Many users want to lock down access to others to the Microsoft Windows Store for their own reasons. But if you find that you are now unable to or cannot disable Windows Store in Windows 10 Pro, then this post will explain why this is happening.

Cannot disable Microsoft Store

Starting with Windows 10 Pro v 1511, you will find that even after you apply the related Group Policy setting to Turn off the Store application, the setting does not get applied.

This is by design, as now Microsoft has removed this option.

Earlier, you could navigate to the following GPO’s to disable the Windows Store in Windows 10 Pro.

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Store > Turn off the Store application

And,

User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Store > Turn off the Store

Now, these policies are applicable to users of the Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 10 Education editions only.

Microsoft feels that such capabilities are typically required by large enterprises only, and not by small businesses, and maybe that is why they decided to take this step.

What are your views on this update from Microsoft?

• Tags: Group Policy, Windows Store