How-to install Microsoft Store apps without Store

anon25377527 · July 18, 2019, 12:50pm

TL;DR

Download .appx & .blockmap files from https://store.rg-adguard.net/ with store urls
Powershell mount the file folder cd C:\storeshit and install .appx with Add-AppxPackage .\filename.appx
Reboot

The actual,
hand-to-hand,
store combat guide.

Open https://store.rg-adguard.net/ site and find the site for whatever store app you want to install
Copy store app address to the downloader page

image.png799×245 49 KB
Download the last .appx file and its .blockmap counterpart
It’ll most likely error about missing .appx, which you cannot know before trying to install that .appx
In this case thats Microsoft.NET.Native.Framework, which the site also lists to the same list, so need to also download that one
Whatever folder will do, and its just easier to copypaste that file path from

image.png918×223 41.7 KB
Run PowerShell as administrator
Mount the download folder with
cd C:\storeshit

image.png876×134 24 KB
Install the .appx file with
Add-AppxPackage .\Microsoft.NET.Native.Framework.1.3_1.3.24211.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe.Appx

image.png874×146 23.3 KB
and install all of the .appx files with the same
Add-AppxPackage .\Ookla.SpeedtestbyOokla_1.7.33.0_neutral_~_43tkc6nmykmb6.AppxBundle

image.png876×161 29.3 KB
Done, reboot

Eden · July 18, 2019, 7:15pm

Interesting to know. But… why? Is there any benefit over using a trusted source that will keep your applications up to date.

anon25377527 · July 18, 2019, 7:31pm

I have been uninstalling Store with the other nonsense apps which are some weird way tied to start menu, and yeah, dont have it, never heard Cortana either

and now I have them Netflixes and extensions

aLilBabyOtter · July 18, 2019, 9:22pm

As a life-long Windows user, I think the store is meh. I don’t despise it, but I also don’t use it.

I get the simplicity/security argument, but I like the process of going to a website and downloading the software. If it’s a paid app, MS can’t take a cut of the sales if you buy it direct from the developer.

It seems like a lot of apps (at least from what I use) have auto-update options built in anyways, so the store doesn’t really have a huge advantage in that respect other than being able to update everything at once. But whatever. It’s not like it’s difficult to just update software on a case-by-case basis, especially stuff like Twitch or Battle.net where it updates on its own.

Plus I think the store requires you to sign into your MS account. Could be wrong. It’s been a while since I’ve looked at it. But I don’t like the idea of having to be logged into my account, especially because then they try to tie that account to every other MS service on your computer and it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

The old Windows way is best I.M.o. Or if you want the ability to update everything at once, then Linux does it best (as long as you pick the correct distro for your needs).

Of course, this is just my opinion. I get that some people like the store because everything is in one place and the apps have to go through some QA.

YoDay · April 17, 2020, 8:26pm

I am unable to get this, I don’t know what to search to get it and can’t find any links for NET Native Framework that will work in that website. What can I do now ?

Edit : I installed all the frameworks listed on that website for my specific app, app then installed successfully, I restarted my PC and now it’s also listed in Start menu.

Now when I open it, after few minutes it opens as an app, shows the name (main screen of the app) and then automatically closes in 1-2 minutes.

Does anyone know what can I do now ?

WindowsNo0b · December 14, 2021, 5:36am

I’m having some serious issues …

I’m trying to get Alexa (amazon)
I’m on Win 10 Enterprise - so I can’t get App store

any advice as to what might be wrong?
thank you …

here is what I’m getting:

PS C:\store\alexa>
PS C:\store\alexa> cd .\vclib\
PS C:\store\alexa\vclib> dir


    Directory: C:\store\alexa\vclib


Mode                LastWriteTime         Length Name
----                -------------         ------ ----
-a----       12/14/2021  12:30 AM           9063 Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00.UWPDesktop_14.0.30704.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe.Blo
                                                 ckMap
-a----       12/14/2021  12:30 AM        6638831 Unconfirmed 495451.crdownload


PS C:\store\alexa\vclib>
PS C:\store\alexa\vclib>
PS C:\store\alexa\vclib>
PS C:\store\alexa\vclib>
PS C:\store\alexa\vclib>
PS C:\store\alexa\vclib> dir


    Directory: C:\store\alexa\vclib


Mode                LastWriteTime         Length Name
----                -------------         ------ ----
-a----       12/14/2021  12:30 AM        6638831 Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00.UWPDesktop_14.0.30704.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe.app
                                                 x
-a----       12/14/2021  12:30 AM           9063 Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00.UWPDesktop_14.0.30704.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe.Blo
                                                 ckMap


PS C:\store\alexa\vclib>
PS C:\store\alexa\vclib>
PS C:\store\alexa\vclib> Add-AppxPackage .\Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00.UWPDesktop_14.0.30704.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe.appx
PS C:\store\alexa\vclib>
PS C:\store\alexa\vclib> Add-AppxPackage .\Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00.UWPDesktop_14.0.30704.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe.BlockMap
Add-AppxPackage : Deployment failed with HRESULT: 0x80073CF0, Package could not be opened.
error 0x8007000D: Opening the package from location
Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00.UWPDesktop_14.0.30704.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe.BlockMap failed.
NOTE: For additional information, look for [ActivityId] 1ba0647f-ead5-0002-5467-061cd5ead701 in the Event Log or use
the command line Get-AppPackageLog -ActivityID 1ba0647f-ead5-0002-5467-061cd5ead701
At line:1 char:1
+ Add-AppxPackage .\Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00.UWPDesktop_14.0.30704.0_x64 ...
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : OpenError: (C:\store\alexa\...d8bbwe.BlockMap:String) [Add-AppxPackage], FileNotFoundExc
   eption
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : DeploymentError,Microsoft.Windows.Appx.PackageManager.Commands.AddAppxPackageCommand

PS C:\store\alexa\vclib>
PS C:\store\alexa\vclib>
PS C:\store\alexa\vclib> cd ..
PS C:\store\alexa>
PS C:\store\alexa>
PS C:\store\alexa> Add-AppxPackage .\Microsoft.NET.Native.Framework.2.1_2.1.27427.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe.appx
PS C:\store\alexa>
PS C:\store\alexa>
PS C:\store\alexa> Add-AppxPackage .\
Add-AppxPackage : Deployment failed with HRESULT: 0x80070005, Access is denied.
error 0x80070005: Opening the package from location alexa failed.
NOTE: For additional information, look for [ActivityId] 1ba0647f-ead5-0000-e3ae-e01bd5ead701 in the Event Log or use
the command line Get-AppPackageLog -ActivityID 1ba0647f-ead5-0000-e3ae-e01bd5ead701
At line:1 char:1
+ Add-AppxPackage .\
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : SecurityError: (C:\store\alexa:String) [Add-AppxPackage], PSSecurityException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : DeploymentError,Microsoft.Windows.Appx.PackageManager.Commands.AddAppxPackageCommand

PS C:\store\alexa>
PS C:\store\alexa>
PS C:\store\alexa>
PS C:\store\alexa> Add-AppxPackage .\57540AMZNMobileLLC.AmazonAlexa_3.11.1284.0_neutral_~_22t9g3sebte08.appxbundle
Add-AppxPackage : Deployment failed with HRESULT: 0x80073CF3, Package failed updates, dependency or conflict
validation.
Windows cannot install package 57540AMZNMobileLLC.AmazonAlexa_3.11.1284.0_x86__22t9g3sebte08 because this package
depends on a framework that could not be found. Provide the framework "Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00.UWPDesktop" published
by "CN=Microsoft Corporation, O=Microsoft Corporation, L=Redmond, S=Washington, C=US", with neutral or x86 processor
architecture and minimum version 14.0.0.0, along with this package to install. The frameworks with name
"Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00.UWPDesktop" currently installed are
Windows cannot install package 57540AMZNMobileLLC.AmazonAlexa_3.11.1284.0_x86__22t9g3sebte08 because this package
depends on a framework that could not be found. Provide the framework "Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00.UWPDesktop" published
by "CN=Microsoft Corporation, O=Microsoft Corporation, L=Redmond, S=Washington, C=US", with neutral or x86 processor
architecture and minimum version 14.0.0.0, along with this package to install. The frameworks with name
"Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00.UWPDesktop" currently installed are:
{Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00.UWPDesktop_14.0.30704.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe}
NOTE: For additional information, look for [ActivityId] 1ba0647f-ead5-0001-086c-e51bd5ead701 in the Event Log or use
the command line Get-AppPackageLog -ActivityID 1ba0647f-ead5-0001-086c-e51bd5ead701
At line:1 char:1
+ Add-AppxPackage .\57540AMZNMobileLLC.AmazonAlexa_3.11.1284.0_neutral_ ...
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : WriteError: (C:\store\alexa\...te08.appxbundle:String) [Add-AppxPackage], IOException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : DeploymentError,Microsoft.Windows.Appx.PackageManager.Commands.AddAppxPackageCommand

PS C:\store\alexa> Add-AppxPackage .\57540AMZNMobileLLC.AmazonAlexa_3.11.1284.0_neutral_~_22t9g3sebte08.BlockMap
Add-AppxPackage : Deployment failed with HRESULT: 0x80073CF0, Package could not be opened.
error 0x8007000D: Opening the package from location
57540AMZNMobileLLC.AmazonAlexa_3.11.1284.0_neutral_~_22t9g3sebte08.BlockMap failed.
NOTE: For additional information, look for [ActivityId] 1ba0647f-ead5-0003-7fe6-ec1bd5ead701 in the Event Log or use
the command line Get-AppPackageLog -ActivityID 1ba0647f-ead5-0003-7fe6-ec1bd5ead701
At line:1 char:1
+ Add-AppxPackage .\57540AMZNMobileLLC.AmazonAlexa_3.11.1284.0_neutral_ ...
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : OpenError: (C:\store\alexa\...ebte08.BlockMap:String) [Add-AppxPackage], FileNotFoundExc
   eption
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : DeploymentError,Microsoft.Windows.Appx.PackageManager.Commands.AddAppxPackageCommand

PS C:\store\alexa>

any ideas?

thank you …

techmagic · August 16, 2022, 1:40pm

thank you so much it worked! my microsoft store keeps bugging no matter what I do, i can’t download anything from it and this helped me a lot =]

voltagex · April 15, 2023, 2:48am

So uh, what’s rg-adguard.net, who runs it and how are they doing this “trick”?

That site has a few too many calls out to Yandex for my liking.

They’re probably using GitHub - StoreDev/StoreLib: Storelib is a DotNet library that provides APIs to interact with the various Microsoft Store endpoints.

DarkWaterSong · June 12, 2023, 8:02pm

Another way to block the MS Store is with Local Group Polices or Domain Group Polices. Also i turns out you can just not log into the MS store and still download free apps (try using a local or domain account), so several places I have worked at just outright block the MS Store.