These settings can be changed at any given time. However, some users experience that the options are often grayed out and are unable to change it.
This can be because of an antivirus running on your computer, or the Administrators of the domain have switched off these settings for your computer so that they can not be altered by anyone else. The function of Choose where to get apps is mainly to secure the computer from any applications that might be malware. They can be configured to Microsoft Store only, allowing only applications from the store to be installed, or to anywhere, meaning all applications supported by Windows 10 can be installed on this computer.
Clear Windows Store cache Enable “Choose where to get apps” options from Group Policy Enable “Choose where to get apps” options from the Registry Editor
These settings can be found by navigating to the following:Start Menu –> Settings –> Apps In the Apps and features window, you can select one of the 4 options from the drop-down menu under Choose where to get apps. The 4 options are as follows:
AnywhereAnywhere, but let me know if there’s a comparable app in the Microsoft StoreAnywhere, but warn me before installing an app that’s not from the Microsoft StoreMicrosoft Store only
By the looks of it, Microsoft really wants its users to be able to install any application of the internet, but have the option to be paranoid and use only applications from the store. This article might be helpful for those wishing to install third-party applications but cannot do so because their settings have been grayed out. Let’s proceed further on how this problem can be eliminated in Windows 10.
Clear Windows Store cache
To begin with, clear the cache stored on your local computer linked to Microsoft Store application, as it is often the reason that the settings are grayed out to modify the application installation location. To do this, open up the Command Prompt by writing cmd in Run. Now enter the following command:wsreset.exe The .exe file will take a few moments to execute, and the Microsoft Store will open automatically when it is finished. Now stroll back to the Apps and features window to check if the issue has been resolved. If not, continue to the next step.
Enable “Choose where to get apps” options from Group Policy
The Group Policy Editor is a great tool for users to modify the applied policies enforced by their domain Administrators. If the policy has been applied to gray out the mentioned option, it can be corrected by the editor. Now check if the issue still persists. If it does, continue to the next step.
Enable “Choose where to get apps” options from the Registry Editor
The Registry Editor is a tool mostly used by advanced users. It is a tool used to manipulate System Registries to alter its settings. You can enable the “Choose where to get apps” option from the Registry Editor. It is always recommended to create a system backup before playing around with the registries. When rebooted, check to see if the error has gone. You should now be able to switch between the desired settings mentioned above easily. What applications do you want to install that are not from the Microsoft Store?
