Microsoft no longer allows turning off app updates in the Microsoft Store

The Microsoft Store app on Windows 11 and 10 received quite a lot of useful updates, like the ability to see when the app was last updated, improved recommendations, deeper Windows integration, and more. As a result, more users get their apps from the Microsoft Store, which, in turn, attracts more developers, especially with Microsoft dropping the entry fee for individuals. The latest change, however, could ruffle some feathers.

A recent Microsoft Store update changed how users control app updates. Before now, Microsoft allowed users to turn off automatic updates and install new versions whenever they wanted. Now, Microsoft is taking that feature away. Although you can still pause app updates in the Microsoft Store, the app no longer allows you to do that for extended periods. When pausing, it asks you to select when the store should re-enable automatic app updates and, naturally, update all apps without your permission. Available options include one, two, three, four, or five weeks.

This concept is not new. Windows 10 and 11 also let you pause updates only for a certain period, after which, the operating system downloads and installs available updates whether you like it or not. The thinking behind this approach is simple and quite obvious: security.

Microsoft does not want you on outdated Windows versions, and it does not want you to run old apps. Outdated software could be vulnerable to attacks or have security gaps, so Microsoft wants to keep you safe by forcing updates on your system. The same thinking was behind a recent announcement when Microsoft updated inbox Windows 11 24H2 apps to more recent versions so that users do not have obsolete apps on clean installs.

If you are not a fan of this change, you can always download apps outside the Store. Moreover, the upcoming Windows 11 version 25H2 will give more controls over stock apps, including the Microsoft Store.

Via Deskmodder.de

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Posted Sunday 17 August 2025 at 7:13 am AEST (my time).

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