Microsoft is just improving the experience of downloading Windows apps from the web. The company has created an “undocked version of the Microsoft Store” that acts like a typical installer for apps from the Microsoft Store. This new method should simplify finding and installing Windows apps from the web.
Now, when you download apps from the web version of the Microsoft Store, a standalone installer will be downloaded. This means you don’t have to open the Microsoft Store separately to install the app. Instead, you can launch the “lightweight” installer and install the app directly.
Microsoft Store developer Rudy Huyn says this reduces the installation process to two clicks, but in reality, it might take three clicks: one to download, one to open the installer, and one to install the app. This new method removes the need to approve the Microsoft Store being opened through Chrome or Edge.
We've just launched Microsoft Store installers for web – A new and streamlined way to install Store apps directly from https://t.co/Z8vwRiY9ab
📉Feedback indicated that the install flow involved too many clicks. Previously, installation required:
– Clicking 'install' on our… pic.twitter.com/zxig2TYJR4— Rudy Huyn (@RudyHuyn) April 21, 2024
However, not all apps currently support this new installer. For example, you can download apps like GroupMe and Snapchat, but if you for instance try to download Discord it will still open the Microsoft Store. The installers also don’t include the full app; instead, the app is downloaded during installation.
Microsoft has tested this method over the past several months and found a 12% increase in installations and a 54% increase in apps launched after installation. This is good news for developers, so Microsoft plans to expand this experiment to more products and markets.