Disable Microsoft Store in Windows 11 Home or Pro (GPO)

Microsoft Store has been the gateway for many users to access a wide range of applications, games, and other digital content on their Windows systems. However, there are scenarios where individuals or organizations might wish to restrict or disable access to the Microsoft Store. This might be due to reasons like minimizing distractions, conserving bandwidth, adhering to a corporate policy, or simply personal preference.

While Windows 11 doesn’t provide a direct method for disabling the Microsoft Store, there are effective workarounds based on the edition you’re using. This article will provide a step-by-step guide on how to disable the Microsoft Store in Windows 11 Pro using Group Policy Objects (GPO) and in Windows 11 Home using the Registry Editor or PowerShell.

How to Disable Microsoft Store in Windows 11 Home or Pro

Note: Proceed with caution. While these changes are reversible, modifying system settings without understanding them can lead to unintended results.

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Disable Microsoft Store in Windows 11 Pro using GPO

For users with Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education, the Group Policy Editor provides a powerful tool to implement various system and application-specific configurations. Here’s how you can use it to disable the Microsoft Store:

Press Windows + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
Type in “gpedit.msc” and press Enter. This will launch the Local Group Policy Editor.
In the left pane, navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Store.
In the right pane, locate and double-click on the policy named “Turn off the Store application“.
In the dialog that appears, select “Enabled” to disable the Microsoft Store. Click on “OK” to save the changes.
Finally, restart your computer to let the changes take effect.

If the above method doesn’t achieve the desired result and users can still access the Microsoft Store, try the “Method 3” mentioned later in the article that uses PowerShell to completely uninstall the Windows Store from Windows 11. This method is effective regardless of whether you’re using the Pro or Home edition.

Note: To re-enable the Microsoft Store, simply revisit the aforementioned policy and select “Not Configured” or “Disabled“, then restart your computer.

Also see: How to Disable CPU Throttling (Settings) in Windows 11

Disable Microsoft Store in Windows 11 Home using Registry Editor

For Windows 11 Home users, the Group Policy Editor is not available. Instead, the Registry Editor can be used for this task. Caution: Always make sure to backup your registry or create a system restore point before making any changes to prevent any unforeseen issues.

Press Windows + R, type “regedit“, and hit Enter. Click “Yes” if prompted by the User Account Control.

Navigate to the following path in the Registry Editor:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsStore

If the WindowsStore key doesn’t exist, right-click on the Microsoft folder, select “New“, then “Key“, and name it “WindowsStore“.
With the WindowsStore key selected, right-click in the right pane, choose “New“, then “DWORD (32-bit) Value“. Name this new DWORD as “RemoveWindowsStore“. If the key already exists, skip this step.
Double-click on “RemoveWindowsStore” and set its value data to 1.
Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.

Recommended guide: How to Disable Superfetch and Prefetch in Windows 11 or 10

Uninstall Microsoft Store in Windows 11 Pro or Home using PowerShell

For users who are more inclined towards command-line tools or want a quicker method, PowerShell provides an efficient way to completely remove the Microsoft Store from Windows 11.

Open PowerShell as an administrator. You can do this by right-clicking the Start button, choosing “Windows PowerShell (Admin)“, and clicking “Yes” on the User Account Control prompt.
To uninstall the Microsoft Store for the current user, enter the following command:
```
Get-appxpackage *windowsstore* | remove-appxPackage
```
Press Enter. This command will uninstall the Microsoft Store app from the current user’s profile.

If you wish to remove the Microsoft Store for all users on the system, type the following command and press Enter. This will uninstall the Microsoft Store app from every user profile on the system:

Get-Appxpackage -allusers *windowsstore* | Remove-AppxPackage

In case you decide to revert the changes and want the Microsoft Store back, use the following command to reinstall and register all built-in apps, including the Microsoft Store:

>Get-AppXPackage *WindowsStore* -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

How to reinstall Microsoft Store in Windows 11 PowerShell

Important: It’s worth noting that while the above methods will uninstall the Microsoft Store app, it doesn’t entirely block its functionality. If needed for deeper restrictions (e.g., in an organizational setup), you might need to combine these methods with the GPO or Registry methods as detailed earlier.

Pro tip: 30+ Windows 11 Services to Disable for Gaming Performance

By following the aforementioned steps, users can effectively disable the Microsoft Store in Windows 11, depending on their edition and comfort with the tools provided. As always, it’s crucial to ensure you understand and are comfortable with the changes you’re making to your system settings. If you’re ever in doubt, seek assistance or further information to ensure a smooth experience.

Related resource: How to Run PowerShell or Regedit as SYSTEM in Windows 11

Why one might consider disabling Microsoft Store

Here are a few reasons why a user or administrator might consider such a measure:

Corporate or institutional restrictions: In managed environments like offices or educational institutions, administrators often want to control the software being installed. By disabling the Microsoft Store, they can ensure that only vetted applications are available to the end-users.
Bandwidth conservation: Downloading apps, especially larger ones like games, can consume significant bandwidth. If you’re on a metered connection or wish to prioritize bandwidth for other tasks, disabling the Microsoft Store can be a strategy.
Reducing distractions: For some, having access to games and other recreational apps can be a distraction. Parents might also want to ensure their children focus on educational apps and content.
Performance considerations: Some users believe that by limiting the number of apps and services running on their system, they might experience a slight performance boost.
Personal preference: Some users simply prefer to have a minimalist setup, installing only essential software manually and avoiding app stores altogether.

Conclusion

Disabling the Microsoft Store in Windows 11 can serve various needs, from personal preference to meeting institutional guidelines. It’s essential to weigh the pros and cons of such a decision. While the process can be achieved using different methods depending on your Windows edition, it’s crucial to approach these changes with caution and awareness. Always remember to backup and ensure you can revert changes if necessary.