Disable Web Store Remote App Install via Registry

This guide explains how to prevent remote installations of applications initiated from the web-based app store to a Windows computer using the Windows Registry Editor (Regedit). By configuring the appropriate policy in the registry, you can turn off the “Push to Install” service, effectively blocking users or linked Microsoft accounts from remotely triggering software downloads and installations onto your local machine.

Step 1: Open the Registry Editor

  1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type regedit and press Enter.
  3. If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to grant administrative privileges.

Step 2: Navigate to the Microsoft Policies Key

In the address bar at the top of the Registry Editor, paste the following path and press Enter:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft

Step 3: Create the PushToInstall Key

  1. Right-click the Microsoft folder in the left navigation pane.
  2. Select New > Key.
  3. Name the new key PushToInstall and press Enter. (If the key already exists, simply click to select it.)

Step 4: Configure the DisablePushToInstall Value

  1. With the PushToInstall key selected, right-click any empty space in the right pane.
  2. Select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
  3. Name this new value DisablePushToInstall and press Enter.
  4. Double-click DisablePushToInstall.
  5. Set the Value data field to 1.
  6. Ensure the Base is set to Hexadecimal, then click OK.

Step 5: Apply the Changes

  1. Close the Registry Editor.
  2. Restart your computer or run gpupdate /force in an elevated Command Prompt to enforce the new policy immediately.

Once configured, the device will reject any remote installation commands sent from the web-based Microsoft Store. To revert this setting in the future, navigate back to the same registry path and either delete the DisablePushToInstall DWORD value or set its data value back to 0.