Microsoft just released an update on the Microsoft Store app for Windows 10 and 11 that removed the ability to permanently pause app updates. According to Deskmodder.de [machine translated], you can now only pause automatic app updates for a period between a week and five weeks. After that, your Windows PC will resume scanning for updates for all the apps you have installed via the Microsoft Store. This makes it similar to Windows Update, which gives you the same options for pausing Windows updates, after which it automatically resumes (unless you pause it again). The source publication tried changing the Microsoft Store’s registry entries to try getting back the option to switch off updates indefinitely, but to no avail.
It’s likely that Microsoft decided to force automatic app updates to help keep its users secure. Hackers often exploit weaknesses in apps to gain backdoor access to computers. Although developers usually catch these security bugs sooner or later, the vulnerability will remain if the people who use these apps do not update them.
