Microsoft Store Update: Easier Win32 App Management Arrives

Microsoft is rolling out a pivotal update for the Microsoft Store on Windows 11, delivering a much-anticipated feature aimed squarely at enhancing the handling of Win32 applications. This marks another significant milestone in Microsoft's ongoing mission to simplify and streamline software updates for its ever-growing user base.
If you're a Windows enthusiast or a developer working in the Win32 application ecosystem, there might not be better news to round out 2024. Let's take a deep dive into what this update means for the future of app updates on the Microsoft Store—and why this is about more than just convenience.

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The New Feature: Simplifying Updates for Win32 Apps​

Here's the highlight of version 22411.1401 (and newer) of the Microsoft Store: Users can now update Win32 apps directly through the Microsoft Store instead of relying on external or individual update mechanisms. These apps, branded with a “provided and updated” badge, represent software whose updates are managed by their publishers but can now be performed directly inside the Store itself.
Previously, you had to navigate to the application itself or use a custom installer to look for and apply any updates. Remember chasing down those oh-so-annoying notifications that your favorite utility needed manual updating? With this new feature, those days are over.

How It Works​

The new system isn’t entirely automatic—yet. Here’s how it functions:

1. Navigate to the Library section in the Microsoft Store or visit the Store page of the specific app.
2. Click on "Update" for eligible Win32 apps.
3. Apps with installed updates will display in the pending list under the "Downloads and updates" section for manual confirmation.

This approach will initially require user interaction to ensure precision and control over the updates but lays the groundwork for more seamless integrations down the road.

Eligible Win32 Apps​

• Only Win32 apps tagged as “provided and updated” by their publishers are scheduled to appear within this mechanism.
• Traditional Win32 apps hosted on external servers won't integrate here (for the time being).

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Why This Update Matters​

Win32 apps are integral to the Windows ecosystem. They power legacy enterprise software, open-source gems like Audacity or GIMP, and utilities like WinRAR, which still rely on manual updates—until now.
Here's why this upgrade is a big deal:

1. Uniform Update Hub: Windows users now have a single place for most updates, consolidating apps across Microsoft Store-native options and previously standalone apps. Imagine fewer website visits and less faffing around!
2. Developer-Friendly: Software publishers gain a more official channel to distribute updates to their applications without needing extra infrastructure for notifications, patches, and delivery systems.
3. Improved Security: Handling updates through the Microsoft Store allows apps to benefit from Store security policies, scan integrity, and Microsoft's robust backend. This reduces risks of malware injection during updates.
4. A Clear Future of App Management: Combined with Auto Store Updates for modern apps and game ecosystems, manual updates for legacy software could become a thing of the past. This recent change indicates Microsoft's larger ambitions to absorb more functional diversity into the Microsoft Store.
5. Windows Exclusivity Perks: By further expanding the usability of the Microsoft Store, Microsoft reaffirms its commitment to establish Windows as not just open-ended but also user-friendly and dependable.

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Behind the Scenes: What's the Big Deal with Win32 Apps?​

For those not neck-deep in Windows software design, here's a primer to understand the legacy of Win32 apps.
Win32 is the legacy Windows API (Application Programming Interface) framework, a toolkit that developers have leaned on to build countless Windows applications since the glory days of Windows 95. Everything from lightweight utilities to massive enterprise tools originates from this framework.
However, the Win32 development environment trails behind the modern UWP (Universal Windows Platform) model. UWP handles seamless updates, more advanced integrations, and better platform-wide compatibility. This Store update cleverly merges the strengths of both the Win32 legacy system and the ease of UWP—offering flexibility without dropping support for older frameworks.

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How to Access the Update?​

This feature is now live for users running the Canary build of Windows 11 and those participating in the Windows Insider Program. Specifically, it’s:

• Available for Microsoft Store version 22411.1401.x.x or higher.
• Rolled out since Windows 11 Build 27758.

To check if you're eligible:

1. Open your Microsoft Store app.
2. Head to your profile options and go to Settings > About.
3. Ensure you're running the version 22411.1401.x.x or newer.

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The Path Forward: Room for Growth​

While this update is ground-breaking, there are still features we’d love to see grow:

• Automatic Updates for Eligible Win32 Apps: Much like native Store apps, wouldn’t it be nice if these updates didn't wait for manual approval in the future?
• Broader Support: Although the “provided and updated” badge currently applies to specific publishers, expanding the net to include more Win32 programs will be key.
• Feedback Mechanism for Updates: A tool to let users report update failures, broken patches, or security concerns directly to Microsoft.

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Conclusion​

Microsoft's incremental improvements to the Microsoft Store keep inching us closer to a one-stop ecosystem where updating, managing, and maintaining Windows applications is no longer the sinkhole it has been for decades. The addition of Win32 app updates is a judicious step towards modernizing the relationship users and developers share with such apps in Windows’ vast and complex software environment.
So, next time you grumble about manual updates or the nightmare of wandering through software websites for installers, know that the cavalry has arrived. Or at least, the cavalry has sent over its quartermaster.
This is one feature we hope to see universally adopted soon. Stay tuned to your Store for updates—or now, update effortlessly when that time comes!

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Source: Neowin New Microsoft Store update makes it easier to update Win32 apps