Configure access to Microsoft Store

Applies to

• WindowsВ 10
• WindowsВ 10 Mobile

For more info about the features and functionality that are supported in each edition of Windows, see Compare Windows 10 Editions.

IT pros can configure access to Microsoft Store for client computers in their organization. For some organizations, business policies require blocking access to Microsoft Store.

All executable code including Microsoft Store applications should have an update and maintenance plan. Organizations that use Microsoft Store applications should ensure that the applications can be updated through the Microsoft Store over the internet, through the Private Store, or distributed offline to keep the applications up to date.

Options to configure access to Microsoft Store

You can use these tools to configure access to Microsoft Store: AppLocker or Group Policy. For WindowsВ 10, this is only supported on WindowsВ 10 Enterprise edition.

Block Microsoft Store using AppLocker

Applies to: WindowsВ 10 Enterprise, WindowsВ 10 Education, WindowsВ 10 Mobile

AppLocker provides policy-based access control management for applications. You can block access to Microsoft Store app with AppLocker by creating a rule for packaged apps. You’ll give the name of the Microsoft Store app as the packaged app that you want to block from client computers.

For more information on AppLocker, see What is AppLocker? For more information on creating an AppLocker rule for app packages, see Create a rule for packaged apps.

To block Microsoft Store using AppLocker

Type secpol in the search bar to find and start AppLocker.

In the console tree of the snap-in, click Application Control Policies, click AppLocker, and then click Packaged app Rules.

On the Action menu, or by right-clicking on Packaged app Rules, click Create New Rule.

On Before You Begin, click Next.

On Permissions, select the action (allow or deny) and the user or group that the rule should apply to, and then click Next.

On Publisher, you can select Use an installed app package as a reference, and then click Select.

On Select applications, find and click Store under Applications column, and then click OK. Click Next.

Create a rule for packaged apps has more information on reference options and setting the scope on packaged app rules.

Optional: On Exceptions, specify conditions by which to exclude files from being affected by the rule. This allows you to add exceptions based on the same rule reference and rule scope as you set before. Click Next.

Block Microsoft Store using configuration service provider

Applies to: Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Enterprise, Windows 10 Education

If you have Windows 10 devices in your organization that are managed using a mobile device management (MDM) system, such as Microsoft Intune, you can block access to Microsoft Store app using the following configuration service providers (CSPs):

For more information on the rules available via AppLocker on the different supported operating systems, see Operating system requirements.

Block Microsoft Store using Group Policy

Applies to: WindowsВ 10 Enterprise, WindowsВ 10 Education

Not supported on Windows 10 Pro, starting with version 1511. For more info, see Knowledge Base article #3135657.

You can also use Group Policy to manage access to Microsoft Store.

To block Microsoft Store using Group Policy

Type gpedit in the search bar to find and start Group Policy Editor.

In the console tree of the snap-in, click Computer Configuration, click Administrative Templates, click Windows Components, and then click Store.

In the Setting pane, click Turn off the Store application, and then click Edit policy setting.

On the Turn off the Store application setting page, click Enabled, and then click OK.

Enabling Turn off the Store application policy turns off app updates from Microsoft Store.

Block Microsoft Store on Windows 10 Mobile

Applies to: WindowsВ 10 Mobile

If you have mobile devices in your organization that you upgraded from earlier versions of WindowsВ PhoneВ 8 to WindowsВ 10 Mobile, existing policies created using the Windows Phone 8.1 CSPs with your MDM tool will continue to work on WindowsВ 10 Mobile. If you are starting with WindowsВ 10 Mobile, we recommend using AppLocker to manage access to Microsoft Store app.

When your MDM tool supports Microsoft Store for Business, the MDM can use these CSPs to block Microsoft Store app:

Show private store only using Group Policy

Applies to Windows 10 Enterprise, version 1607, WindowsВ 10 Education

If you’re using Microsoft Store for Business and you want employees to only see apps you’re managing in your private store, you can use Group Policy to show only the private store. Microsoft Store app will still be available, but employees can’t view or purchase apps. Employees can view and install apps that the admin has added to your organization’s private store.

To show private store only in Microsoft Store app

Type gpedit in the search bar, and then select Edit group policy (Control panel) to find and start Group Policy Editor.

In the console tree of the snap-in, go to User Configuration or Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components, and then click Store.

Right-click Only display the private store within the Microsoft Store app in the right pane, and click Edit.

This opens the Only display the private store within the Microsoft Store app policy settings.

On the Only display the private store within the Microsoft Store app setting page, click Enabled, and then click OK.

Enable all apps windows store

Technology our Passion, Information our Mission.

Windows 8 Store just like any other App stores has apps in various languages and localizations. When you install Windows in international language, Windows defaults to your country or regional settings. This is what we call Localization. This can be an advantage or a disadvantage depending on who is looking at it. A person who doesn’t care about English or American software may just want to see Apps made for his particular neck of the wood, so Windows Store defaults to Localized settings when you installed a Localized version of Windows.

But if you are a Geek, your life is on the Net and you don’t want to be limited to local Apps only, that is where frustration begins. There are more Apps in English than Localized versions, but if you installed Localized version of Windows you wont see all those Apps. Luckily Microsoft thought of people like you. There is a settings in Windows 8 Store to allow you to see All Apps in the Store, except for those specifically banned for your Region.

To Disable localization in Windows 8 so you can see all Apps available to you, please follow these simple steps:

1. Open the Windows Store
   
2. While in the Store, open Windows Charm and click the Settings gear
   
3. Select Preferences
   
4. Set “Make it easier to find apps in my preferred languages” to NO
   

Close Settings and revert back to the Store and search for the app you want. If the App is not banned for your region you’ll now see every Apps in the Store.

[IMPORTANT NOTE]: If you are still running former versions of Windows 8, you will not see all the Apps in the Store no matter your localization settings. You need to Install Windows RTM to see most of the Apps mentioned in this blog.

[Another Important Note: 2012-12-02] Despite this Localization Settings you will still not see Apps that are Locale-fixed. Those are Apps that are fixed to a particular country or region, if you don’t come from that region you will still not see those apps no matter what your localization settings. You will have to live in that country, i.e. you computer IP Address has to originate from that country or region to see those Apps. Sorry, I didn’t expect this myself. There is this TVCatcher app that was UK Locked because it only shows UK TV Stations anyway. I wanted to blog this App for our UK friends, but I can’t get to the App, and I have my localization settings already on Global view and still can’t get it. So now you know, we can still be locked out if we don’t live in a particular country. Just saying.

[For daily and regular Windows 8 Store News, follow my Twitter stream on: @McAkins]

How to repair Windows store App

Replies (4) 

Hi Keith, a lot of users are reporting problems with the Store app in version 1803!

Please try this:

Open the Windows Store

Click your User Icon and choose Sign out

Search for an App you want to download and click ‘Get’

Sign back into your Account

Can you now download that App?

Power to the Developer!

MSI GV72 — 17.3″, i7-8750H (Hex Core), 32GB DDR4, 4GB GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, 256GB NVMe M2, 2TB HDD

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Not sure what steps you have already undertaken, hence steps might be repeated below.

Please try these options one by one and check after each option. (The first step usually solves the problem)

1. Open MS Store > Click on your profile picture on top right and sign-out. Then sign-in again.

2. Run Windows App Troubleshooter
Windows Key+X > Click Settings > Click Update & security > Click Troubleshoot > Scroll down to the bottom > Click Windows Store Apps > Click Run the Troubleshooter

3. Reset Windows Store through Command Prompt
Type cmd in Windows Search box > Right click on Command Prompt > Run As Administrator > Type WSreset.exe and click Enter > Reboot your computer

4. Re-register All Store apps
Right click on Windows Start > Right click on Windows Powershell (Admin) > Copy the following from below and right click in Powrshell to paste ? Enter > Restart your computer
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach

5. Uninstall & Reinstall Store
Right click on Windows Start > Right click on Windows Powershell (Admin) > Copy the following from below and right click in Powershell to paste > Enter

Get-AppxPackage -allusers *WindowsStore* | Remove-AppxPackage

Copy the following from below and right click in Powershell to paste > Enter > Reboot your computer

Get-AppxPackage -allusers *WindowsStore* | Foreach

Let me know if you have any more question or require further help. If above didn’t work, I will supply more troubleshooting steps to solve this problem.

Best regards
Vijay A. Verma @ http://www.eforexcel.com/

Timezone: UTC+05:30, PST+12:30
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How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

Sumit
Volunteer Moderator- Microsoft Community

Mark the reply as helpful or answered to help others if your query is resolved

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First, try signing out of the Microsoft Store. Click your Profile picture at the top right, click your account then sign out.

Restart your computer, launch the Microsoft Store app, sign in again, then attempt downloading again.

Other things you can try.

Start by running the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter.

Open Start > Settings > Update & security > Troubleshoot
Scroll down to the bottom
Click Windows Store Apps

Click Run the troubleshooter

When complete try opening the Store again.

Also check if the Store works in another user account.

Press Windows key + R
Type: wsreset.exe
Hit Enter

Do this a couple times then try launching the Store again.

Your Antivirus might be interfering with the Store, try disabling it ‘temporarily’ to see if it launches.

Check Windows Update and install the latest updates. Sometimes Microsoft releases infrastructure fixes for the Store through Windows Update.

You can also try resetting the store app using the following instructions:

Reinstall the Store:
Press Windows key + X
Click Windows PowerShell (Admin)
At the command prompt, type the following then hit Enter:

Get-AppXPackage *WindowsStore* -AllUsers | Foreach

If that does not work, try resetting the software distribution folder:
Before carrying out this procedure, disconnect from the Internet. That means turning off Wi-Fi and disconnecting from a wired connection. If you don’t, Windows 10 will indicate some files are in use and cannot be modified or the command will be non-responsive. Also, you should restart your computer after disconnecting from the Internet. The easiest way to do it is to enable Airplane mode from the Action Center — Windows key + A.

1. Open Start, type: CMD
Right click CMD
Click Run as administrator

Type each of the following then hit Enter

taskkill /F /FI «SERVICES eq wuauserv» (do this multiple times)
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
rmdir C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore
rmdir C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download

If that does not work.

1. Open Start, type: CMD
Right click CMD
Click Run as administrator

Type each of the following then hit Enter

Run these codes:
Net Stop bits
Net Stop wuauserv
Net Stop appidsvc
Net Stop cryptsvc
Ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.bak
Ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.bak
Net Start bits
Net Start wuauserv
Net Start appidsvc
Net Start cryptsvc
After running these commands, check if your issue is fixed.

When complete, hit Enter, then restart, then try updating again.