When you open Settings → Apps → “Advanced app settings” in Windows 11 or Settings → Apps → Apps & Features in Windows 10, the “Choose where to get apps from” option may be missing.
You may be unable to install apps outside of Microsoft Store. Doing so results in the message, “The app you’re trying to install isn’t a Microsoft-verified app.”
Cause
The “Choose where to get apps from” option will be unavailable if your Windows installation is in S Mode. You can check that by opening the Settings App, clicking System, and selecting “Activation.”
If it’s in S mode, it says “Windows 11 Home in S mode.”
S mode is designed for security and performance, exclusively running apps from the Microsoft Store.
Resolution
You need to exit S mode to install apps from outside the Microsoft Store. Switching out of S mode is one-way. If you make the switch, you won’t be able to go back to Windows 10 in S mode. There’s no charge to switch out of S mode.
- To switch out of S mode, click here to open the Microsoft Store to the Switch out of S mode (or similar) page.
Alternatively, you can run ms-windows-store://pdp/?productid=BF712690PMLF from the Run dialog to open the Store app to that page.
- On the Switch out of S mode page, select the Get button. After you see a confirmation message on the page, you’ll be able to install apps from outside of the Microsoft Store.
See also
Windows 10 and Windows 11 in S mode FAQ – Microsoft Support
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