values in the registry key below.

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\SmartScreen

    ConfigureAppInstallControlEnabled DWORD
    (delete) = Default
    1 = Specify

    ConfigureAppInstallControl string value

    (delete) = Default
    Anywhere = Anywhere
    Recommendations = Anywhere, but let me know if there's a comparable app in the Microsoft Store
    PreferStore = Anywhere, but warn me before installing an app that's not from the Microsoft Store
    StoreOnly = The Microsoft Store only


    1 Do step 2 (anywhere), step 3 (recommendations), step 4 (warn me), step 5 (Store only), step 6 (default) below for what you want.


     2. To Specify install apps from "Anywhere" for all users

    This will override and prevent changing Option One and Option Two.

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

    Turn_off_app_recommendations_for_all_users.reg

    Download


     3. To Specify install apps from "Anywhere, but let me know if there's a comparable app in the Microsoft Store" for all users

    This will override and prevent changing Option One and Option Two.

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

    Show_me_app_recommendations_for_all_users.reg

    Download


     4. To Specify install apps from "Anywhere, but warn me before installing an app that's not from the Microsoft Store" for all users

    This will override and prevent changing Option One and Option Two.

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

    Warn_me_before_installing_apps_from_outside_the_Store_for_all_users.reg

    Download


     5. To Specify install apps from "The Microsoft Store only" for all users

    This will override and prevent changing Option One and Option Two.

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

    Allow_apps_from_Store_only_for_all_users.reg

    Download


     6. To Not Specify Where Apps can be Installed from for all users

    This is the default setting.

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

    Default_Do_not_specify.reg

    Download

    7 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

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

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

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


    That's it,
    Shawn Brink


    Related Tutorials



  1. Windows 11 Tutorials



  2. Brink
    Posts : 68,836
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       New #1

    Tutorial updated to add option 3 and 4 to set this via group policy. :)
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  4. jbish
    Posts : 1
    Win10/Ubuntu
       New #2

    Pro users ask MS how to secure windows store, ms removes that option and gives them the opposite of what every pro user wants, how to force users to use the windows store. I guess Gabe Newell was right about windows future.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  5. Brink
    Posts : 68,836
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    Hello jbish, and welcome to Ten Forums. :)

    If I'm not mistaken about what you wanted, you should be able to use step 6 in Option Three or step 3 in Option Four to allow you to do that.
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  6. SM03
    Posts : 155
    Windows 10 Pro
       New #4

    @Brink

    Why this option is locked here? & how to make it unlocked/default

    Choose Where Apps can be Installed from in Windows 10-n2.png
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  7. Brink
    Posts : 68,836
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    SM03 said:
    @Brink

    Why this option is locked here? & how to make it unlocked/default
    Hello mate,

    It looks like you may have used option 3 or 4 in this tutorial to specify "Anywhere" and disable being able to use option 1 or 2 to change this setting.
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  8. SM03
    Posts : 155
    Windows 10 Pro
       New #6

    Brink said:
    Hello mate,

    It looks like you may have used option 3 or 4 in this tutorial to specify "Anywhere" and disable being able to use option 1 or 2 to change this setting.
    IDK what I've done but now what can I do so that it can be shown as default?
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  9. Brink
    Posts : 68,836
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #7

    SM03 said:
    IDK what I've done but now what can I do so that it can be shown as default?
    No worries.

    Check your group policy setting in option 3 to make sure it's set to Not Configured.

    If it already is, then use step 6 in option 4. Afterwards, check to see if you are able to use option 1 now.
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  10. SM03
    Posts : 155
    Windows 10 Pro
       New #8

    Brink said:
    No worries.

    Check your group policy setting in option 3 to make sure it's set to Not Configured.

    If it already is, then use step 6 in option 4. Afterwards, check to see if you are able to use option 1 now.
    This is the SS of my GPE, I really don't think that any change happened here
    Choose Where Apps can be Installed from in Windows 10-screenshot-132-.png

    & this is the SS of my RE

    Choose Where Apps can be Installed from in Windows 10-screenshot-133-.png

    here I can see the 'ConfigureAppInstallControlEnabled' Key, so deleting that would solve this or what?

    now what can I do so that it can be shown as default?

    EDIT: WTF? Why the ss attachments ain't adding here which I've been uploading? Website error or anything else @Brink? Which editor to use here for best suited? Currently am using the 'Enhanced Interface - Full WYSIWYG Editing' as the default Message Editior & 'Enhanced Attachment Uploading on' for Enhanced Attachment Uploading:, but having trouble to post pics.

    EDIT 2: Okay, now that I've changed the Message Editior Interface from the 'Enhanced Interface - Full WYSIWYG Editing' to 'Standard Editor', that fixed the issue, so @Brink take note that the image insertiong features is broken in the 'Enhanced Interface - Full WYSIWYG Editing' Message Editior Interface
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  12. Brink
    Posts : 68,836
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #9

    @SM03,

    When you upload an image via paperclip, you will still need to attach it in the post.

    How to Upload and Post Screenshots and Files at Ten Forums

    Your registry screenshots indicate you will need to use step 6 in option 4 for default to be able to use option 1.
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

 

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