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Microsoft appears to be testing a new way to update Windows 11 apps without relying on the Microsoft Store
Microsoft appears to be testing a new way to update Windows 11 apps without relying on the Microsoft Store — a long-standing frustration for many users. The change was spotted in recent Insider builds, where a new App Updates page has quietly appeared inside the Settings app.
If the feature rolls out broadly, Windows 11 users would be able to update both system components and installed apps directly from Settings, eliminating the need to open the Store for routine patches.
A more unified update experience
The discovery was first reported by Windows Central, which noted the new App Updates section under Settings > Apps. For now, the feature remains part of Insider preview builds, but it lines up with Microsoft’s previously stated plan to streamline the update process across Windows.
Earlier this year, Microsoft acknowledged that updates across the Windows ecosystem can feel fragmented. Apps from different developers often have their own updaters, companies use their own internal systems, and many consumer apps rely on the Microsoft Store. Microsoft said its long-term plan is to build a “unified, intelligent update orchestration platform” capable of handling updates for apps, drivers, and Windows itself.
The new App Updates page seems to be the first visible step toward that goal.
One less reason to use the Microsoft Store
If Microsoft ultimately allows all app updates to be handled through Settings, the change would have a practical benefit beyond convenience: users who prefer not to use the Microsoft Store wouldn’t be forced to keep it installed just to receive app updates.
Instead, Windows could manage everything from the same place it handles system updates, reducing the need to switch between multiple tools just to keep software current.
Still in testing
Microsoft hasn’t formally announced the feature, and there’s no timeline for when — or if — it will reach the general public. For now, it’s available only to Windows Insiders, but it suggests a broader shift toward making Windows 11 feel less fragmented.
If it launches widely, updating apps on Windows could finally become a straightforward, single-location process — something many users have been requesting for years.
Source: Windows Central
