Windows 10: Choose Where Apps can be Installed from in Windows 10

How to: Choose Where Apps can be Installed from in Windows 10

How to Choose Where Apps can be Installed from in Windows 10


Starting with Windows 10 build 15042, you can choose where apps can be installed from.

This Application Installation Control feature has been officially announced starting with Windows 10 build 15046.

• Anywhere - Users will be able to install both desktop and Store apps without getting a message dialog.
• Anywhere, but let me know if there's a comparable app in the Microsoft Store
• Anywhere, but warn me before installing an app that's not from the Microsoft Store - Users will be able to install both desktop and Store apps. Users will get a "The app you're installing isn't from the Windows Store" message dialog when trying to install a desktop app to see if they want to visit the Store for more apps.
• The Microsoft Store only - Users will only be able to install apps from the Store. If users try to install a desktop app, they will get a "You can only install apps from the Windows Store" message dialog to visit the Store for more apps. Limiting installations to apps from the Store helps to keep you PC safe and reliable. Users will still be able to run desktop apps that were previously installed.

This tutorial will show you how to choose where apps can be installed from for all users in Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to choose where apps can be installed from.



CONTENTS:

• Option One: To Choose Where Apps can be Installed from in Settings
• Option Two: To Choose Where Apps can be Installed from using a REG file
• Option Three: To Choose Where Apps can be Installed from via Policy in Local Group Policy Editor
• Option Four: To Choose Where Apps can be Installed from via Policy using a REG file

EXAMPLE: Messages when trying to install desktop app









OPTION ONE [/i] To Choose Where Apps can be Installed from in Settings
1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the Apps icon.

2 Click/tap on Apps & features on the left side, select Anywhere (default), Anywhere, but let me know if there's a comparable app in the Microsoft Store, Anywhere, but warn me before installing an app that's not from the Microsoft Store, or The Microsoft Store only for what you want from the Choose where to get apps drop down on the right side. (see screenshot below)

3 When finished, you can close Settings if you like.









OPTION TWO [/i] To Choose Where Apps can be Installed from using a REG file
The downloadable .reg files below will modify the string value in the registry key below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

AicEnabled string value

Anywhere = Anywhere
Recommendations = Anywhere, but let me know if there's a comparable app in the Microsoft Store
PreferStore = Anywhere, but warn me before installing an app that's not from the Microsoft Store
StoreOnly = The Microsoft Store only


1 Do step 2 (Anywhere), step 3 (recommendations), step 4 (warn me), or step 5 (Store only) below for what you want to choose.


2. Set to install apps from "Anywhere"
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.

Anywhere.reg

Download

3. Set to install apps from "Anywhere, but let me know if there's a comparable app in the Microsoft Store"
This is the default setting

.A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.

Anywhere-but_let_me_know_if_compatible_app_in_Microsoft_Store.reg

Download

4. Set to install apps from "Anywhere, but warn me before installing an app that's not from the Microsoft Store"
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.

Anywhere-but_warn_me_before_installing_app_not_from_Microsoft_Store.reg

Download

5. Set to install apps from "The Microsoft Store only"
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.

The_Microsoft_Store_only.reg

Download
6 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

7 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

8 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

9 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.





OPTION THREE [/i] To Choose Where Apps can be Installed from via Policy in Local Group Policy Editor

*note The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option Four below.
1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2. Navigate to the location below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)
*Arrow Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Defender SmartScreen > Explorer




3. In the right pane of Explorer in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Configure App Install Control policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4. Do step 5 (default) or step 6 (specify) below for what you would like to do.


5. To Not Specify Where Apps can be Installed from
*note This is the default setting to allow changing Option One and Option Two.
A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

*note Not Configured is the default setting.

6. To Specify Where Apps can be Installed from
*note This will override and prevent changing Option One and Option Two.
A) Select (dot) Enabled, Pick one of the following settings below, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

• Turn off app recommendations
• Show me app recommendations (default)
• Warn me before installing apps from outside the Store
• Allow apps from the Store only

7. Close the Local Group Policy Editor.





OPTION FOUR [/i] To Choose Where Apps can be Installed from via Policy using a REG file
The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD and string values in the registry key below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\SmartScreen

ConfigureAppInstallControlEnabled DWORD
(delete) = Default
1 = Specify

ConfigureAppInstallControl string value

(delete) = Default
Anywhere = Anywhere
Recommendations = Anywhere, but let me know if there's a comparable app in the Microsoft Store
PreferStore = Anywhere, but warn me before installing an app that's not from the Microsoft Store
StoreOnly = The Microsoft Store only


1 Do step 2 (anywhere), step 3 (recommendations), step 4 (warn me), step 5 (Store only), step 6 (default) below for what you want.


2. To Specify install apps from "Anywhere" for all users
This will override and prevent changing Option One and Option Two.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

Turn_off_app_recommendations_for_all_users.reg

Download

3. To Specify install apps from "Anywhere, but let me know if there's a comparable app in the Microsoft Store" for all users
This will override and prevent changing Option One and Option Two.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

Show_me_app_recommendations_for_all_users.reg

Download

4. To Specify install apps from "Anywhere, but warn me before installing an app that's not from the Microsoft Store" for all users
This will override and prevent changing Option One and Option Two.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

Warn_me_before_installing_apps_from_outside_the_Store_for_all_users.reg

Download

5. To Specify install apps from "The Microsoft Store only" for all users
This will override and prevent changing Option One and Option Two.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

Allow_apps_from_Store_only_for_all_users.reg

Download

6. To Not Specify Where Apps can be Installed from for all users
This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

Default_Do_not_specify.reg

Download
7 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

8 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

9 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

10. If you like, you can now delete the downloaded .reg file.

That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Change Location where New Apps will Install and Save to in Windows 10
• How to Uninstall Desktop Apps and Windows Apps in Windows 10
• How to Enable or Disable Microsoft Store Apps Open Files in Default Desktop App in Windows 10

:)

 

Windows 10 S Availability

The most unique feature of Windows 10 S is that it only supports Windows Store apps. You can enable this capability on the Windows 10 Creators Update by enabling only apps from the Windows Store. Click Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & Features, click in
the list box Choose where apps are installed from then choose
Allow apps from the Store only

Voila, you basically Windows 10 S.

 

Apps from the are not installing.

Open Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & features

Under Installing apps, click in the list box - Choose where apps can be installed from

Choose: Allow apps from anywhere

Try installing your app again.

Learn more:

How to Manage Apps in the Windows 10 Creators Update

For computers running Windows 10 S edition, you will need to upgrade to Pro for free.

How to Upgrade from Windows 10 S to Windows 10 Pro ... - groovyPost