Quick Answer
There is no official way to download and install older versions of an app from the Microsoft Store, but as always, there’s a neat workaround. The AdGuard store is a repository of Microsoft Store apps, which also houses older versions of the app. Simply paste the link of the app from the Microsoft Store, and it will provide you with the older versions of the app present in its repository.
With every update, apps tend to get new features and fix the underlying bugs that might have been introduced with the previous versions due to various reasons, such as incompatibility. However, there are several instances where, when an app gets updated, it ditches support for older devices, making it hard for users running an older OS to use the app. Besides, many times, a new version of the app gets bloated with unnecessary features or ads. In such cases, you might want to use the older version of the app.
If you are a Windows user, then you might be wondering if you can install older versions of the Microsoft Store apps. Unfortunately, there is no official way of doing it. Once you have downloaded the latest version of the app, there is no going back. However, some minds have made an unofficial way to allow users to download the older versions of Microsoft Store apps. In this guide, we will guide you through the process. Let’s jump right into it.
Why would you download older versions of Microsoft Store apps?
As we mentioned above, some of the use-case scenarios that answer the question “Why would you download older versions of Microsoft Store apps?” are incompatibility with the latest OS update or the app getting bloated with unwanted features or ads. There is another example – where a user wanted to download the older version of Skype from the Microsoft Store on their Microsoft Surface RT to keep in touch. However, the new version of the app dropped support for their PC, causing certain issues.
How to install older versions of Microsoft Store apps?
We will be making use of a website that lets you download the older versions of the Microsoft Store apps. One of the first things that you need to do is disable automatic updates in your Microsoft Store settings. Here are the steps that you need to follow:
Disable Automatic updates in the Microsoft Store
- Open the Start menu and launch the Microsoft Store.
- Tap on the profile photo on the top-right and select Settings from the drop-down.
- Toggle off the App Updates option.
Download the older versions of Microsoft Store apps
- Visit this website in any of your favorite web browsers.
- Paste the link of the app from the Microsoft Store you want the older version from and press the tickmark button.
- You will see a list of appxbundle or Appxbundle files.
- You need to ensure that you are looking for x64 and not ARM or arm files. Usually, the older versions of the app are at the top, with the newer versions at the bottom. This means the first app on the list should be the oldest version of the app.
- Select the version of the app that you want to install and click on the file.
The app gets installed by itself, similar to how you grab the app from the Microsoft Store. However, this time, it is the version that you want, not the latest version, that is forced by the developers.
Enjoy the older versions of the app
The above methods work fine for those who wish to have older versions of the Microsoft Store apps. However, do note that older versions may have some issues, such as glitches, bugs, and even security risks. So, ensure that you have all the measures in hand before installing an older version of the app.
