Microsoft Store facts for kids
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Microsoft Store running on Windows 11. Xbox PC Game Pass can be seen in the picture.
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| Other names | Windows Store |
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| Developer(s) | Microsoft (Windows) Microsoft Gaming (Xbox) |
| Initial release | October 26, 2012 |
| Stable release |
22310.1401.8.0 (and 12107.1001.15.0 for older Windows 10 devices)
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| Written in | C# and XAML (UWP variant) |
| Operating system | Windows:
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| Platform | IA-32, x86-64, ARM, ARM64 |
| Predecessor | Windows Marketplace, Windows Phone Store, Xbox Video, Xbox Music, Xbox Store |
| Service name | Windows Store Service (WSService) |
| Type |
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| License | Proprietary |
The Microsoft Store is an online shop run by Microsoft. It's where you can find and download apps, games, movies, and TV shows for your Windows computer or Xbox console. It used to be called the Windows Store.
This store started as a place for apps on Windows 8. Later, it combined other Microsoft stores like those for phones, music, and videos. This made it a single place for all kinds of digital content. Just like other app stores, the Microsoft Store checks apps to make sure they are safe and work well. Developers can sell their creations here, and Microsoft takes a small part of the money from sales. In 2021, there were over 669,000 apps available. Most apps are in categories like "Books and Reference," "Education," "Entertainment," and "Games."
Contents
History of the Microsoft Store
Early Online Shops
Before the Microsoft Store, Microsoft had an online shop called Windows Marketplace. Here, people could buy software. This shop kept track of software keys and licenses. This meant users could get their purchases back if they switched computers. Windows Marketplace closed in 2008. After that, Microsoft opened a new online shop called "Microsoft Store" on the web.
Windows 8 and New Apps
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Microsoft first talked about the Windows Store in 2011. It was made for Windows 8. The store would offer two types of apps. One type was traditional Windows programs. The other type was new "Metro-style apps." These apps were designed to be very secure and follow Microsoft's rules. For users, the Windows Store was the main way to get these new apps. The store became available in early 2012.
If you used Windows 8 (the first version), app updates from the store stopped working after July 1, 2019. This is because Microsoft stopped supporting that version of Windows.
Windows 8.1 Updates
Windows 8.1 brought an updated Windows Store. The main page was changed to show apps in clear groups. These groups included popular apps, recommended apps, and special offers. Apps could also update themselves automatically. Later updates made the app lists much longer. They also added a "picks for you" section.
Updates for apps on the Store stopped for Windows 8.1 users after June 30, 2023. This is because Windows 8.1 also reached the end of its support from Microsoft.
Windows 10 and a Unified Store
Windows 10 came with an even newer version of the Windows Store. This version combined many of Microsoft's other online shops. It brought together apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, and e-books into one place. This store worked on all devices running Windows 10. In 2017, Spotify, a music streaming service, became available in the store.
In September 2017, the Windows Store changed its name to Microsoft Store. It also got a new icon with the Microsoft logo. The Xbox Store also joined this new platform. This was part of Microsoft's plan to make all its services work together.
Now, even regular desktop programs can be put into the Microsoft Store. These programs are packaged to run safely. In 2018, Microsoft also started adding "Progressive Web Apps" to the store. These are websites that act like apps.
Starting with Windows 10 version 1803, you can even download and install new fonts from the Microsoft Store.
Windows 11 Changes
Windows 11 brought a fresh new look to the Microsoft Store. It also added a new pop-up window for installing apps from websites. Microsoft also made big changes to its rules for app developers. They wanted the store to be more "open." Now, developers can use almost any type of app technology. They can also use their own payment systems for non-game apps, instead of only Microsoft's.
Windows Server and the Store
The Microsoft Store is not usually installed on Windows Server 2012 or newer server versions. However, apps from the Store can still be added to these servers if needed.
What You Can Find in the Store
The Microsoft Store is the main way to get UWP apps for Windows. These apps are designed to work across different Windows devices. You can also add apps from outside the store on Windows 10, but it's usually easier to use the store.
Developers pay a small fee to put their apps in the store. Microsoft used to take a bigger cut of app sales, but now they take less. They also allow developers to use other payment methods, and Microsoft doesn't take a cut from those.
Apps and Games
In 2015, there were over 669,000 apps in the store. These included apps for Windows computers, Windows phones, and UWP apps that work on both. The most popular app types are "Games," "Entertainment," "Books and Reference," and "Education." Most app creators have just one app in the store. You can find both free and paid apps. Paid apps can cost from less than a dollar to hundreds of dollars. Developers from many countries can submit apps.
From 2016 to 2019, many games from Microsoft Studios were only sold through the Microsoft Store for PC. But later, Microsoft started selling these games on other platforms like Steam too. The new Xbox app is now the main way to find PC games from the Microsoft Store. It also works with the PC Game Pass subscription.
Movies and TV Shows
You can buy or rent movies and TV shows from the Microsoft Store. You can watch them using the Microsoft Movies & TV app. This app works on Windows 10, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. In some countries, you can link your Microsoft account to other services. This lets you watch your purchased content on different devices like Apple or Android.
The Microsoft Movies & TV service is available in many countries around the world.
Old Features of the Store
Music
On October 2, 2017, Microsoft announced that they would stop selling digital music in the Microsoft Store. This happened on December 31, 2017. Users could move their music to Spotify until January 31, 2018.
Books
Books bought from the Microsoft Store used to be readable in the Microsoft Edge browser. But when Edge changed to a new technology, the ability to read e-books was removed.
On April 2, 2019, Microsoft said they would stop selling e-books. All books became unreadable by July 2019. Microsoft automatically gave refunds to everyone who had bought books from the service.
Rules for Developers
The Microsoft Store has rules that developers must follow. Microsoft checks apps before they are available. Apps cannot promote hate, discrimination, or violence. They also cannot contain content that is against the law or local customs. For example, some video game emulators and web browsers that use their own special technology are not allowed.
Microsoft can also remove apps from users' computers if there are security or legal problems. If a paid app is removed, users might get a refund.
Microsoft has promised to be fair to developers. They have rules that say they won't stop other app stores from running on Windows. They also say they will charge fair fees and won't force developers to use their payment systems for all apps. Microsoft wants to make sure developers can talk to their users. They also promise not to use private data from the store to make their own competing software.
With Windows 11, Microsoft made it clear that developers (except for games) don't have to use Microsoft's payment systems. They also allow other app stores, like Amazon Appstore and Epic Games Store, to be downloaded through the Microsoft Store.
Tools for Developers
Besides the store for users, there's also a special website for developers. This website helps them manage their apps. Developers can see how many times their app has been downloaded. They can also see how much money their app has made. They can check app ratings and see if there are any problems with their app.
The developer website also shows details about users. This includes where users are from, their age, and how much time they spend using the app.
See also
In Spanish: Microsoft Store para niños
- List of Microsoft software
- Mac App Store, a similar store for Apple computers
