How to Disable Automatic Download and Installation of Store App Updates in Windows 8 and Later?

If you are using Windows 8, Windows 8.1 or later Windows version, you might have noticed that Windows Store automatically downloads and installs updates for all Modern (aka Metro) apps. Whenever new updates are available for installed apps, Windows Store doesn’t ask your permission and automatically starts downloading and installing the updates. Also there is no notification given once the apps are updated. So you never have idea when and which Windows Store apps were updated in your computer system.

People who use slow Internet connection, can face slowdown problem in Internet speed when Windows Store is downloading app updates in background. Also think about those people who use limited bandwidth Internet connection. A big amount of their valuable Internet bandwidth can be wasted by Windows Store in downloading these app updates.

Actually Windows users should have complete control over app updates installation. They should receive a confirmation message whether they want to download and install the available app updates or not. Also there should be some kind of notification prompt once the app updates are installed successfully.

Although notification and confirmation prompts are not present in Windows 8 and later but we can do a few things to save our Internet bandwidth and to stop Windows Store from automatically downloading and installing app updates.

Today in this tutorial, we are going to tell you ways to disable automatic download and installation of Store app updates in Windows 8 and later. With the help of this tutorial, you’ll be able to restrict Windows Store from automatically updating installed apps without your permission.

If you also want to turn off automatic Windows Store app updating feature, check out following simple solutions:

SOLUTION 1: Using Windows Store Settings

Windows Store allows you to disable apps auto-update functionality using its Settings page:

1. Open Windows Store, press WIN+C keys together to show Charms Bar and then click on Settings.

2. Now click on App updates option present in Settings sidebar.

3. Here you’ll find an option responsible for app auto-update. Just set the “Automatically update my apps” option to No.

That’s it. It’ll immediately disable automatic update functionality for Store apps.

PS: Now you’ll need to manually update Store apps whenever you want. Just open Store Settings again and click on Check for updates option present in App updates section.

SOLUTION 2: Using Registry Editor

Above mentioned method can only be used if you are logged in using your Microsoft account (aka Windows Live email ID) in Windows Store. If you are not logged in, you’ll not be able to access above mentioned option.

In such case, you can take help of Registry Editor to disable automatic download and installation of Store apps:

1. Type regedit in RUN or Start search box and press Enter. It’ll open Registry Editor.

2. Now go to following key:

3. In right-side pane look for a DWORD AutoDownload and change its value to 2 to disable automatic app updates.

4. Log off or restart your computer to take effect.

PS: In future, if you decide to re-enable app auto-update feature, just set the DWORD value to 4 and it’ll allow Windows Store to automatic download and install app updates.

Also Check:

How to Stop Automatic Forced Upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1?