How to enable the Windows Store in a Windows To Go workspaces

Windows To Go workspaces is a new feature in the Windows 8 Enterprise version that enables users to install a full-version of the operating system in a USB drive and have fully featured Windows environment (OS, apps and documents) anywhere the user goes.

This is a feature intended only for businesses who often work with custom-build images and with specific settings and security configurations. And in any way Microsoft is pushing Win To Go as a replacement for the everyday desktop or mobile device — It’s just an alternate work environment.

For more information on how to create a Windows To Go drive, check out this previous article.

One of the limitations of a “Windows To Go drive” is that by default the Windows Store is disabled, in other words you cannot install Windows Store apps (Metro style apps) in the portable workspace. The why for this behavior still unknown — If you know please leave a comment –. However, it’s possible to enable it with a simple configuration tweak. You can do this via Windows group policies using Active Directory Group Policy or Local group policy. Continue reading to learn how to complete this task:

Instruction

1 Open the Run command with the + R keyboard shortcut, type gpedit.msc and click OK, to open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2 Navigate through the Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Store.

Allow Store Win To Go

3 You’ll see three setting options, select and double-click the “Allow Store to install apps on Windows To Go workspaces”.

4 Then select Enabled. Click Apply and OK to complete.

Windows Store policy options

Important: Read and understand the warning before proceeding — “If you enable this setting, access to the Store application is allowed on the Windows To Go workspace. Only enable this policy when the Windows To Go workspace will only be used with a single PC. Using it with multiple PCs is not supported.” — Which it can be understandable in the standpoint of software licensing.

That’s all there is to it. Enjoy!

It’s still possible that in the near future the software giant may push this feature to at least Windows 8 Pro, but for now it will only be part of the Enterprise version of the operating system.

Mike De Rebel

Hello,

This doesn’t work, the “Local Group Policy Editor” is not available on To Go Workspaces :)
- Pit
  
  Hello Mike,
  Sorry to hear that, but it should, may be is missing.
  Check this Microsoft page to create a new console and add “Group Policy Object”. Then you should be able to edit the Store settings.
  
  Thanks,
  
  PS: Let us know if this worked.
  - Mike De Rebel
    
    Hi Pit,
    
    Thanks for the mega fast answer! it still doesn’t work however, everything depends on the “Gpedit.msc” but I don’t have this one the computer, the “Group Policy Microsoft Management Console” or MMC does work, but when I go to the File -> Add/Remove Snap-ins there is nothing that even starts with a “G” in the available snap-ins list on the left side.
    
    [I'm also wondering how I got this "To Go Workspace" in the first place, because I installed just Windows 8 and then did a refresh.. maybe something went wrong with my pc.]
    
    I think I’ll better to a clean install when I get home :)
    
    thanks for the answers though, thought it would be very nice if I could just fix the Store because without a store Windows 8 is pretty useless after all.
    - Mauro
      
      Something may not be working right. May be if you re-create the Windows To Go might fix it.
      
      Oh! Remember that you’ll only see “To Go” with the Windows 8 Enterprise edition. You aren’t using this OS, you might have created “Windows To Go” with the trial version of the operating system.
      
      Thanks,
      
      PS: Let us know how you workout the solution.
KK m

I managed to make a Windows to Go drive with Windows 8 Pro! I haven’t tried roaming yet though. But it knows that it is Windows to go! :-)

Instruction

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