How to Stop App Store Apps from Updating

[NoelC]

I don't use and don't want to have anything to do with Metro/Modern Apps. The computer is used for serious work.

Additionally, I prefer to have Windows Updates to only run when it's appropriate to update my system, so I have configured Windows Update not to install updates unless I grant explicit permission.

But I noticed in the Reliability Monitor events being reported as "Successful Windows Update" for such items as Microsoft.BingHealthAndFitness and Microsoft.WindowsAlarms.

Call me a control freak I guess, but my workstation has a function, and as a software engineer I prefer to manage it carefully and not allow Microsoft to do whatever they want whenever they want.

Well, It turns out there's a different setting that governs whether Apps are updated automatically. It's settable via the Local Group Policy Editor:

Computer Configuration

> Administrative Templates

> Windows Components

> Store

Enable the policy to Turn off Automatic Download and install of updates.

-Noel

Edited December 10, 2013 by NoelC

[DosProbie]

Nice find NoelC!! , I feel same way, Should be a registry entry as well that would do the same thing, maybe you could do a check of the registry before then after to get the location..DP

[DosProbie]

Ok, after a quick search I answered my own question above..found this little reg tweak to disable the metro updates for all users over at the Eight forum instead of going doing all of the group policy thing..DP

More Info:

http://www.techcular.com/registry-tweak-to-enable-disable-auto-download-of-app-updates/

http://www.windowspage.de/frame.php?http://www.windowspage.de/tipps/022972.html

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00; Created by: Shawn Brink; http://www.eightforums.com; Tutorial: http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5803-store-enable-disable-automatic-download-updates-windows-8-a.html; Disable Automatic Download and install of Metro apps updates..[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsStore\WindowsUpdate]"AutoDownload"=dword:00000002

Edited December 10, 2013 by DosProbie

[NoelC]

I found an article on it:

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5803-store-enable-disable-automatic-download-updates-windows-8-a.html

And yes, there's a registry entry:

[HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsStore\WindowsUpdate]

"AutoDownload"=dword:00000002

Remove the AutoDownload value to restore automatic downloads.

-Noel

Edit: You beat me to it.

Edited December 10, 2013 by NoelC

[DosProbie]

And if you want to take it another step with a hkcu key to disable the apps store..

;Disable Windows Store;http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/disable-the-windows-store-in-windows-8/[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsStore]"RemoveWindowsStore"=dword:00000001

[NoelC]

That's good because it logs errors in the Application log from time to time anyways, something about "sync'ing the machine license" going wrong.

-Noel

[MrJinje]

Does that prevent deletions from occurring on apps you paid for but are removed by vendors at a later date ?