Update Windows Store apps

Windows 10 supports the Windows Store apps introduced in Windows 8. Windows Store apps are different from traditional desktop apps, such as Office apps. However, in Windows 10, Microsoft introduced a new Universal Windows Platform (UWP), which provides a common app platform across every device that is capable of running Windows 10. Apps that are designed for the UWP can call both the traditional desktop apps (using the Win32 application program interfaces [APIs] and Microsoft .NET Framework) and the Windows Store apps. This means developers can now create a single app that can run across all devices.

In earlier versions of Windows, the system would check whether updates were available. If they were, the Store tile on the Start page would display an indication that updates are available.

Windows 10 automatically checks the Windows Store for updates to installed apps on a daily basis and displays a counter (downward pointing arrow along with a number) on the menu bar of the Windows Store app for how many apps you can update. When an update is available, Windows 10 by default automatically downloads the files and updates the installed apps. You can modify this behavior and manually select which apps you want to update by following these steps.

1. Sign in to Windows 10, using a Microsoft account.
2. Open the Windows Store.
3. Next to the Search box, click the account symbol and then click Settings.
4. Under App Updates, slide Update Apps Automatically to Off.

To update apps manually, perform the following procedure.

1. Sign in to Windows 10, using a Microsoft account.
2. Open the Windows Store.
3. Next to the Search box, click the account symbol and then click Downloads And Updates.
   All apps with available updates appear.
4. You can click Update All or manually select individual apps to update by clicking the downward-pointing arrow.

Windows Store apps can be regularly updated by the developer and made available to the Store for you to install. Previous versions of the app can be automatically updated whenever the device is connected to the Internet. Because apps install and update in the background, the first indication that there was an update might be when a new or updated tile appears in Start.

Administrators have limited control over the installed Windows Store app updates, though it is possible to turn off automatic updates for apps at any time by configuring the App Updates setting in the Windows Store or changing Group Policy. You cannot control which specific updates are installed; the device downloads and receives all available updates or no updates.

Administrators can also block many features of the Store app completely by using the settings found in the Group Policy node: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Store. The settings that are most appropriate for Windows 10 are listed in Table below.

Windows Store Group Policy settings

Group Policy Setting			Description
Turn off Automatic Download and		Enables or disables the automatic
Install of Updates			download and installation of app 
                                        updates. If enabled the automatic 
                                        download and installation of app
					updates is turned off.

Disable All Apps From Windows Store	Disable turns off the launch of all
                                        apps from the Windows Store on the 
                                        device. The Windows Store is
					also disabled.

Turn Off The Store Application		Denies or allows access to te Store 
                                        application. If enabled, access to the 
                                        Store app is denied,
					and apps cannot be updated.

Only Display The Private Store		Denies access to the retail catalog in
Within The Windows Store App		the Windows Store app but displays the
                                        Company app store.