The Background Bandwidth Drain
Unlike traditional desktop programs that you download from a website (Win32 apps), software installed through the Microsoft Store is managed globally by Windows 11. By default, the Microsoft Store constantly checks for new versions of your installed apps—such as WhatsApp, Spotify, the Xbox App, and even core Windows utilities like Calculator and Paint—and downloads them automatically in the background. While this ensures you always have the latest security patches, it can also cause serious problems. Background updates can consume massive amounts of bandwidth while you are trying to play a multiplayer game, chew through a metered cellular data connection on a laptop, or force an update that breaks compatibility with a specific workflow.
How to Disable Automatic Updates in the Microsoft Store
You can turn off the autonomous background updating process directly within the Microsoft Store settings, shifting the responsibility to manual updates.
1. Click the Start button on your taskbar.
2. Type Microsoft Store into the search bar and press Enter to open the application.
3. Look at the top-right corner of the Store window. Click on your Profile Picture (or the generic user icon if you haven’t uploaded a photo).
4. From the drop-down menu, select Settings.
5. At the very top of the Settings page, you will see a toggle switch labelled App updates: Update apps automatically.
6. Click the toggle switch to turn it Off.
The Microsoft Store will immediately cease all background network activity related to app patching. Your installed UWP (Universal Windows Platform) applications will remain frozen on their current versions.
How to Update Apps Manually
Because you have disabled the automatic system, you are now responsible for ensuring your software doesn’t become dangerously outdated. You should regularly trigger a manual check to install necessary updates on your own schedule.
1. Open the Microsoft Store.
2. Look at the bottom-left corner of the window and click on the Library icon (it looks like a stack of books).
3. In the Library view, click the blue Get updates button in the top right corner.
4. Windows will scan Microsoft’s servers and present a list of all available updates. You can click “Update all” to process them immediately, or click the individual “Update” buttons next to specific apps to manage your bandwidth carefully.