How to Block Store Apps From Auto-Updating on Metered Connections

Quick fix: Mark your network as metered. Open Settings → Network & internet → (Wi-Fi or Ethernet), click the network name, and toggle Metered connection on. Microsoft Store auto-updates pause on metered networks; you can still update apps manually.

You’re on a tethered phone connection, limited data plan, or capped office bandwidth. You don’t want the Microsoft Store consuming gigabytes on auto-updates. Windows 11 respects the metered flag and pauses non-critical downloads, including Store app updates.

What the metered flag does

Marking a network as metered tells Windows to throttle background data usage on that connection. Store updates pause; Windows Update delays larger downloads; OneDrive defers sync of larger files. Critical security updates still install. Once you switch to an unmetered network, normal updating resumes.

Method 1: Mark current network as metered

1. Settings → Network & internet.
2. Click Wi-Fi (or Ethernet).
3. Click the network name.
4. Toggle Metered connection to On.
5. Store auto-updates pause.

Method 2: Disable Store auto-updates entirely

1. Open Microsoft Store.
2. Click profile icon → App settings.
3. Toggle App updates off.
4. Store stops auto-updating on all networks until you re-enable.
5. Run manual updates by clicking Library → Get updates.

Method 3: Group Policy for managed devices

1. gpedit.msc → Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Store.
2. Open Turn off Automatic Download and Install of updates. Set to Enabled.
3. gpupdate /force.

Verification

• Open Microsoft Store. The Library → Get updates page shows pending updates not auto-installing.
• Network icon shows the metered indicator (small chain icon).
• Bandwidth monitor shows reduced background traffic.

If none of these work

If Store updates still download on a metered network, your account may have admin-pushed update policies that ignore metered flags. For specific apps that ignore metered (Microsoft 365 apps in particular), check their own auto-update settings.

Bottom line: Metered flag pauses Store auto-updates instantly. App settings toggle off does it permanently regardless of network. Pick the one that matches your use case.