Microsoft Releases New Features For Windows 10 Calculator
Anna Pybus
What I'm trying to figure out is if it is possible to disable the Microsoft Store while still allowing apps like the calculator that are managed by it to be updated. I've figured out how to disable the store but it's the updates that are tripping me up. After a bit of research I've seen some options that required Windows 10 Enterprise and/or Azure (found here: -us/windows/configuration/stop-employees-from-using-microsoft-store), but we don't currently use those and would prefer to avoid the additional expense if possible. All PCs on the domain are Windows 10 Pro.
That makes sense that the Windows Store is necessary for the app updates. The main reason we wanted to disable it is so that users won't be able to use it to download apps for personal use. Maybe that can be accomplished in a different way?
Correct. If you have Enterprise or Education you can configure Group Policy to block the Store. If you block it in the USER policy, users will not be able to access the Store, but the computers will still have access to update apps. If you block it in the COMPUTER policy, the user nor the computer can access it and apps will not update.
This is useful information to update existing built-in apps between Windows 10 releases. We currently set Turn off Store application group policy under Computer Configuration. So if we set in group under User Configuration, will it update already provisioned UWP built-in apps (ex. Calculator) under existing user profiles? Also will it allow other UWP apps bundled with drivers (ex. Canon Office Printer Utility) to install in user profiles? Appreciate your help, just looking to see if you found any limitations. Also surprised it is not documented anywhere by Microsoft since it seems like a better workaround then using the Store for Business which is reportedly deprecated now. @Eddie Leonard
Assuming you devices can connect to the Store through your firewalls/proxies, then yes it should update your Inbox apps and other apps from the Store. As for other apps not installed from the Store, I don't believe it will, but I'm not 100% sure there.
@Tuomo_Koskimaki The question from the OP was is it possible to block the Store for users but still allow the apps to be updated. The correct way to achieve this is by blocking it in the User Policy. This allows the computer to update already installed Store apps while preventing users from installing new ones.
This policy is not designed to prevent them from using apps that are already installed. If you block the store from the computer policy any Store apps, including inbox apps will not be updated and will eventually cause those apps to potentially stop working.
Well, at our environment GPO:s do not function as desired. If Store is allowed at computer policy, it is also allowed for users. That is not desired result. Suitable setting was to set "Only display the private store within the Microsoft Store". Business store/Private store is not configured so, no access nor downloads for users. Computers still get updates from store. I tried applocker policy as well. I denied winstore app at Domain Users". It did not function either.
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