A True Software Butler! Microsoft Store Now Updates Externally Installed Software, Including Non-Store Apps
Many security and management software packages today come with their own software management tools to help users detect new versions of installed software. For example, the software update tool included with Kaspersky can alert users when a new version of the software is detected.
In theory, providing software updates helps enhance system security. After all, some software installed by users might not have been updated for a long time, potentially harboring vulnerabilities. Ordinary users might not even be aware of the need for updates.
Microsoft has now begun offering a similar feature. In the newly released Windows 11 Canary Build 27758, Microsoft announced that version 22411.1401 of the Microsoft Store can update external software.
This means that Win32 software not installed through the Microsoft Store can also be updated. By default, the Microsoft Store does not perform automatic updates; users need to manually open the Microsoft Store, go to the library section to see the update details, and choose to update.
Implementing such technology is not difficult. Microsoft needs to build a software update library and fetch update information from the software's official websites. For instance, the update log for the well-known screen recording and streaming software OBS Studio was fetched from GitHub, allowing users to directly view update details in the Microsoft Store.
Microsoft stated in a blog post:
"For Win32 apps provided and updated by publishers, the Microsoft Store will now support updates directly in the store, whereas previously these apps could only be updated outside the store. Preview users can go to the download page and click to get updates. If any installed software has an update, the store will display the update details, and users can click the update button to perform the update. This feature will not execute automatic updates."
It's currently unclear how many software updates Microsoft has managed to catalogue, but according to the practices of various software management products, covering all software is impossible; at best, it can only cover the majority of commonly used software.
Even so, this is quite convenient for users. Subsequent updates through the Microsoft Store eliminate the need to manually visit the software developer's website to download and execute updates.