How to Disable Auto-Updates in Microsoft Store on Windows 11

Quick fix: Open Microsoft Store. Click your profile icon → App settings. Toggle App updates off. The Store stops auto-updating apps. To re-enable on demand: same toggle. To update apps manually: click Library → Get updates.

Microsoft Store auto-updates apps in the background. Sometimes a newer app version breaks a workflow (UI change, feature removal). Disabling auto-update keeps your apps on the current version. You can still manually update when ready.

What causes this need

By default, Store auto-updates run when the PC is on Wi-Fi and idle. This is generally good (security, bug fixes). But sometimes you need to:

• Keep a specific app version that’s known to work (Photos legacy, Calculator with feature you use).
• Save bandwidth on metered connections.
• Reduce background CPU/disk I/O on slow PCs.
• Stabilize a managed PC (school, kiosk).

Method 1: Disable via Store App Settings

The standard route.

1. Open Microsoft Store from Start menu or taskbar.
2. Click your profile picture (top right).
3. Click App settings in the dropdown.
4. Find App updates toggle. Set to Off.
5. (Optional) Toggle off Update apps over metered connections — though that’s usually already off.
6. Close the Store. Auto-updates are now disabled.
7. To update on demand: open Store → Library (bottom left) → click Get updates. Or click any individual app and pick Update.

This is the simplest disable.

Method 2: Disable via Group Policy (Pro/Enterprise)

For managed PCs.

1. Open Group Policy Editor: Win+R → gpedit.msc.
2. Navigate: Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Store.
3. Find Turn off Automatic Download and Install of updates. Set to Enabled.
4. Click Apply → OK.
5. Open Command Prompt (Admin). Run: gpupdate /force.
6. Now auto-updates are blocked policy-wide. Even users in non-admin accounts can’t override.
7. For Home edition: Group Policy isn’t available. Use Method 3 (registry).
8. For users with Intune: deploy this as a Configuration Profile.

This is the right path for managed environments.

Method 3: Disable via Registry (Home edition)

For Windows 11 Home.

1. Open Registry Editor (Win+R, regedit).
2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsStore. (If WindowsStore key doesn’t exist: right-click Microsoft → New → Key → name WindowsStore.)
3. Right-click empty space → New → DWORD (32-bit) Value.
4. Name: AutoDownload. Value: 2 (disables auto-update).
5. Close Registry Editor. Restart PC.
6. Auto-updates are blocked.
7. To re-enable: delete the AutoDownload value or set to 4 (default).
8. Caveat: Microsoft may override registry policy if it conflicts with Store app settings toggle. Use Method 1 first.

This is for Home edition users.

How to verify the fix worked

• Microsoft Store → profile → App settings: App updates toggle is Off.
• Open Store Library. Updates pending (if any) but not auto-installed.
• Wait 24+ hours. Apps stay on current version.
• For Group Policy: gpresult /h C:\report.html shows the policy as applied.

If none of these work

If updates still install: Windows Update for Business: Microsoft Store apps can come through Windows Update channel for managed PCs. Disable Windows Update too if needed. For specific app pinned by Store: some apps are “system-critical” (Calculator, Photos) and update regardless of toggle. For manual install you don’t want: pin app: Get-AppxPackage [name] → remember version → winget pin add [package] via Winget if managing via Winget. For chronic re-enable: Store may flip toggle back on after a Windows update. Re-disable. For users wanting hybrid: enable auto-updates but configure metered connection on Wi-Fi — Store respects metered.

Bottom line: Microsoft Store → profile → App settings → toggle App updates Off. Group Policy or Registry for enforced disable. Update manually via Library → Get updates when ready.