Share this article
Latest news
With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low
Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app
Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities
Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount
Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier
Microsoft issues update on the shuttering of its Business and Education app stores
2 min. read
Published onMarch 11, 2021
published onMarch 11, 2021
Share this article
Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more
As Microsoft continues to evolve its app developer vision from Metro to UWP to PWA’s, so too goes its vision of distributions. Today, March 11, 2021, Microsoft notified customers that it will no longer have apps that will “be available for acquisition” through its Microsoft Store for Business and Education.
Today’s warning followsa year-long transition away from the specific Business and Education Storeform of distribution for Windows enterprise and education app developers. Taking a 30,000-foot view of Microsoft’s conceptual app development vision, funneling business and education development through these two portals makes little sense now, especially in light of the infrequent attention developers are showing towards the Windows 10 platform. Couple the fact that commercial devs have been hesitant to rewrite apps for the UWP platform as well as adopting web and cloud-based options, it’s become apparent the need to end support for these terrestrial distribution channels.
Well the Microsoft Store for Business and Education are dead. If this doesn’t show the death of UWP not sure what does. No way to purchase new apps for distribution in a month.@maryjofoleypic.twitter.com/ONoHHFSgML
— Hoyty (@hoyty)March 11, 2021
As of now, Microsoft is clarifying that users who have already downloaded their institution’s apps from their respective channels will still be able to receive updates for them for now. No new paid apps will be distributed through the stores after April 14, 2021, and after that date, users will need to have an existing Azure Active Directory account to navigate the stores.
ZDNet journalist Mary Jo Foley is also hearing from sources within Microsoft thatas early as June 2020the two stores were scheduled to be deprecated but understandably roadmaps have adjusted according to the world during the pandemic.
While Microsoft was mum on the shuttering of its commercial app stores during its recent virtual Ignite 2021 conference, BUILD is just around the corner and hopefully, Microsoft will have a clearer picture for its new vision of app development and distribution.
Kareem Anderson
Networking & Security Specialist
Kareem is a journalist from the bay area, now living in Florida. His passion for technology and content creation drives are unmatched, driving him to create well-researched articles and incredible YouTube videos.
He is always on the lookout for everything new about Microsoft, focusing on making easy-to-understand content and breaking down complex topics related to networking, Azure, cloud computing, and security.
User forum
0 messages
Sort by:LatestOldestMost Votes
Comment*
Name*
Email*
Commenting as.Not you?
Save information for future comments
Comment
Δ
Kareem Anderson
Networking & Security Specialist
He is a journalist from the bay area, now living in Florida. He breaks down complex topics related to networking, Azure, cloud computing, and security
