Windows 11, am I on Dev mode?

I just did a new PC build and am using Windows 11 Home for the first time. I downloaded it from Microsoft, put it on a USB drive and installed it. This was just a few weeks ago.

I've had a few issues with it, but what brings me here today is confusion about the "new" windows 11 notepad and photo viewer. Using Backup Imaging software, I like to keep a clean image of my OS which I regularly go back to. I just backup the whole OS partition which I keep on it's own SSD. I do update this image from time to time with the latest windows updates.

Anyway, whenever I restore back to this image, I have the older versions of notepad and photo viewer. Then, after time passes, notepad and photo viewer update themselves. Sometimes it's a half hour after I restore an image, sometimes it's days later. It's not triggered by windows update. What causes these apps to update? Ideally I'd like to update the apps, THEN create a clean image, then go on with my day. But I don't seem have control over making them update.

This is strange to me as the "new" versions were rolled out in late 2021 (so far as I know). Did I download the wrong full version from Microsoft?

Also, how do I know if I'm running the Dev version of windows 11 or is that even still a thing? I'd much rather run a stable version of windows and not be surprised when apps suddenly update. How do I make sure I'm running a stable non-developer version of windows 11?

OS Build: 22631.3155
Experience: Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22684.1000.0

Thanks!

BillMorton said:

OS Build: 22631.3155
Experience: Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22684.1000.0

Click to expand...

Based off this information alone, you're running latest official Windows 11 build.

Windows Update will silently upgrade any default desktop or Store apps (including NotePad and Photos) in the background. You can disable this with a reg change.
If you want to force updates, open the Store app and update all apps.

SlicEnDicE said:

Based off this information alone, you're running latest official Windows 11 build.

Click to expand...

But is there anyway to know if I'm running a developers version? Or rather to make sure I'm not?

BillMorton said:

But is there anyway to know if I'm running a developers version? Or rather to make sure I'm not?

Click to expand...

The version number will tell you.
OS Build: 22631.3235 is the latest "normal" version.

Another way is check you Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program... if it asks you to join the Insider program, you're NOT on one of the Insider versions.


You can also enable/disable Developer mode, here..

This MS page confirms if you're on a General Availability (GA) release, which is normal (non Dev or Insider) Windows. The page is updated every month.

garlin said:

Windows Update will silently upgrade any default desktop or Store apps (including NotePad and Photos) in the background. You can disable this with a reg change.
If you want to force updates, open the Store app and update all apps.

Turn On or Off Automatic Updates for Apps in Windows 10 Store

Turn On or Off Automatic Download and Install of App Updates by Microsoft Store app in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

Click to expand...

Good info. Thank you for the post.

Does it just upgrade at random times decided by Microsoft? Does it run at certain times of the day? It's so strange how random it is.

Well, if I can just upgrade the apps and then to an image, that would get part of my problem solved. I don't use the Microsoft store at all except for standard apps that have been around forever like notepad, photo viewer, calculator, etc. I don't want to create an account or sign into Microsoft. Although I did buy my windows copy, I used the work around to not have to create an Microsoft account to do it.

Can I update apps without signing in? I just looked it and am confused how to "update all apps". If open the MS Store page and then go to settings, I do see in setting a toggle for "App updates" (automatically download and install app updates) which is set to "on." Is this what you meant when you said "update all apps"? If not, could I get a little more of a spoon feed on what you meant?

Also, why do I need a registry hack? Shouldn't I just be able to turn this "App Updates" to "off"? I don't mind doing registry hacks, but there are a few other issues I'm having and troubleshooting with Windows 11 and I'm trying to keep the variable down until I solve them which includes not hacking the registry if I don't have to.

garlin said:

The page is updated every month.

Click to expand...

And it has to be updated every month, cause Microsoft has lost their minds.

Ghot said:

The version number will tell you.
OS Build: 22631.3235 is the latest "normal" version.

Another way is check you Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program... if it asks you to join the Insider program, you're NOT on one of the Insider versions.


You can also enable/disable Developer mode, here..

View attachment 89614

Click to expand...

Thanks. When I navigate there it asks me if I want to join, so I guess I'm not already a part of it?

BillMorton said:

Also, why do I need a registry hack?

Click to expand...

The Registry is just a huge collection of switches or settings. It's nothing... spooky.
The trick is, whenever you you change a registry setting, make a text file, explaining what you did... to yourself.
Save those in a folder on a storage drive.

These are just my Windows 11... tweaks...
The folder name is: Windows 11 Tweaks XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX








Here's some things that may help...




Backup software is a necessity on Windows 11. Microsoft still isn't done messing around with it yet.









Lastly, if you are still having problems with Win 11, make a topic about the problem.
We have some pretty helpful folk on Eleven Forum.

The hidden mechanism for updating Store apps sits on top of Windows Update. But Apps are never reported when you check Settings / Updates. The only place you would know is from Store.

Either you wait a random time period (probably less than 24 hours), or force App updates through the Store. You don't need a MS Account to install updates. From the Store, browse your Library, and click on Apps. There should be a button on the Apps list to update.

If you prefer a script, try this one to force updates. It may take a while (several minutes), depending on how many updates are pending. Unfortunately, you don't get any feedback or progress indicators (neither would you if Windows Update was updating them). If you really need to know when it's done, come back in 20-30 min. and check the Store app if all updates are finished.

Don't ask me why MS made this so weird. /shrug

garlin said:

Don't ask me why MS made this so weird.

Click to expand...

Ghot said:

The Registry is just a huge collection of switches or settings. It's nothing... spooky.
The trick is, whenever you you change a registry setting, make a text file, explaining what you did... to yourself.
Save those in a folder on a storage drive.

These are just my Windows 11... tweaks...
The folder name is: Windows 11 Tweaks XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

View attachment 89615






Here's some things that may help...

Quickie Eleven Forum Setup Guide for new Members

Quickie Interface tour... Quickie set up... At the top right, click on your name, then choose "Preferences". Then go through everything on the left side. Quickie navigation... Click Forums and choose a subforum, OR... Click Forums, then New Posts or What's New Ranks, Trophies...

www.elevenforum.com

Backup software is a necessity on Windows 11. Microsoft still isn't done messing around with it yet.

Macrium Reflect, AOMEI Backupper and Hasleo Backup Suite - GUIDES

How to use backup software... 1. When everything is working perfectly... make a full Windows backup. 2. Then, if something breaks... restore from the latest backup. 3. Then... try "whatever you were doing" a different way. If it still breaks Windows, then... go to step #2. 4. Repeat...

www.elevenforum.com

Windows 11 Tweaks - Leader Board.

These are tweaks I've seen asked for... many times. They are collected here for easy access. All of these and more can be found in the Eleven Forum Tutorials section. Make sure to read the "notes" in the various tutorials. At the bottom of the first post in all the "tutorials", there are...

www.elevenforum.com

Lastly, if you are still having problems with Win 11, make a topic about the problem.
We have some pretty helpful folk on Eleven Forum.

Click to expand...

I'm not unfamiliar with registry hacks nor do I fear them. To repeat myself, "Shouldn't I just be able to turn this "App Updates" to "off". Are you saying that the windows "turn off updates" toggle just doesn't do anything?

Otherwise, thanks for your post. I already have an imager but the tweaks link is worth a look when I have time. I've already searched this forum a few times for solutions, but I might well post back with a problem or too, so thanks!

BillMorton said:

I'm not unfamiliar with registry hacks nor do I fear them. To repeat myself, "Shouldn't I just be able to turn this "App Updates" to "off". Are you saying that the windows "turn off updates" toggle just doesn't do anything?

Otherwise, thanks for your post. I already have an imager but the tweaks link is worth a look when I have time. I've already searched this forum a few times for solutions, but I might well post back with a problem or too, so thanks!

Click to expand...

The update Apps thing is like a trick question.
It has TWO parts...

You need to turn this OFF...




And... go here and do Option #3 step 4... (works for Win 10 and Win 11)





The DEV thing is for disabling the installing of Apps from ANY source.
The tutorial item is for disabling auto update of Apps from the MS Store only.

It's best to only update the Apps... manually, in my opinion.



On a side note... the same is true for drivers as well. Only manually update them.



On Windows 11, doing things manually, is by far the least problematic choice.

garlin said:

The hidden mechanism for updating Store apps sits on top of Windows Update. But Apps are never reported when you check Settings / Updates. The only place you would know is from Store.

Either you wait a random time period (probably less than 24 hours), or force App updates through the Store. You don't need a MS Account to install updates. From the Store, browse your Library, and click on Apps. There should be a button on the Apps list to update.

If you prefer a script, try this one to force updates. It may take a while (several minutes), depending on how many updates are pending. Unfortunately, you don't get any feedback or progress indicators (neither would you if Windows Update was updating them). If you really need to know when it's done, come back in 20-30 min. and check the Store app if all updates are finished.

Don't ask me why MS made this so weird. /shrug

Click to expand...

Okay, thanks to you and others I know how to proceed. I go to Microsoft store, search for the app, open it when I find it, and then it shows me update option (if it can be updated). Now I can go back to my older image and get the updates then make another image. Otherwise it updates at weird times and I have to address it. (I don't want notepad automatically saving changes, for example).
Other than notepad and the photo viewer, I don't want any updates. I'd delete the whole Microsoft store if I could. So, now I just need clarity on whether or not I need to do the registry hack of if I can simple go to Microsoft Store, Settings, and turn off UPDATE APPS AUTOMATICALLY.

As in... (51 second video)

Windows 11: How To Disable Or Enable Automatic Updates For Apps On Microsoft Store​

Ghot said:

The update Apps thing is like a trick question.
It has TWO parts...

You need to turn this OFF...
View attachment 89657

Click to expand...

I think we've established (scroll up) that I'm not running developer mode. Likewise, I can't access that toggle. It's not in my privacy settings under settings and I'm stopped getting there via the update page presumably because I'm not participating in the Windows Insider Program.

Ghot said:

And... go here and do Option #3 step 4...

Turn On or Off Automatic Updates for Apps in Windows 10 Store

Turn On or Off Automatic Download and Install of App Updates by Microsoft Store app in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

Click to expand...

Again, I don't think I do. In my above post (w/video) I show how app updating can be turned off through M$store Settings.

Ghot said:

The DEV thing is for disabling the installing of Apps from ANY source.
The tutorial item is for disabling auto update of Apps from the MS Store only.

Click to expand...

I guess I'm confused. What source would update an app if the source was NOT the Microsoft store?

Ghot said:

It's best to only update the Apps... manually, in my opinion.

Click to expand...

I agree.

Ghot said:

On a side note... the same is true for drivers as well. Only manually update them.

Enable or Disable Include Drivers with Windows Updates in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable including drivers with Windows Updates in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Windows Update will include drivers when available in Windows 11 by default. You can enable the Do not include drivers with Windows Updates policy to not include drivers...

www.elevenforum.com

Click to expand...

My only concern there would if a driver was updated for security reasons. What types of drivers does Microsoft update during windows updates?

BillMorton said:

I think we've established (scroll up) that I'm not running developer mode. Likewise, I can't access that toggle. It's not in my privacy settings under settings and I'm stopped getting there via the update page presumably because I'm not participating in the Windows Insider Program.

Click to expand...

I'm not an Insider either... but I have that toggle.


====================================================================


I have to go out for a bit... but here's another option that will solve and "Windows" problems you may be having...

An In-Place Upgrade "compares" what is installed on the computer, with the Windows ISO image.
Then, it overwrites any corrupted Windows files, with clean copies from the ISO image.
This is how it "repairs" Windows while allowing you to keep your programs and personal files.

Here is the short version of the In-place upgrade tutorial...

DISABLE non-Microsoft:
a) antivirus software
b) firewall software
c) drive encryption software


Make a full OS backup with a program like Macrium Reflect or AOMEI Backupper Standard
Making a backup is optional, but always a smart move.
Macrium Reflect
AOMEI Backupper Standard (free)


Get the Windows 11 ISO (Option #2), and save it to your desktop...


Right click the ISO image and choose: MOUNT
Open File Explorer and you will see a new drive letter. It will "look" like a DVD optical drive.
Double click the new drive letter to open it.
Find setup.exe and double click it to start the in-place upgrade.

Choose the Keep personal files and apps option.

After it's all done... to UNmount the ISO image, right click the new drive letter and choose: EJECT.

The ONLY thing you will lose is some of your personalizations.
Your drivers, programs and data will be intact.

Ghot said:

I'm not an Insider either... but I have that toggle.

Click to expand...

I believe you. Maybe I'm missing something obvious, but it's not there for me as I've explained three times now. Perhaps I could JOIN the insider program in order to access the options to disable Dev mode and then leave it again?

Ghot said:

====================================================================


I have to go out for a bit... but here's another option that will solve and "Windows" problems you may be having...

An In-Place Upgrade "compares" what is installed on the computer, with the Windows ISO image.
Then, it overwrites any corrupted Windows files, with clean copies from the ISO image.
This is how it "repairs" Windows while allowing you to keep your programs and personal files.

Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade

This tutorial will show you how to do a repair install of Windows 11 by performing an in-place upgrade without losing anything. If you need to repair or create a new recovery partition or having problems with the Windows 11 operating system on your PC, and the usual solutions will not fix it...

www.elevenforum.com

Here is the short version of the In-place upgrade tutorial...

DISABLE non-Microsoft:
a) antivirus software
b) firewall software
c) drive encryption software


Make a full OS backup with a program like Macrium Reflect or AOMEI Backupper Standard
Making a backup is optional, but always a smart move.
Macrium Reflect
AOMEI Backupper Standard (free)


Get the Windows 11 ISO (Option #2), and save it to your desktop...


Right click the ISO image and choose: MOUNT
Open File Explorer and you will see a new drive letter. It will "look" like a DVD optical drive.
Double click the new drive letter to open it.
Find setup.exe and double click it to start the in-place upgrade.

Choose the Keep personal files and apps option.

After it's all done... to UNmount the ISO image, right click the new drive letter and choose: EJECT.

The ONLY thing you will lose is some of your personalizations.
Your drivers, programs and data will be intact.

Click to expand...

Yes, as I said above, I downloaded windows to a USB and installed it on a PC I built myself from components. I'm aware of how to install Windows from scratch or to refresh it.

I still don't have an answer as to why I would want to disable APPS through the registry when I can just do it with the toggle. It's weird you keep ignoring this question and others I have asked, but that's okay. You don't owe me anything and I appreciate the help or links you've given.

So, anyway, I think I got good information about the specific issue I raised. I'll check back on the thread to see if there are any follow up responses, but otherwise I think I'm good for now and I thank everyone for the help!

BillMorton said:

...I still don't have an answer as to why I would want to disable APPS through the registry when I can just do it with the toggle. It's weird you keep ignoring this question and others I have asked, but that's okay. You don't owe me anything and I appreciate the help or links you've given...

Click to expand...

Hi Bill,

I think I have your answer. Go to Windows Update in Settings and then go to Advanced Options and shut off "Receive updates for other Microsoft products," as illustrated below.

Windows Update > Advanced options:



Windows Update > Advanced options > Receive update for other Microsoft products:



Kind regards,

tecknot

BillMorton said:

I think we've established (scroll up) that I'm not running developer mode. Likewise, I can't access that toggle. It's not in my privacy settings under settings and I'm stopped getting there via the update page presumably because I'm not participating in the Windows Insider Program.

Click to expand...

There's some confusion here. Developer Mode is for managing Windows security policy on side-loading Apps.

Normally UWP (or "Store") apps can only be installed through the Store App or updates. Side-loading is where you acquire an offline software package, and install it separately. Because it wasn't directly from the Store as a verified source, some organizations don't allow that to happen. This setting has nothing to do with the Windows release being a Developer or Insider build.