Complete guide to the Windows app store

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La app store on Windows It has become the central hub for safely installing programs, games, and tools on your PC. Whether you're coming from Windows 7 or 8.1 or already using Windows 10 or 11, understanding how the Microsoft Store works and what alternatives are available can save you a lot of trouble.

Throughout this guide you will see How to use the Microsoft Store, what advantages it offers, and what risks there are in skipping it and also advanced methods for downloading UWP apps outside the store and even installing the Google Play Store on Windows 11. It's a long and detailed guide, but if you often work with software on Windows, you'll find it incredibly useful to have all this clear.

What is the Windows app store and how does it work?

Microsoft Store is the official app store for WindowsThis feature is natively present in Windows 10 and Windows 11, and was already introduced in Windows 8. From here you can download free and paid applications, games, productivity tools, and even some classic Win32 apps packaged for distribution through the store.

Microsoft's main idea with this platform is to offer an environment similar to Apple's App Store or Google PlayA single site to search, buy, download and update software without having to jump from website to website, with a minimum of quality control and security by the company itself.

When you download an app from the Microsoft Store, it becomes linked to your Microsoft accountThis means you can reinstall it on other compatible devices where you log in with the same account, and it will also update automatically without you having to worry about new versions.

Another key point is that the apps in the store, especially the UWP (Universal Windows Platform) apps, have been analyzed and signed by MicrosoftThis significantly reduces the risk of malware, Trojans, or junk installers. It's not foolproof, but the security is generally much higher than downloading random programs from the internet.

How to use the Microsoft Store in Windows 10 and Windows 11

In modern versions of the system, the Microsoft Store comes pre-installed and is fairly easy to find. Even so, it's worth reviewing. How to access, search for content, and manage your apps both in Windows 10 and Windows 11, because the interface has slight differences between versions.

The first thing to do is open the store. In both systems you can type “Microsoft Store” in the search bar From the taskbar, click "Open". It also usually appears pinned to the Start menu and, on some computers, on the taskbar by default.

Once inside, you'll see that the store organizes the content into different sections: Featured, top free apps, popular games and specific categories accessible from a sidebar (Windows 11) or from the top (Windows 10). The options are very similar in both systems, although the design in Windows 11 is more modern and cleaner.

If you want to fine-tune things a bit more, you can use the Microsoft Store internal search bar To directly locate the app or game you need, simply type the name, or you can search by program type (for example, "photo editor", "office suite", etc.).

On the homepages you'll see sections like "Best Free Apps" or "Top Games". View all apps in a specific categorySimply click on “Show all” or “See all” at the end of the corresponding row. From there you will have access to more filters by device type, price, rating, etc.

Install apps and games from the Microsoft Store

Once you've found what you're looking for, the installation process is quite simple. Each application tab shows Description, screenshots, average rating, system requirements, and reviews from other users, which helps a lot in deciding whether it's worth installing.

To download a free app, simply click the button “Get” or “Install”For paid apps, you'll see the price and a purchase button. If you're not signed in, the store will ask you to sign in with your Microsoft account to complete the process.

In Windows 11, when you click "Get," the store may ask if you want to associate that app with your Microsoft account so you can use it on other devices. If you confirm, it will be linked to that account and appear in your library. Windows 10 works similarly, although if you don't want to sign in right away, you can choose options like "No thanks" and download some apps only for the current computer.

While the app downloads, the Microsoft Store displays the progress, and once the installation is complete, you can open it directly from the store or the Start menu. The whole process is automatic and transparentYou won't see installation wizards or have to keep clicking "Next" ten times, as happens with so many classic programs.

If you ever encounter errors while trying to install or update apps from the Microsoft Store (for example, the store won't open, it freezes, or nothing downloads), Microsoft offers specific troubleshooting pages For these cases: guides on what to do if you can't install apps, if the Store doesn't start, etc.

Application library and update management

One of the advantages of using the official store is that you don't have to chase after updates on your own. The Microsoft Store includes an option to automatically update appswhich you should check in case you accidentally deactivated it at some point.

In Windows 11, to modify this setting you have to click on the your avatar icon or profile picture In the top right corner of the store, tap "App settings." There you'll find, among other options, the switch to turn "Automatic app updates" on or off. If you like to keep everything up-to-date without worry, leave it on.

In Windows 10, this setting is usually found in the three-dot menu “See more”From there you access "Settings" and you will find the same option to have the Store download updates automatically when they are available.

In addition to updates, the store includes a section for “Library” or “My library” This is essential for recovering apps you had installed on other devices or that you uninstalled in the past. Here you'll find a list of all the applications associated with your account: those currently installed, those ready to be installed, and any other titles you've previously acquired.

From this library you can reinstall software with a single click, which is useful if you change PCs. format Windows Or maybe you just want to remember which apps you tried in the past. It's a kind of history of your downloads within the Microsoft Store ecosystem.

Advantages and disadvantages of the official Windows store

The Microsoft Store has been gradually improving since its introduction in Windows 8. It gained considerable traction with Windows 10, and in Windows 11 it has taken a significant leap forward in terms of... design, catalog and performanceDespite this, many users still prefer to download programs directly from official websites or from third-party repositories.

Among the main advantages, the following stand out: Security of UWP apps and packages reviewed by MicrosoftBefore being published in the store, apps undergo checks that reduce the risk of viruses, spyware, adware, and other malware. This doesn't mean everything is perfect, but it does mean the environment is much more controlled than downloading random executables from Google.

It is also a positive point that Guaranteed compatibility with your version of WindowsIf an app is not compatible with your system (for example, because it requires a newer version or a different architecture), the store will not let you install it, avoiding problems with errors, crashes, or failed installations that are common when trying to install old or poorly adapted software.

Another important benefit is that you avoid the chaos of abusive advertising, misleading banners, and fake download buttons so common on many download websites. In the Store, you click and that's it: no pop-ups, no installers with toolbars, no "free" antivirus disguised in the process.

Even so, the store has its disadvantages. For one thing, It is entirely dependent on Microsoft's infrastructureSo if there are connection problems with their servers, temporary errors, or bugs in the app itself from the Store, you may find that it doesn't open, doesn't download, or fails to update, whereas an .exe downloaded from the developer's website would probably still work.

On the other hand, traditionally the Microsoft Store catalog It hasn't been that extensive or that up-to-date As with other ecosystems, this is especially true for professional tools and some games. Although this is changing, there are still cases where the version downloaded from the developer's website offers more features than the store edition, as is the case with VLC, whose UWP version is designed more for touch use and omits advanced options such as video conversion or downloading from YouTube.

Download UWP apps from the Microsoft Store without using the store

Although Microsoft's approach is for everything to go through its official store, there are Alternatives to directly download UWP packages (.Appx, .AppxBundle, .EAppxBundle) from the company's servers without going through the Microsoft Store interface. One of the best-known is the Adguard developer platform.

Adguard is popular for offering tools that allow Get official Windows and Office ISOs directly from Microsoft servers, avoiding dubious websites. Based on this same idea, they have extended their service to generate direct download links for apps from the store, acting as a kind of "proxy" that sits between the user and the Store.

The mechanics are simple: first you have to Get the app URL from the Microsoft Store websiteFor example, if you search for WhatsApp Desktop in the web version of the store, you'll see an address like this: https://www.microsoft.com/es-es/p/whatsapp-desktop/9nksqgp7f2nh. What you're interested in is the clean part of the URL, without any extra parameters.

After copying that address, you access the Adguard link generator websiteThere you'll find a text box where you can paste the app's URL, product ID, package name, or similar information. Additionally, there's a menu to choose the release channel: Retail (stable), Insider versions (Release Preview, Fast, Slow), etc.

The usual thing is to select “Retail” as a stable version and press the button to generate the links. The system queries Microsoft servers and displays a list of all files related to the application: AppxBundle packages, EAppxBundle packages, dependencies, digital signatures, libraries, etc., each with its size and a SHA1 hash to verify its integrity.

The files you're usually interested in are the .AppxBundle and .EAppxBundle packageswhich contain the application itself. By clicking on the appropriate file (it's advisable to check the latest version and architecture, for example, x64 for modern computers), the direct download begins from Microsoft's own servers, without going through the graphical Store.

Installing .Appx and .AppxBundle packages on Windows

To install these packages that you obtained outside of the Store, you need to activate the Windows developer modeThis mode allows, among other things, the installation of UWP applications that are not signed for the store or that come from external sources, which in this context is essential.

Activation is done from the Windows Settings app, by going to the section of “Updates and security” and then “For programmers” (in Windows 10), or the equivalent section in Windows 11. There you'll see an option called "Developer Mode" that you need to enable. The system will show you a warning that this feature allows you to install apps from unverified sources; accept and let Windows apply the changes.

With programmer mode activated, simply double-click on the .Appx or .AppxBundle file that you downloaded. Windows will open the UWP package installer, where you will see information about the file's origin (Microsoft Store), the publisher that signed it, the program version, the permissions requested, and any other dependencies that may be necessary.

In that window you can select whether you want the app to run automatically after installation and, when everything is correct, click the button. Click "Install" and let the system take care of the rest.If any additional libraries or frameworks are missing, Windows will attempt to download them automatically.

If you prefer a more technical approach, you can also install these packages using PowerShellIn that case, open a PowerShell console with administrator privileges and use a command similar to: Add-AppxPackage -Path "C:/Path/Program.Appx" (adapting the path and filename to your specific case). For unpackaged packages, you can use the XML manifest with Add-AppxPackage -Path C:/Path/AppxManifest.xml -Register.

Risks and limitations of installing apps outside of the Microsoft Store

Although it is technically possible to download and install APPX and APPXBUNDLE files without going through the store, it is worth considering What is the point of doing it and what risks are involved?especially when it comes to paid apps or resource-intensive games.

First, the Microsoft Store uses DRM and online validations for paid appsJust because you can download an .Appx package of a paid application doesn't mean you'll be able to use it for free. When you try to open it, the system will check permissions and require that the account you're logged in with actually has that license. If it doesn't, you won't be able to run it.

This makes the supposed "trick" of downloading paid apps for free this way completely unprofitable. You can spend ages downloading tens of gigabytes of a game, fill your hard drive with useless data and then discover that it doesn't get past the startup because the license validation linked to your Microsoft account is missing.

Furthermore, manually installing APPX packages carries the risk of losing track of updatesThe Store won't know that you have that app managed by its system, so you won't receive new versions unless you download them again manually, which can be time-consuming and cause compatibility problems.

The programmer mode, necessary for these experiments, also It opens the door to installing less controlled software.This, if you're not careful, can lead to the execution of malicious or poorly designed packages. Therefore, while downloading packages directly from official Microsoft servers significantly reduces the risk, any additional shortcuts (dubious sources, unofficial repositories) become a potential security problem.

Similarly, when you download programs from websites other than the Store, it's easy to end up with inflated executables that include other bundled programs (browser toolbars, promotional antivirus, utilities you didn't ask for, etc.), which makes the installers take up much more space than the original app and leaves your system full of junk you neither need nor want.

There's also the compatibility factor. When manually downloading applications from the internet, there's no one around. ensuring that this version works well on your edition of WindowsYou might inadvertently install a build intended for a different system branch or architecture, risking errors, unexpected crashes, and conflicts with other apps.

Why using the Microsoft Store still pays off

Despite all the alternatives and advanced methods for downloading apps in a thousand ways, in everyday life the most logical thing for most users is continue using the Microsoft Store as your primary source of softwarerelying on official developer websites only when absolutely necessary.

The store's catalog has grown significantly in recent years, and more and more developers are joining. publishing versions adapted for Windows 10 and, above all, for Windows 11Many classic programs that you could previously only get from their website now have a presence in the Store, and the trend is clearly growing.

The fact that the installation is clean, without cumbersome assistants or hidden extras, that you can centralize updates, licenses, and reinstallationsAnd the fact that there is also a prior security check by Microsoft makes the Store, for most people, the least problematic option.

Does that mean you should never install anything from outside the store? Not at all. There are professional applications, advanced tools, or specific versions (like the full desktop version of VLC) that They are only available, or only make sense, when downloaded from the official website.But using methods like downloading APPX on your own or activating developer mode without a good reason usually brings more problems than benefits.

In very specific cases, it is useful to save an APPX package of an application that you fear might disappear from the Store in the future, for example, a useful tool for creating Windows Spotlight wallpapers or similar apps. If you have already purchased it with your account, Keeping the installer can serve as an additional backup.as long as you remember that its execution will still be conditional on validation with your Microsoft account.

Installing the Google Play Store on Windows 11: the other app store

With Windows 11, Microsoft has taken another step forward by integrating Android applications on the system through the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA). By default, this subsystem connects to the Amazon Appstore, but it's possible to go further and add the Google Play Store itself to install Android apps directly from Google's official store.

The process for achieving this is not exactly trivial, as it involves use a modified version of the Android subsystem with support for Google services (GApps) and, in many cases, root capabilities. The most popular tool for achieving this is an open-source project called Magisk on WSA, available on GitHub.

Before starting, if you already have the standard Windows Subsystem for Android installed, it is advisable uninstall it completelyYou can do this from the Start menu, by searching for "Windows Subsystem for Android" and using the uninstall option as if it were just another system app.

Next, you will need to activate and configure the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)To do this, you can usually just install it from the Microsoft Store and then download a distribution like Ubuntu from the same store. This will give you the necessary Linux environment to run Magisk on WSA scripts.

Once Ubuntu is installed, you should go to “Turn Windows features on or off” from the search panel and make sure the options are enabled. “Virtual Machine Platform” and “Windows Subsystem for Linux”Windows will apply the changes and ask you to restart your computer.

After restarting, open Ubuntu from the Start menu, preferably using the option to "Execute as an administrator"The first time you start it, the system will finish installing the distribution and will ask you to create a username and password specific to Ubuntu, separate from those of Windows.

With Ubuntu up and running, it's time to clone the Magisk on WSA repository. In the Linux terminal, run the command `git clone https://github.com/LSPosed/MagiskOnWSALocal.git` to Download the code to your local environmentWhen it's finished, you enter the project folder using cd MagiskOnWSALocal and then cd scripts to access the scripts directory.

Within that route, you launch the main script with ./run.shThe system will ask for your Ubuntu user password and will begin downloading and preparing all the necessary components. Take your time, as it may take a while depending on your internet connection and computer's processing power.

Once the wizard has started, you will have to answer several questions: first, the subsystem architecture (x64 for PCs with Intel or AMD processors, ARM64 for computers with ARM chips), then the channel you want to use (stable, beta, dev, etc.), it is recommended to choose the stable one unless you need something specific.

Later, the assistant will ask you if you want the Android you are about to install to have root accessThis isn't strictly necessary if you only want to use the Play Store, but many users are already enabling it so they can experiment later. If you choose to enable it, you'll need to select the type of root access to apply.

The key point in the process comes when you are asked if you wish install GApps (Google Apps)Here you have to answer affirmatively, because it is precisely this set of Google applications and services that includes the Play Store and the components it needs to function properly.

Optionally, the assistant may ask if you want to keep the Amazon Appstore that comes with the original WSA. Keeping it doesn't have any negative impact, so if you regularly use it, you can say yes to have both stores coexisting on the same Android subsystem.

Finally, it will offer you the possibility of to compress or not the image generated by the subsystemThis only makes sense if you plan to share that image with other computers or save it as a compact backup, so if you're only going to use it on your PC you can skip the compression to save time.

When the wizard finishes generating the image, you'll find the output folder in the usual WSL path: within Linux > Ubuntu > Home > your user > MagiskOnWSALocal > Output. There you'll see a directory with a name starting with WSA and containing all modified subsystem files.

The next step is to copy the contents of that folder to a convenient location on your Windows hard drive, for example C:\WSAIt's not necessary to keep the same folder name; the important thing is to have all the files together in a path that's easy to type from the Windows terminal.

Next, open the Windows Terminal or a PowerShell window as administrator and navigate to the correct path using commands like `cd\` followed by `cd C:\WSA` (adjusting the path to your specific location). Once there, run the installation script with a command like PowerShell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\Install.ps1.

This script will register and install the modified Windows Subsystem for Android on your system. During the process, you may see windows requesting permissions, as well as a screen asking if you want to proceed. send diagnostic data to MicrosoftYou can continue without selecting anything if you prefer.

When the installation is complete, the subsystem interface will open, showing that Android is starting. You'll also need to wait a few minutes for everything to finish configuring. Once complete, you'll see the Initial Android and Google Play Store setup.

On that first run, you can choose whether to allow notifications, and then you'll be prompted to sign in to the Play Store with your Google accountEnter your email, your password, accept the terms of service and, after a few moments of loading, the store will be ready.

From that moment on you will have access to the Play Store as if you were on an Android mobile, with the difference that the apps you install will remain integrated into Windows as if they were native applicationsYou can launch them from the Start menu, pin them to the taskbar, and use them in resizable windows.

Whenever you want to return to the Play Store, simply search for “Play Store” in the Windows 11 Start menu and open the app. The initial loading time after each boot of the subsystem might be a little slow, but after that, it will run smoothly and you'll be able to install almost any Android application compatible with this environment.

With all of the above, the outlook for app store on Windows It's quite clear: on one hand, you have the Microsoft Store as the main and most secure option; on the other, advanced methods for downloading and installing apps from outside the store, with their limitations and risks; and, in addition, the option of integrating the Google Play Store into Windows 11 to expand the catalog with Android apps. Choosing the most suitable path in each case will depend on your needs, your technical skill level, and how much you want to complicate things, but having all these tools at your disposal allows you to get much more out of your Windows PC.