Microsoft Store on Windows 11 becomes essential app marketplace in 2025
The Microsoft Store, once a mere shadow of an app marketplace, has undergone a significant transformation, becoming a truly valuable resource for Windows users. This transformation took place primarily with the launch of Windows 11 in 2021.
Microsoft's key changes to the Store have enabled it to accommodate legacy and desktop-class Windows apps without requiring developers to make code changes to comply with the store. Additionally, the company has permitted developers to host their apps and updates on their own servers while still listing them in the Store. This means the Store no longer restricts apps to modern Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps and acts more like a search and discovery engine, while developers retain control over hosting and update delivery, avoiding hosting fees or restrictions on payments.
Opening the Microsoft Store to All App Types
Microsoft has stopped requiring developers to modify their desktop or legacy apps to fit Store policies, greatly expanding the available app catalog and making the Store more relevant for Windows users.
Decoupling App Hosting from the Store's Servers
Developers can now list apps in the Store while hosting the install packages and updates themselves. This preserves developer control over distribution and costs while benefiting from Store visibility.
User Interface and Experience Improvements
The Store in Windows 11 features a modern, fluid UI and a broader catalog of apps, making it easier and more pleasant for users to find and install the apps they need.
These strategic changes have made the Microsoft Store a genuinely useful app marketplace where users can find a wide range of apps, including traditional desktop software, with a smoother experience. Developers benefit from flexible distribution options.
Expanded App Selection
There are now more apps available to download via the Microsoft Store than ever before. Some of the popular apps now available include OBS Studio, Adobe Creative Cloud, Discord, Slack, Spotify, Paint.NET, Audacity, Apple Music, ChatGPT, Brave, Firefox, Telegram, and more.
Manual Control over App Updates
The Microsoft Store lists app updates for apps that aren't hosted on Microsoft's store servers in a separate category, allowing users to manually trigger the download of the newest bits.
Keeping Windows PCs Updated
The Microsoft Store handles app updates, making it easier to keep a Windows PC up to date.
Availability Across Windows Versions
The Microsoft Store is now available on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
The requirement for a Microsoft Account to download many apps has been removed, making the Store more accessible to a broader audience. The Microsoft Store's rebranding during the lifecycle of Windows 10 and its complete redesign from the ground up, using native Windows UI frameworks for a fast, fluid, and dynamic experience, have further contributed to its transformation. The Store's dynamic homepage, showing apps based on user's download history, can help discover new apps.
Google Chrome is the only major app not currently available in the Microsoft Store. However, the Store continues to grow and evolve, offering a promising future for Windows users seeking a diverse and user-friendly app marketplace.
- In addition to the popularity of Microsoft's Xbox gaming platform, the Microsoft Store now offers a wide range of traditional desktop software like OBS Studio, Adobe Creative Cloud, Discord, Slack, Spotify, Paint.NET, Audacity, Apple Music, ChatGPT, Brave, Firefox, Telegram, and more.
- Instead of hosting apps and updates on its servers, developers can now manage their own servers while still listing their apps in the Microsoft Store, potentially reducing costs and providing additional control.
- The Store update in Windows 11 offers users the ability to manually trigger app updates for apps not hosted on Microsoft's servers, giving users more control over their PC's updates.
- Initially becoming a valuable resource for Windows 10 users, the Microsoft Store is now also available for Windows 11 users, ensuring users across different versions can benefit from the expanded app selection.
- With these updates and changes, the Microsoft Store has evolved to become more than just an app marketplace—it's a robust platform that caters to Windows, gaming, and technology enthusiasts, offering a dynamic homepage that recommends apps based on user's download history, making it easier to discover new apps.
