Microsoft launched a new version of the Microsoft Store with Windows 11, bringing an updated design, support for more apps, and even the ability to download third-party app and game stores like the Epic Games Store.
But the new Microsoft Store isn’t a Windows 11 exclusive. After launching alongside Windows 11 in October, Microsoft’s Rudy Huyn says the new store is now starts rolling out for Windows 10 users.
The new Microsoft Store has an updated user interface, but the biggest change for Windows 10 users may be support for Win32 apps as well as Universal Windows Platform apps and Progressive Web Apps. This means that developers of existing Win32 apps will no longer need to create new versions using different technologies to submit them to the Microsoft Store (although it’s still up to developers to submit apps, so don’t don’t wait to find all the Windows application you are looking for.
Microsoft has also relaxed some of the restrictions on the types of apps it allows in the store. Third-party app and game stores like the Epic Games Store? They are allowed now. Web browsers like Firefox that use their own rendering engine rather than the Blink engine used by Microsoft’s Edge browser? No problem.
And just like the old Microsoft Store, the new version is not limited to apps and games – you can also buy or rent movies and TV shows.
A feature that will remain exclusive to Windows 11, however? Android apps. Since Windows Subsystem for Android does not work on Windows 10, you won’t find the Amazon Appstore or any other Android apps in the new Microsoft Store if you run it on Windows 10.
This article was originally published on October 27, 2021 and last updated on November 12, 2021.
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