Microsoft is commencing improvements to the downloading experience of Windows store apps from the web. The tech giant has introduced an “undocked version of the [Microsoft] Store” that operates akin to a regular executable for app installations from the Microsoft Store. This advancement aims to streamline the process of discovering Windows store apps online and installing them.
The process of downloading apps from the web version of the Microsoft Store has been modified. Instead of launching the Microsoft Store and a mini window, it will now download a standalone installer. This eliminates the need to click on the install button on the web, then grant permission for Chrome or Edge to open the Microsoft Store, and finally click install to complete the installation of the app. Instead, a lightweight installer will be downloaded, allowing you to easily launch and install the desired Microsoft Store app.
According to Microsoft Store developer Rudy Huyn, this new method reduces the entire process to only two clicks. However, based on my testing, it still takes three clicks to download and install Microsoft Store apps from the web. First, you click to download, then you click to open the new lightweight installer, and lastly, you need to click install in the prompt that appears. Microsoft has made the process simpler by removing the prompt to approve the Microsoft Store being opened through Chrome or Edge.
It seems that not all Microsoft Store apps support this new lightweight installer. Although I was able to download packaged versions of GroupMe and Snapchat, my attempt to download Discord using this method still directed me to the Microsoft Store. Furthermore, the standalone installers do not contain the complete app installer, as it is downloaded during the installation process.
After undergoing a five-month testing phase, Microsoft has confirmed that this new method has resulted in a 12 percent increase in installations and a 54 percent increase in the number of apps launched following installation, on average. This development is certainly beneficial for developers who are eager to have their apps installed and utilized by Windows users. As a result, Microsoft is now planning to expand this initiative to include “more products and markets,” according to Huyn.
