Office Settings & Configuration

How to Allow Users to Access the Office Store and Microsoft 365 Add-ins

Tauseeq Magsi Oct 9, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users need permission to browse, acquire, and execute add-ins directly from the Office Store.

How to Allow Users to Access the Office Store and Microsoft 365 Add-ins

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Users are attempting to download or use add-ins from the Office Store to enhance their Microsoft 365 applications.
Observed behavior: A warning message states that Microsoft 365 is configured to prevent individual acquisition and execution of Office Store add-ins.

Before you start

Ensure you have global administrator or appropriate role-based privileges in Microsoft 365, as modifying Office Store access policies requires access to the admin center.

Solution 1Recommended

Enable Office Store Access in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center

Modify the organization's settings to allow users to independently browse and install add-ins from the public Office Store.

By adjusting this tenant policy, users will gain the ability to install public add-ins alongside any custom add-ins the administrator has already deployed. Centralized add-ins will remain easily accessible in a separate tab.

Access the Admin Center

Navigate to Organization Settings

Click on 'Settings' in the left-hand navigation pane, then select 'Org settings'.

Locate User Owned Apps and Services

Under the Services tab, find and click on 'User owned apps and services' (or the specific Add-ins configuration menu depending on your dashboard version).

Enable Store Access

Check the box labeled 'Let users access the Office Store' and click 'Save' to apply the new policy across the tenant.

Enable Office Store Access in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center

Paid Add-ins and Billing: Enabling this setting does not mean the organization automatically covers the cost of premium add-ins. Users will be prompted to provide their own payment information and approve the purchase for any paid acquisitions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will enabling Office Store access remove add-ins previously deployed by the administrator?

No. Enabling user access to the public store allows them to browse available external add-ins, but any administrator-deployed add-ins will remain available and will appear in a separate tab for the users.

Can I restrict users to download only specific add-ins rather than opening the whole store?

Yes. If you only want users to access specific tools, you should leave the 'Let users access the Office Store' option disabled. Instead, deploy only the approved add-ins centrally through the Add-ins section of the Microsoft 365 admin center.

Does enabling user access mean the company will automatically be billed for paid add-ins?

No. When users attempt to download paid add-ins from the Office Store, they will be prompted to provide payment information and approve the purchase individually, protecting the organization from unauthorized charges.

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