In a recent, under-the-radar move, Microsoft has stripped Windows 11 users of one more bit of control over their personal systems. As noted by Windows Central, software installed via the Microsoft Store will now be automatically updated, and there’s (almost) nothing users can do about it. The platform does let you pause updates for up to five weeks, much like Windows Update, but eventually, you’ll have to give in.
The balancing act of control and security
Through a curiously quiet change to protocol
It looks like the shift has been rolled out gradually, rather than all at once, but a majority of Windows 11 machines now appear beholden to the Microsoft Store’s unstoppable update scheme. Oddly, Microsoft didn’t utter a word about the process change. For affected systems, the toggle that switched off automatic updates simply disappeared from one day to the next, with zero fanfare.
The likely purpose is to drive ecosystem-wide security. After all, patching potential holes before they turn into real-world exploits is one of the main reasons constant software upkeep matters so much. It’s the same reason Windows Update ultimately forces your hand after letting you pause new patches temporarily (for Windows Home installations, at least).
While some may find the change invasive, the logic holds up. It’s relatively easy to load up your PC with tons of apps that rarely see use, and some of those easily forgotten programs could go months before getting attention in the form of a manual update. In that light, mandating automatic updates can increase system-wide security, especially for users who value the Microsoft Store’s quality curation and convenience, and would rather it do most of the software management on its own.
A shift not everyone will appreciate
Despite the sensible reasoning that likely prompted the move, it’s an increasingly familiar (and frustrating) feeling to have yet another piece of user control wrested away by the tech giant responsible for the operating system. It’s far from as drastic as Google’s decision to require developer ID verification for all Android apps starting next year, but it points in somewhat the same direction.
The apparent lack of transparency will also surely raise some enthusiasts’ eyebrows. Microsoft failed to give so much as an inkling of the change, leaving it to eagle-eyed community members to figure out. That’s not the best look from a software and infrastructure behemoth that frequently touts concepts like “trust” and “empowerment” across its various products’ mission statements and marketing materials.
There’s still a way to opt out for the foreseeable future
If you typically avoid the Microsoft Store when sourcing your software, the change won’t affect you. Many Microsoft apps, as one might guess, are offered exclusively on the store, as are the Windows versions of official Apple tools like Apple Music and Apple TV. So, official installations of those will all be subject to immutable automatic updates moving forward.
However, most of the near-endless Windows software selection is available from the actual vendor or resources like WinGet, both of which sidestep the Microsoft Store’s automatic updates. So, to retain as much control as possible, that route is still available — and it’s not going away anytime soon. In the meantime, we’ve reached out to Microsoft to see what it has to say about the new policy.