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At Build 2025, Microsoft's annual developer conference, the company announced some important changes to the Microsoft Store, its primary app marketplace on Windows 10 and 11. Since its introduction in 2012, the Microsoft Store has experienced multiple improvements and enhancements, which have made it easier for developers to distribute their projects using a trusted platform. Now, Microsoft is making its store even more accessible. Every individual developer will soon be able to register a developer account for free. Right now, Microsoft requires a one-time $19 registration fee, but that payment is going away starting next month. However, this only applies to individual accounts—fees for corporate accounts remain in place. In addition to free entry for every developer, the Microsoft Store is getting other much-needed improvements. For one, the store will finally display when the app was last updated. This is one of the most-requested features from users and the developer community, and Microsoft is finally delivering it 13 years after the launch of the Microsoft Store. Better late than never. Microsoft is also improving Health Report insights for app makers, giving them more metrics like crash rate, hang rate, and affected device counts. This data will help developers prioritize bug fixes and address critical issues faster. Partner Center will also send notifications about unusual spikes in failures and allow developers to compare data across different app versions, architectures, and devices. Another big change that is useful for both developers and users is direct Win32 app updates. The Microsoft Store can host Win32 apps with developer-provided update channels, but once an MSI or EXE is submitted, Microsoft leaves no way for users to update to the latest version from the Microsoft Store. This requires launching the app and using its update mechanisms. Soon, you will be able to download the most recent version of a Win32 app directly from the Microsoft Store so that you can start using it with no need to install additional updates. Finally, Microsoft is launching app campaigns, which will allow developers to promote their Windows apps in the Microsoft Store and other Microsoft products via the Microsoft Advertising Platform, and the Microsoft Store FastTrack, a new program for qualified companies for faster Win32 app submissions. Microsoft says the Microsoft Store has about 250 million monthly active users. The list of popular apps available in the store has greatly improved with the launch of ChatGPT, Day One, Docker, Fantastical, and other popular applications. Notion, another popular productivity app, is also coming soon to the Microsoft Store. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. News posts... 2023: 5,800+ | 2024: 5,700+ | 2025 (till end of April): 1,811 RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

Microsoft is making over 150 changes to the Microsoft Store based on user feedback. Microsoft developers have been hard at work monitoring social media to receive feedback about the Microsoft Store. Rudy Huyn, principal lead architect of the Microsoft Store, took to X to share some of the changes made following feedback. In total, Microsoft has made over 150 client-side changes, according to Huyn. When Microsoft announced the end of its free wallpapers and themes website, I complained about how themes were organized in the Microsoft Store. It seems I was not alone, since Microsoft has created a brand-new page for browsing themes. Other changes include downloads now appearing separately from the My Library section of the Microsoft Store. Gamers also received some love, as it's now possible to select game components before installing a game. Downloading specific components was a nightmare when I compared the Microsoft Store to Steam. I'm happy to see some changes to improve the experience. New server modules, a new spotlight for home pages, and an AI Hub for Copilot+ PCs round out an impressive list of changes from Microsoft. Huyn promised in his final post that more changes are coming. The changes appear to be rolling out gradually, so you may not see them right away. Since threaded posts from X can be a bit difficult to navigate, here is what Huyn had to say about the improvements to the Microsoft Store: We closely follow your tweets and posts about the Microsoft Store and use your feedback to shape our plans for each sprint. In our latest release, we implemented over 150 client-side changes. We heard your feedback about themes and the need for easier browsing. We've created a brand-new page to help you find the themes you love with ease! Some of you shared feedback about the header of our product pages, especially when no trailers were available. We listened and made significant improvements, here is a before/after. We also heard your feedback about updating your applications and have made some important changes. Downloads are now separate from My Library and will now allow you to update unpackaged applications! You mentioned that you wanted the ability to select game components before installing a game, and this is now possible! We have built/[improved] several new modules, including a beautiful new spotlight for home pages. We made the experience even better on Copilot+ PC with a new exclusive AI Hub showcasing all the latest AI features available for these computers. And way more: We have made significant improvements to launch and navigation performance. Enjoy access to the full Game Pass catalog, including games available through other launchers (http://Battle.net, Riot, etc.) We’re launching our partnership with Tencent in China, bringing you thousands of new apps and games! Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. News posts... 2023: 5,800+ | 2024: 5,700+ | 2025 (till end of February): 874 RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

Microsoft has finally released a detailed guide on how to fix the "0x80131500" error on its Store. The company has updated one of the support pages on its official website to add this new entry. Neowin noticed this new page while browsing. Upon coming across this, we wondered if this was a recent bug that was affecting the Microsoft Store. However, a quick Google search reveals that people have been encountering this issue for a while with complaints going all the way back to 2019. That was six years ago and pre-dates the release of Windows 11 by two years as the OS became generally available in October 2021. In the new support article about the 0x80131500 error, Microsoft lists four ways to fix the issue including tweaking the TLS (transport layer security) internet settings: About the TLS settings, Microsoft has asked users to ensure that TLS 1.2 and 1.3 are being used. It writes: Interestingly, Microsoft has used this "0x80131500" code in the past too in the context of Windows 10 20H2 update error in some cases. You can find the support article here on Microsoft's official website. Also in case you may not be aware, the deprecation of TLS 1.0 and 1.1 on Windows was announced back in 2023 and is disabled by Microsoft 365 products as well as WinHTTP and WinINet API surfaces. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. News posts... 2023: 5,800+ | 2024: 5,700+ | 2025 (till end of February): 874 RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

Microsoft recently published a recap of all the features and improvements it added to the Microsoft Store on Windows 11 and 10 in 2024. However, with a few weeks of 2024 left, the company released one more update, which makes it easier to update Win32 applications in the Microsoft Store. The update was announced alongside Windows 11 build 27758 from the Canary Channel. Starting with version 22411.1401 and newer, Windows users can update Win32 applications that rely on outside update mechanisms directly in the Microsoft Store (marked with a "provided and updated" badge in the store). Up until now, updating those apps has required taking action within those programs. Microsoft notes that applications that are provided and updated by their publishers will not update automatically—you have to navigate to the library section or the app's store page and click "Update." All the other apps hosted in the Microsoft Store can still update automatically in the background. Here is the official announcement: You can find the announcement with the rest of the changelog for Windows 11 build 27758 in a post on the official Windows Insider Blog. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. 2023: Over 5,800 news posts | 2024 (till end of November): 5,298 news posts RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

During 2024, the Microsoft Store app on Windows 11 and 10 received numerous updates packed with new features, improvements, fixes, and performance improvements. As the year heads into its sunset, Microsoft decided to recap the most notable updates for its app marketplace on Windows 11 and 10. One of the biggest changes was the reworked Library section, which is now split into two: Update and Library. The former is dedicated to app updates with proper changelogs and version numbers, while the latter lets you browse all the content you own, including apps, games, movies, and more. For those with massive libraries, the Microsoft Store made it easier to find the necessary content with a dedicated search bar. Product listing pages also received some love. For one, there is a reworked install progress bar with the app's size and completion percentage, which is extra convenient for large apps and especially games. Speaking of games, there are now improved categories and quick links that let you jump to any genre with a single click. Also, trailers are now played automatically when you open a product page (a hero image is shown if there is no trailer). There are also invisible but still important changes. Microsoft says that underlying optimizations improved the app's performance and reduced the launch time by up to 25%. Developers also fixed various bugs causing app downloads to hang, resulting in a 50% reduction in failed downloads. Other Microsoft Store changes include a revamped web installation experience, Win32 app support for web installers, improved search and recommendations, and more. Also, Microsoft held its annual Microsoft Store App Awards contents (check out its winners here) and welcomed a bunch of popular apps to the Microsoft Store, such as ChatGPT, Arc, Fantastical, and others. You can read more about the recent Microsoft Store changes in a blog post on the official website. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. 2023: Over 5,800 news posts | 2024 (till end of November): 5,298 news posts RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

Microsoft has announced the results of this year's Microsoft Store Awards contest. This was the third year that Microsoft encouraged the community to nominate top-notch Windows apps from the Microsoft Store to recognize their outstanding quality and capabilities. After a few weeks of accepting nominations, Microsoft is finally ready to reveal the winners. Here are this year's Microsoft Store Awards winners: AI Category - dJay Pro Algoriddim by Algoriddim Lifestyle Category - Diarium Jornal & Dairy by T. Parti Personal Finance Category - TradingView by TradingView, Inc. Business Category - Gamma by Gamma Education Category - Typing Land by higopage Productivity Category - Todoist: To-Do List & Planner by Doist Inc. Music Category - Apple Music by Apple Inc. Health & Fitness Category - F.lux by F.lux Software LLC Medical Category - Complete Anatomy 2024 by 3D4Medical Developer Tools Category - on-my posh by jandedobbeleer Social Category - Pinterest by Pinterest Inc. Creativity Category - Adobe Express by Adobe Game Category - Asphalt Legends Unite by Gameloft Rising Star Category (new to the Microsoft Store) - Endel Music: Focus, Sleep, Relax by Endel Sound Each winner of the Microsoft Store Awards 2024 will receive exclusive badges on their Microsoft Store listings and free promotions on the Microsoft Store home page. In addition, Microsoft will hand out the Surface Pro 11 with a custom gradient finish. For reference, you can check out the Microsoft Store Awards winners from 2023 here and 2022 here. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. 2023: Over 5,800 news posts | 2024 (till end of October): 4,832 news posts RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

Microsoft is rolling out a new update for the Microsoft Store app on Windows 11 and 10. Version 22312 is now available for download in the Stable Channel, bringing users new notifications and options to manage them. With the latest release, Windows users can receive a message when the Microsoft Store has finished installing an app or game. Besides letting the customer know that a product is ready for use, the new notifications provide two extra quick actions: launch the app or game or pin it to the Start menu. The same capability was in Windows 10, and now Windows 11 users can try it. Microsoft Store version 22312 enables install notifications by default. If you do not like this behavior and prefer not to receive any notifications from the Microsoft Store app, Microsoft lets you turn them off. Here is how to do that: Launch the Microsoft Store app and click your profile icon in the upper-right corner. Click "Settings." Toggle off the "Notifications for app installations" option. To check your current Microsoft Store version, go to Settings, scroll down to the About section, and see the version number. The Microsoft Store app will soon get even more improvements. Windows Insiders are currently testing the ability to open instant games from search results, better app discoverability with improved algorithms, and overall snappier performance with bug fixes. Microsoft ships Store updates relatively quickly, so you can expect those changes to land in the Stable Channel in no time. Source

On Wednesday, Microsoft rolled out a new Windows 11 build 26100, for members of the Windows Insider Program in the Canary and Dev channel. The build included some fixes for some issues, but as it turns out, those same Canary and Dev channel members got something extra that was not listed in the change log. Sergio Pedri, who is a Senior Software Engineer at Microsoft that works on the Microsoft Store, posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account that the Windows 11 app store got some "major performance improvements." He added, "The splash screen can now be entirely skipped in most cases and launching the app feels a lot faster!" Microsoft Principal Architect Rudy Huyn had a multi-message post on X that goes over some more details on the improvements put in the Microsoft Store. He confirmed that the new version number for the app store is v22403 and that it is available for Canary and Dev Insider members. One of Huyn's messages showed a video clip of how product pages on the store were now loading "40% faster on average" with the new version. Another message showed a video clip of how the new store build "manages entitlement and licensing, resulting in the "Buy" button being displayed approximately 1.5 times faster." Huyn stated that the Microsoft Store build that's available for Dev and Canary Insider members "includes many other changes, but we will let you discover them!" There's no word on when this new Microsoft Store version will make its way to all Windows 11 users. Source

If you prefer Dropbox over other cloud storage providers, like the built-in OneDrive in Windows 10 and 11, the company has some good news for you: its official app is now available in the Microsoft Store. Rudy Huyn, Microsoft Store Principal Architect, announced the arrival of the app in his profile on X: Like the built-in OneDrive client, Dropbox for Windows offers multiple features to make working with cloud-stored files easier. For example, the official app can upload files faster than the web version and save you some disk storage by offloading local files to Dropbox for online-only mode. In addition, it lets you check upload status, recent activity, file version history, and more. Here is what the app can do according to its Store page: The official Dropbox app is available on x64 and ARM systems running Windows 10 and 11 version 21H2 and newer (build number 19044 or higher). It is worth noting that those already using the official Dropbox app on Windows 10 should uninstall it before switching to the Store version. You can download Dropbox (beta) from the Microsoft Store using this link. In other Microsoft Store news, the app recently received a "What's new" section where users can check out the latest additions and new features, such as the recently introduced installation notifications, a reworked Microsoft 365 page, performance improvements, and more. Source

Windows users have received a new version of the Microsoft Store app. The update makes it easier to check out new features, experimental changes, and other improvements in the latest update. The "What's new" section in the Microsoft Store is now rolling out to all users, not just Windows Insiders. It was announced by Rudy Huyn, Principal Architect at Microsoft: To get the latest version, open the Microsoft Store, go to the Library section, and click "Check for updates." You will then spot a "What's new" button in the bottom-left corner of the app. As of right now, the new section features recent changes, including some unannounced features, such as a new UI for unlinking devices: The new section does not mention app versions, but it is still nice to get a single place for new Microsoft Store features. Source

Microsoft is on a roll with updating its app store on Windows 10 and 11. Following the recent release of performance upgrades and improved algorithms, the company announced big changes in how the web version of the Microsoft Store works. Now, every user can download app executables directly from the website using new "installers for web." The change was announced in a lengthy post on X by Rudy Huyn. The logic behind the new web installer is to make app downloads work faster and require fewer actions. Previously, if you wanted to install a program using the web version of the Store, you had to make three clicks: one on the website, one for the deep-link dialog, and one on the Store's mini-window. Such a complex process was there to combat malicious scripts at the cost of user experience. Now, the new "undocked version of the Store" lets you use smaller standalone installers with the same logic as the Microsoft Store app. One downloadable package can manage prerequisites, entitlements, downloads, and installations. The new approach provides several benefits. Downloading an app now requires just two clicks—one click to download a package and one click to launch it. Lightweight installers work faster than the Microsoft Store app, plus they are always up-to-date, even on systems with very old Store versions or without it at all. Finally, you can use new web installers to get several apps at once. According to the post from Rudy Huyn, the initial feedback from early consumer and developer testers showed an increase in installations and app launches: Developers who use the "Get it from Microsoft" badge for their apps can specify what happens when users click the badge and opt out of the new experience to redirect users to the Microsoft Store instead of downloading a new web installer. You can find more information about the latest Microsoft Store update on X. Source

Earlier this week, Microsoft rolled out the latest version (22403) of its Microsoft Store app for Windows 10 and 11 to all users on the Stable channel. It includes some major speed and performance improvements for the app along with some other changes. As it turns out, there's another smaller but still interesting new feature that's also been put in place for Microsoft Store users but was just revealed earlier today. In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Rudy Huyn, Principal Architect at Microsoft and a member of the Microsoft Store development team, wrote that the app now has been set up so that any applications or games you might have already installed from the Store are now less visible on the Store's home pages. Huyn says this feature was put in place to make it "easier for you to discover new apps" in the Microsoft Store. Users who still want to see the full algorithmic app lists can do so by "clicking on the module title", according to Huyn. This is just the latest update for the Microsoft Store app in the space of just a few months. In January, the Store app got a new version that included the addition of notifications when the Store finished installing an app or game on the PC. Just a few weeks ago in late March, the Microsoft Store added a "What's New" section that includes details of the latest versions of the Store app although it still does not include the actual app version numbers. Source

Microsoft is rolling out a big new update for the Microsoft Store app on Windows. Version 22403 does not contain new features, but you will still be glad to receive the update because it delivers significant performance improvements to make the app notably faster across its different parts. Microsoft released version 22403 for testing in the Windows Insider program earlier this month, and it is now available to all users in the Stable Channel. According to Rudy Huyn from the Microsoft Store team, in version 22403, customers can expect faster product page loading (up to 40% faster on average), optimized entitlement and licensing so that the "Buy" button appears faster (up to 50% on average), and a smoother launch experience with a reworked splash screen. You can see the comparison between version 22403 and previous releases in a series of posts on Rudy's X: To check your Microsoft Store app version, launch the store and click your profile icon in the top right corner. Select Settings and scroll down to the About section. The Microsoft Store app updates itself automatically in the background, but you can also check for updates manually by heading to the Library section and clicking the "Check for updates" button. In case you missed it, Microsoft recently introduced a "What's new" section where you can see the latest improvements and new features in the Microsoft Store app on Windows. The "What's new" button sits right on top of the Library button in the bottom-left corner. Source

Microsoft has updated the Microsoft Store app on Windows preview builds with a new tab that lets you access instant games without downloading. It is called "Arcade," and it sits right below the Gaming tab. Just do not confuse it with Apple Arcade and its suspiciously similar icon. Even though Apple Music and Apple TV are available on Windows, you are unlikely to see Apple's gaming subscription service on Windows PCs. The "Arcade" tab is available in the Microsoft Store app version 22311.1401.0.0 and newer (you may need to change the system region to the United States), and it works just as it sounds: You open the "Arcade" section, select a game, and click "Play." The Microsoft Store then opens a new window and launches the selected game. Microsoft announced instant games for Windows 11 in late September 2023 when the company launched the Moment 4 update. Back then, Microsoft said the idea was to "make it easier to explore and access content even faster in the Microsoft Store on Windows." The latest Microsoft Store update indeed makes it faster and easier to explore games, assuming you are looking for something resembling Flash games from the early 2000s. If you are a Windows developer and you would like to make your project available in the "Arcade" section, fill out this form to let Microsoft know. A dedicated section for instant casual games is not the only recent change Microsoft released for its store app. One of the most significant updates was the one that drastically improved the performance, allowing you to open the Microsoft Store in a second or two. In addition, the app now lets you select a drive for the game you are about to download. What do you think about the new "Arcade" section in the Microsoft Store? Source

Earlier this month, Windows Insider Program members in the Dev and Canary channels got a chance to try out a new version of the Microsoft Store app. It included a very helpful feature that finally allowed users who purchased games from the store to pick where the game could be downloaded onto their PC's storage. This week, the Microsoft Store app quietly got a new version, v22310, that enabled this new and, quite frankly, long-awaited feature for all users in the Stable Channel. The announcement was made by "Daniel," a member of the Microsoft Store team, on his X (formerly Twitter) account this morning. Microsoft described the new feature in more detail in its blog post at the time for Canary Windows Insiders: It is also worth noting that the Xbox app already allows you to select a drive to store your games. The same feature is now available in the Microsoft Store for those who prefer downloading games from there. The Microsoft Store app recently received a number of updates, including one that significantly improved performance so that it now loads in just a couple of seconds. Source

Microsoft is rolling out a new version of the Microsoft Store app for members of the Windows Insider Program who are on the Dev and Canary update channels,, with the build number version 22310.xxxx.x. It adds a way for PC gamers to customize the drive and folder that they want to download games from the Microsoft Store. Microsoft goes into more detail in the Canary blog update: Game installation options in the Microsoft Store. It's hard to believe that Microsoft hasn't had this feature in its store app for Windows before now, but at least it's bow available for Insiders to test out. Insiders can also send over any feedback on this new custom game install feature in the Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Microsoft Store. The Microsoft Store website recently got a user interface refresh that makes it look more like the Store app on Windows 10 and 11. Another recent update has boosted the performance of the Store app in Windows so that it now loads in just a couple of seconds. The big "Moment 4" update for Windows 11 over a month ago also added Instant Games, which lets users play PC games in the store without the need to download them. Source

Windows users have spotted an unannounced change in the Microsoft Store on Windows 11 and 10. Without much fanfare, the company introduced a new "System Components" badge to help customers understand the purpose of specific apps and elements when updating or browsing software in the Microsoft Store. You can check out the new indicator by launching the Microsoft Store and clicking the "Library" button. Image/video extensions and some inbox applications, mostly non-user-removable, will show up with the new "System Components" badge. Interestingly, Windows Web Experienced Pack, responsible for Windows Widgets and MSN News, still appears as a regular app. You can also spot the new indicator when opening a specific listing, but clicking it for some reason opens the "Top free apps" section with third-party software. Although Microsoft has yet to announce the updated store badging, it is easy to guess the reasoning behind the change. The company uses the Microsoft Store to update multiple Windows components, and a less experienced customer may not understand the purpose of a certain entry. The "System Components" label will provide a bit of clarity. Microsoft will soon add a similar badge to other parts of Windows 11. The most recent preview builds contain a "System" tag in the Start menu for flagging stock applications. These badges are hardly groundbreaking, but they make the operating system more user-friendly and easier to understand. Another change in the Microsoft Store is the recently announced AI Hub. The new section for applications leveraging the power of artificial intelligence is now available for all users, not only Windows insiders. Source

You are not alone if you feel like the Microsoft Store app on Windows 11 and 10 can benefit from some performance improvements. The latest Microsoft Store update, now available for all users in the Stable Channel, shows that engineers at Microsoft also understand the importance of making the app a little snappier. Daniel, with the nickname @kid_jenius, a Microsoft engineer from the Microsoft Store team, announced Microsoft Store version 22309 on its Twitter X account (via XDA Developers). According to the developer, the latest update optimizes the store to open in only two seconds. Our testing showed that the claim is not baseless. Here is the Microsoft Store v22308 launching on my computer with a Ryzen 5 5600, 32GB of RAM, and an RTX 4060: And here is the Microsoft Store opening after updating to version 22309. You can spot the difference with the naked eye. Indeed, seems faster! The Microsoft Store app on your Windows PC will update itself automatically. However, you can force the latest update by launching the Microsoft Store, clicking Library, and then hitting the Check for Update button. To check your Microsoft Store version, click your profile icon in the upper-right corner, select Settings, and scroll down to the About section. In case you missed it, the software giant is working on other Microsoft Store features, such as instant games. One may rightfully question the latter, but at least the app now launches significantly faster than before. Source

On Thursday, Microsoft released a new Microsoft Store Windows 11 app update for Canary and Dev channel Insider users. As it turns out, that wasn't the only thing that was updated for Microsoft Store users. The store's official desktop website got a new design that makes it look much like the Windows 11 app. The Microsoft Store site now employs a design where you can browse through cards to see new apps, categories, special offers, and more. If you click on the Games or Movies & TV tab on top, you will see that card design is also available below the main ones, with New and Notable Games and Best Selling Games getting their own cards, and New Movies and Features Movies getting the same look. Judah Gabriel, an engineer at Microsoft, posted on X (formerly Twitter), announcing the rollout of the new Microsoft Store site. He mentioned that it was made with a number of different web component tools, including ones from Lit, Shoelace, Vite, and PWABuilder's template for making progressive web apps, among others. In a follow-up post, Gabriel stated that the old version of the Microsoft Store site used a "React codebase built on an obsoleted UI framework." The new site has a "thoughtfully designed interface, easier ways to discover new apps, and modern web tech stack." When someone on X worried that this store website might release the Windows 11 dedicated app, Gabriel posted a response stating: Think of this as the web front to the app store on Windows. They work together. I work on the same team as the Store desktop app team - they're great folks building the best in-box app on Windows. I wish more Windows in-box apps were as well-crafted as Store. The desktop Microsoft Store app has received a few recent updates, including an Instant Games feature where you can play casual games in the app with no downloads needed. Source

Microsoft has released new Windows 11 Insider builds this week for both the Canary and Dev channels this week. However, members of both of those Insider channels can get an extra addition to test out with an update to the Microsoft Store. Microsoft revealed the update today as part of the Canary channel blog post: Microsoft Store Update Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels running version 22309.xxxx.x of the Microsoft Store and higher will see the following improvement rolling out: Visual refresh of Windows license pages: We’ve improved the look and feel of Windows license pages in the Microsoft Store to be consistent with Windows 11. The pages provide comparison tables between Windows editions to help make it easier to choose what license is best for you. As usual, Windows Insiders can submit their feedback to this new Windows license page revamp in the Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Microsoft Store. The company has been pushing out a lot of new features in the Microsoft Store on Windows 11 lately. A few weeks ago, it showed a new page dedicated to Microsoft's Game Pass service. It's a one-stop shop for any Windows 11 user who wants to learn more about Game Pass, including "benefits, such as exclusive games, deals, free perks, EA Play, and more. " Late in September, as part of the big feature update for Windows 11, Microsoft added a previously unannounced new feature to the store. It's called Instant Games, and as the name suggests, it allows users to play a number of casual PC games directly from the Microsoft Store app, without the need to download the game beforehand. This particular feature is still considered to be a public preview, so there could be changes made to Instant Games before it's ready for its full general availability release. Source

Microsoft has prepared a new update for the Microsoft Store app on Windows 10 and 11. Version 22311 is now rolling out to all users in the Stable Channel, delivering a single library-related bug. According to X user Daniel @kid_jenius, Microsoft Store version 22311 fixes an issue with the program showing only the most recent app installs or updates. After getting the latest release, the Microsoft Store app will display everything in the Library section. The Microsoft Store app on Windows 10 and 11 has been getting plenty of attention from developers lately. The most recent additions include a new "Arcade" section with instant games, the ability to select where to install games, and an easier way to install apps as you browse. More importantly, with the latest updates, the app launches significantly faster than before. The Microsoft Store app also supports third-party billing systems, and you can check out this article to learn how it works. Like Microsoft Edge and other browsers, the Microsoft Store app automatically updates itself quietly in the background by default, so you can continue using your computer as is. However, you can also force-update it by launching the app and clicking the Library icon in the bottom-left corner. After that, press "Check for updates" and install everything available. To check your Microsoft Store version, click your profile icon, select Settings, and scroll down to the About section. Tip: The library section in the Microsoft Store shows only installed products by default. If you want to access all your previously purchased apps and games, click Sort and Filter> Show installed products only. Source

Microsoft has announced an official Discord channel for the Microsoft Store and its related products: the website, Microsoft Partner Center, MSIX packaging, and Windows AppInstaller. Developers, enthusiasts, insiders, and regular consumers can join the server (part of the UWP Community Discord server) to connect with other people and share feedback to help Microsoft improve its products. The company says the new server has a "strong presence" of over 20 professionals, engineers, leads, and product and social managers, giving everyone a convenient communication method with people responsible for maintaining and improving the Microsoft Store. Here is what users can expect to see in the official Microsoft Store Discord server: Discussion on the Microsoft Store app: share your thoughts, insights, and feedback on the Microsoft Store app. Get tips, tricks, and updates on maximizing your app’s performance and discoverability. Website and Store Service feedback: discuss the Microsoft Store website and services, including search results, browsing experience, and more. Share your ideas to enhance the user experience and make the Store even better. Partner Center support: get assistance with MSIX and Win32 submissions, certification requirements, analytics, and other Partner Center related topics. Connect with experts who can guide you through the process. Engage with Microsoft teams: interact with Microsoft PMs, engineers, and social media managers who are actively monitoring the channel. They are eager to listen to your feedback, address your concerns, and help you succeed. You can join the server by downloading Discord from the Microsoft Store or its official website and heading to this link. In case you missed it, Microsoft recently announced a sleeve of new features coming soon to the Microsoft Store. The app will get AI-generated review summaries to help you better understand what people think about an app or game; a dedicated hub for AI-powered apps and services; various improvements for developers, and more. Microsoft Store now has a dedicated Discord server

If the Microsoft Store is not working as expected when trying to download apps on Windows 11, you have multiple ways to troubleshoot and fix this issue, and in this guide, we'll show you how. Although Microsoft is proactively improving the store as it wants you to use it exclusively to download apps, games, and entertainment, the Microsoft Store sometimes has problems. Some of the most common issues include apps stuck in a pending state and queuing up for a long time waiting to download updates. If you have already tried restarting the system, installing the latest system updates, and there are no networking issues with the device, and you're still experiencing problems, Windows 11 offers a few ways to get apps downloading again. This how-to guide will walk you through the steps to resolve issues when Windows 11 apps are stuck or pending on the Microsoft Store. How to fix app problems resetting account on Microsoft Store To resolve issues downloading apps on the Microsoft Store, use these steps: Open Microsoft Store. Click the profile icon from the top-right and click the Sign out button. (Image credit: Future) Click the profile icon from the top-right and select the Sign in option. (Image credit: Future) Select the account to sign in. Click the Continue button. Once you complete the steps, you can try to download the app one more time. How to fix app problems clearing cache on Microsoft Store To reset the cache of the Microsoft Store, use these steps: Close Microsoft Store app. Open Start. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option. Type the following command and press Enter: wsreset (Image credit: Future) After you complete the steps, relaunch the Microsoft Store app, and apps should download and install without issues. How to fix app problems repairing on Microsoft Store To fix issues downloading apps on Windows 11 by repairing the Microsoft Store installation, use these steps: Open Settings. Click on Apps. Click the Installed apps page on the right side. (Image credit: Future) Click the menu (three-dots) button on the right and click on Advanced options. (Image credit: Future) Under the "Reset" section, click the Repair button. (Image credit: Future) Once you complete the steps, the feature will repair the app setup preserving your data. How to fix app problems resetting on Microsoft Store To resolve pending and stuck downloading apps on the Microsoft Store by resetting the application, use these steps: Open Settings. Click on Apps. Click the Installed apps page on the right side. (Image credit: Future) Click the menu (three-dots) button on the right and click on Advanced options. (Image credit: Future) Under the "Reset" section, click the Reset button. (Image credit: Future) After you complete the steps, the system will reset the Microsoft Store app, clearing the app's data. Once the reset is complete, apps should now download and install as always, but you may have to sign into the Microsoft Store again. How to fix app problems reinstalling on Microsoft Store To reinstall the Microsoft Store appt to fix problems downloading Windows 11 apps, use these steps: Open Start. Search for PowerShell, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option. Type the following command to uninstall the Microsoft Store app and press Enter: Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.WindowsStore | Remove-AppxPackage (Image credit: Future) Type the following command to install the Microsoft Store on Windows 11 and press Enter: Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers Microsoft.WindowsStore* | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"} (Image credit: Future) Once you complete the steps, the system will reinstall the Microsoft Store, fixing the stuck and downloading problems on Windows 11. If none of the suggestions resolved the issue, your Windows 11 account could be the problem. In this case, you can change accounts to resolve the issue. How to fix stuck downloading apps in Microsoft Store on Windows 11

Microsoft released a Dev Channel build today, 24375, and a Canary Channel build, 25387, which adds new features and improvements. The build also updates the Microsoft Store to its latest version. Announced in a previous release, the Store has a new feature that lets users install free apps and games from the search results. This is meant to be an easier and more convenient way to install various free software from the Microsoft Store. The capability is now rolling out to more users on the Dev Channel as well as the Canary Channel. Aside from that, games and movie cards have also been redesigned to make it more aesthetically pleasing to browse through. The full changelog for the Store update is given below: Microsoft Store Update Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels running version 2305.1401.x.x of the Microsoft Store and higher will see the following improvements rolling out: Install free apps and games from search results: The ability to install free apps and games from search results which began rolling out to Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channel at the end of March is rolling out to more Insiders starting today. Quickly install free apps and games from search results in the Store. New designs for game and movie cards: Browsing the Microsoft Store is more delightful than ever with our new designs for game and movie cards. The cards give more room for artwork, adding more colour to your experience and making it easier for you to spot your next favorite product. New designs for game and movie cards in the Store. FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Microsoft Store. The official Microsoft blog post is linked here. Microsoft makes it easier for Windows 11 Insiders to install free games and apps from Store

At the Build 2023 conference in May, Microsoft announced several upgrades to the Microsoft Store. In addition to AI-generated review summaries and new developer tools, the software giant revealed a dedicated store section focusing on programs utilizing various AI-powered features. The promised AI Hub for the Microsoft Store is now available for testing. Rudy Huyn, Lead Architect of the Microsoft Store, announced the rollout on his Twitter account. Windows Insiders using the Dev Channel builds can download the update from the Microsoft Store. However, in the typical Microsoft fashion, the AI Hub is only available in the United States, so those wanting to test it should change the region in the Settings app. The AI Hub for the Microsoft Store collects Windows apps and highlights their capabilities using banners and videos. There is also a section for the latest AI-enabled apps and a Microsoft Edge ad (of course). Clicking the "New AI Apps" lets you browse more programs, but there is little to discover yet. Sadly, the recently covered Clippy resurrection is not there, just like the redesigned Run app with natural language processing. Microsoft says the new AI Hub is an opt-in experience, meaning they should apply to showcase their projects in the new Microsoft Store section. The new AI Hub for the Microsoft Store is available in version 22306.1401.1.0 and newer. If you do not see it on your machine, ensure you have the Microsoft Store region set to the United States (go to Settings > Language and Region > Country or Region) and try resetting the app in Settings > Apps > Installed Apps > Microsoft Store > Advanced Settings > Reset. You can also check out other Microsoft Store improvements, such as new features for web apps, easier app installation, and enhanced ad features for developers. Source