Install apps on Windows without Microsoft Store

How can you install Microsoft Store apps on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 machine if your administrator has blocked Windows Store?

This is a common problem. For instance, I sought to install Microsoft To Do on my work machine but the Windows Store is blocked by IT and there’s no .exe download link anywhere on Microsoft.com.

Thankfully there is a legitimate and safe workaround that will enable any Microsoft Store app to be downloaded and installed from Microsoft (and connected to your work Microsoft account) without the need to utilise the Microsoft Store app.

Step 1: Obtain the app’s Microsoft Store URL

Obtain the URL of the app from the Microsoft Store by visiting the web version and navigating to the page for the app that you are interested in. For instance, the URL for To Do is:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/microsoft-to-do-lists-tasks-reminders/9nblggh5r558

Copy the part of the URL excluding the ?activetab=pivot:overviewtab part, if present.

Step 2: Generate a download link

Generate a Microsoft Store link via the website https://store.rg-adguard.net.

Paste the URL into the text box and select “Retail” from the dropdown menu on the right. Then press the tick button.

The front page for store.rg-adguard.net.

Step 3: Download the file

The store.rg-adguard.net website will return a vast array of links. Scroll down to the middle and look for a link that:

Specifically names the app that you are after,
Has a .appxbundle file extension (and not .eappxbundle),
Has the most recent version number (ignore the date column).

The correct link for downloading Microsoft To Do as displayed in store.rg-adguard.net

These links all point to official Microsoft Servers (such as tlu.dl.delivery.mp.microsoft.com) and are not being hosted by third parties.

Click on the link to download the app.

Step 4: Install via PowerShell

Open up Microsoft PowerShell (or a PowerShell window in Microsoft Terminal) and enter the following command:

Add-AppxPackage -Path "c:\path\to\Microsoft.Todos_2.55.42812.0_neutral___8wekyb3d8bbwe.AppxBundle"

Ensure that you substitute the above file path for the path to your downloaded file. PowerShell will install the app in Microsoft Windows as if it had come via the store.

Comments

2 responses to “Install apps on Windows without Microsoft Store”

On 15 August 2022, Shaun wrote:

I tried your explanation, I keep coming up with ‘Path cannot be found because it does not exist’ how do I work around this

On 18 August 2022, Adam Dimech wrote:

Replace “c:\path\to\” with the actual path to your downloaded file.