Disable Windows Store In Windows 8.

This also works in Windows 8.1.

The Windows Store is part of Windows 8 and 8.1. While some people might want to use it to install Metro Apps. If you don't use it or never use Metro software it can be a waste of space.

You cannot delete or uninstall Windows Store as Windows might not work. But you can turn it off so that you won't have to deal with it anymore.





So here is how.


Windows 8 Pro Only.

Group Policy.

If you have Windows 8 Pro you can turn Windows Store off using Group Policy Editor. You can also use the registry Editor if you want to.

Go to your start menu or  Start screen and click "Run"to open Run Command.

Then type in "gpedit.msc "without the quotes.

In Group Policy navigate to  User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Store.

Group Policy.

Select Windows Store then select Turn off Store Application.

Turn Off Windows Store.

Then click on Edit policy Settings. 

Select enabled.


Save settings then exit Group policy.

Handy Tip:
You can create a shortcut for Group Policy. By copying the Gpedit.exe found in Windows/System32 to your desktop or start menu. So that you can access it whenever you need to.



Windows 8 Home.

Registry Edit.

If you have Windows 8 or 8.1 Home Edition you won't have Group Policy. Because it is not in Home Edition.
So you will have to use the registry editor.
This also works on Windows 8 Pro if you don't want to use Group policy.

Go to start menu, open Run Command and type "regedit" without the quotes.

This opens Registry Editor.
Navigate to the following key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsStore

There you will see another key that says "Remove Windows Store."

Right click on this key and select "Modify. "

Edit the D Word to Value 1.

Registry Edit.

Save and close regedit.

Windows Store is now disabled and will no longer be in the start menu.

But you can turn it on again if you need it by going back to Group Policy or the registry. And changing the D Word to 0 or changing the settings in Group Policy to Disabled.