The Noisy Storefront
When you open the Microsoft Store app on Windows 11 to search for a specific utility or update your existing software, the main storefront page is heavily curated with games and entertainment apps. As you scroll through the lists, any app that has a promotional video or trailer will automatically start playing the moment it appears on your screen. Not only does this consume unnecessary internet bandwidth, but it can also result in sudden, loud audio blasting through your speakers if you are browsing the store in a quiet office environment.
How to Disable Store Autoplay
You can disable the autoplay feature directly within the Microsoft Store app settings, ensuring that videos only play when you explicitly click on them.
1. Open the Microsoft Store app from your Start Menu or taskbar.
2. Click on your Profile Icon located in the top-right corner of the Store window (next to the search bar).
3. From the drop-down menu that appears, select Settings.
4. In the Settings menu, locate the section labelled Video Autoplay.
5. You will see a toggle switch describing the automatic playback of app trailers.
6. Click the toggle switch to turn it Off.
The Benefits of Disabling Autoplay
Turning this feature off does more than just save you from unexpected noise. If you are using Windows 11 on a laptop, disabling video autoplay significantly reduces the CPU and GPU load required just to scroll through the store, saving battery life. Furthermore, if you are connected to a metered Wi-Fi network or a mobile hotspot, preventing HD video trailers from streaming in the background will save hundreds of megabytes of precious cellular data.