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Microsoft Store

File:Microsoft_Store_logo_dark.svg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

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Microsoft Store

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Also known as Microsoft Store (digital), MS Store, The Microsoft Store

digital distribution platform operated by Microsoft

Key facts

Other names
Windows Store
Developer
Microsoft
Initial release
October 26, 2012 ; 13 years ago ( 2012-10-26 )
Stable release
November 2025 Update (22511.1401.5.0) / December 18, 2025 ; 5 months ago ( 2025-12-18 )
Written in
C# and XAML ( UWP variant)
Operating system
Windows 10 , 11 Windows Server 2012 + Xbox System Software Discontinued Windows 8 , 8.1 (2023) Windows 10 Mobile (2020)
Platform
IA-32 , x86-64 , ARM , ARM64
Predecessor
Windows Marketplace , Windows Phone Store , Xbox Video , Xbox Music , Xbox Store
Service name
Windows Store Service (WSService)
Type
App store Video game digital distribution Video on demand (closed in July 2025) Ebook store (closed in July 2019) Online music store (closed in December 2017)
License
Proprietary
Website
apps .microsoft .com

via Wikipedia infobox

Official website

Microsoft Store - Download apps, games & more for your Windows PC

Explore the Microsoft Store for apps and games on Windows. Enjoy exclusive deals, new releases, and your favorite content all in one place.

apps.microsoft.com

Link to the official site · 514 chars · not written by Vinony

Wikidata facts

Official website
apps.microsoft.com
Show 6 more facts
software version identifier
22301.1401.15.0
inception
2011-00-00
social media followers
1091393
service status information URL
downdetector.ph/status/microsoft
Sources (4)

via Wikidata · CC0

~18 min read

Article

The Microsoft Store (formerly known as the Windows Store) is a digital distribution platform operated by Microsoft. It was created as an app store for Windows 8 as the primary means of distributing Universal Windows Platform apps. With Windows 10 1803, Microsoft merged its other distribution platforms (Windows Marketplace, Windows Phone Store, Xbox Music, Xbox Video, Xbox Store, and a web storefront also known as "Microsoft Store") into Microsoft Store, making it a unified distribution point for apps, console games, and digital videos. Digital music was included until the end of 2017, and E-books were included until 2019.

As with other similar platforms, such as the Google Play and Mac App Store, Microsoft Store is curated, and apps must be certified for compatibility and content. In addition to the user-facing Microsoft Store client, the store has a developer portal with which developers can interact. Microsoft takes 5–15% of the sale price for apps and 30% on Xbox games. Prior to January 1, 2015, this cut was reduced to 20% after the developer's profits reached $25,000. In 2021, 669,000 apps were available in the store. Categories containing the largest number of apps are "Books and Reference", "Education", "Entertainment", and "Games". The majority of the app developers have one app.

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