Forum Discussion
Locking down the Microsoft Store
You can add all the default Windows apps to a policy really easily if you install GPMC onto one of your endpoint devices and edit the policy from that.
The user experience isn't ideal - you just get an error message if you try and install a non-approved app, but it works and stops apps you haven't approved from being installed. I'm using this on Win11 but it'll work on Win10 too.
Make sure you have a policy entry to allow administrators to run any application.
https://call4cloud.nl/2020/06/managing-apps-in-the-microsoft-store/#part2
Rudy_Ooms_MVP Blocking the store completely isn't an option due to the amount of Windows functionality that would never update if you did, and some manufacturers are delivering drivers and support software through the store, e.g. it seems to be the only way to get the Waves MaxxAudio driver. No Store = no audio functionality on your machine 😞
It's a shame Microsoft have made such a mess of being able to manage it, this stuff has been possible on other platforms for a very long time, and was possible on Windows until fairly recently. It's bizarre that any product manager would think the current situation is acceptable for a release product used in business (i.e Windows Pro/Enterprise).
- 🙂 ... I guess you misread the article.. as I am not advising the block/remove the store at all... but just limiting it with the use of applocker and packaged app rules 🙂
Rudy_Ooms_MVP Hmm, yeah not sure what I had been reading... I was on a bit of a rant about how annoying the situation is/was - apologies for that
Also, have you seen the interesting (but sadly [hilariously] broken) new Store "integration" with AppLocker since Store version 22303.1401.5.0? Could be really good if they hadn't messed up the version checking...
- 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.
Regards,
Rachel Gomez- Is this not working on a Windows 10 Home device because the user is an Administrator?
I believe i configured it as stated above to Deny the Microsoft Store.
