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.
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.