If you have ever relished the sense of control over your computer, you may have previously opted to disable automatic updates for Microsoft Store apps. However, in a surprising move, Microsoft has eliminated this option without any prior notice or announcement. Users who have installed applications from the Microsoft Store now find themselves compelled to maintain the latest versions of these apps.
There are valid reasons why some users prefer to avoid automatic updates. While infrequent, updates can occasionally strip away beloved features or introduce bugs that disrupt essential functionalities. As noted by Deskmodder, this change appears to have been implemented quietly, leaving many users unaware of the implications.
New Update Protocols
Currently, users can delay updates, but only for a limited period ranging from one to five weeks. This shift in policy reflects Microsoft’s perspective that the majority of updates serve to enhance features and rectify bugs. From a security standpoint, keeping apps updated is undoubtedly prudent. Yet, as previously mentioned, updates can also lead to unintended complications.
The ability to postpone updates provides a temporary reprieve from unexpected changes or the removal of critical features. However, the maximum delay of five weeks merely defers the inevitable. Attempts to circumvent this new protocol through registry edits have proven futile, as confirmed by Deskmodder’s tests.
The German site elaborates on the situation:
Wer die Einstellungen aufruft, kann jetzt die Updates zwischen einer und fünf Wochen pausieren lassen. Danach werden die Updates für die Apps wieder automatisch durchgeführt. Bei meinem Test konnte ich aber einen Unterschied zu Windows Update feststellen. Startet man trotz angehaltenen Updates in der Store App den Button „Nach Updates suchen“, bleibt die Pausierung bestehen.
If you access the settings, you can now pause updates for between one and five weeks. After that, app updates will be performed automatically again. However, in my testing, I noticed a difference compared to Windows Update. If you click the “Check for Updates” button in the Store app despite the updates being paused, the pause remains.
Even attempts to modify registry settings yield no results. Microsoft’s rationale for this change likely centers around security, ensuring that all applications are consistently equipped with the latest updates. For the time being, group policy remains an exception to this new rule. The timing of this decision remains a mystery known only to Microsoft.
As users grapple with this new reality, questions arise about the balance between security and autonomy. Do you empathize with Microsoft’s perspective, or do you feel a sense of frustration at the loss of control? Will this alteration influence your willingness to engage with the Microsoft Store?
For those who cherished the ability to block updates, it may only be a matter of time before a workaround emerges, allowing you to cling to that hope once more.
