Despite facing challenges in user engagement, Microsoft is steadfast in its ambition to reshape the Windows App Store into a comprehensive platform for all Windows applications. The latest initiative involves enabling third-party publishers to manage the update process for their programs directly through the Store.
Enhancements in the Microsoft Store
Recently, Microsoft unveiled the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27758 for Canary Channel subscribers, introducing a noteworthy enhancement: the Microsoft Store now supports Win32 applications, allowing users to manage and update these programs without exiting the Store’s interface.
The Win32 API, which has been the cornerstone for developing and running 32-bit applications since the Windows 95 era, has evolved over the years. Microsoft has progressively introduced updates, including support for 64-bit programs via the Win64 architecture. While Win32 applications have been available in the Microsoft Store for some time, this latest Preview Build marks a significant advancement. It allows Win32 programs that are “provided and updated” by third-party publishers to be updated directly through the Store.
In the past, much like other legacy Windows software, these applications required updates to be performed outside the Microsoft Store. Now, Insider subscribers can easily access the new update feature by navigating to the “Downloads” page and selecting “Get Updates.” If an update is available, it will be listed among pending updates. However, users must manually initiate the update process by clicking the “Update” button, as automatic updates are not enabled for these applications.
This centralized update capability is exclusive to applications downloaded or purchased via the Microsoft Store. Traditional Win32 software remains unaffected, allowing users the freedom to continue downloading programs from third-party websites or installing them from external storage devices as they have in the past.
This development offers software developers a new avenue to distribute their Win32 applications through the Microsoft Store while retaining control over the update process, thus providing users with more flexibility. Although the Microsoft Store has historically grappled with issues such as bugs, unreliable software, and sluggish performance, there is potential for improvement.
Fortunately for those who prefer traditional methods, Windows maintains exceptional backward compatibility with 32-bit programs dating back to the Windows 9x era. Alongside the Store’s new update capabilities, the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27758 also addresses various bugs impacting File Explorer, the Taskbar, Task Manager, and other Windows components. However, lingering compatibility issues reported with Windows 11 24H2 remain unaddressed.
