Microsoft on Wednesday announced that it is opening Windows Update to third-party apps. The Redmond-based tech giant has introduced a new Windows Update orchestration platform, which allows third-party app developers to deliver updates in unison with Windows updates. The company says the new platform offers several benefits for developers, including app update notifications via native Windows notifications, updating apps based on user activity to avoid CPU and bandwidth spikes, and saving on costs that were spent on independent installer mechanisms.
Developers Can Now Deliver App Updates Alongside Windows Updates
In a blog post, Microsoft says that most third-party apps handle updates independently using self-created mechanisms. They not only handle the package installer, but also support troubleshooting requirements, update notifications, all while ensuring the updates arrive at a time when the user activity is not too high. The firms says it wants to change this fragmented experience into a unified update practice.
The firm says that the Windows Update orchestration platform would require the third-party app developers to register with the orchestrator as an update provider, provide a path to the executable file with the logic to scan for new updates, and provide the platform information about the update via application programming interfaces (APIs).
The orchestrator will then take over and intelligently schedules the download and installation of the update based on factors such as user activity, system performance, battery status, and more.
The tech giant has also listed several benefits for developers. It will let third-party apps list their update notifications within the native Windows Update notifications to create a centralised space to inform users. Users will also be able to check the app update history in the Settings, and a single set of logs and diagnostic data can be used for all updates.
Developers building enterprise apps will also be able to support admin policy management for deadlines and notifications by using Microsoft’s systems, the company added.
The Windows Update orchestration platform will support MSIX/APPX packaged apps as well as some custom Win32 apps. Interested developers and app publishers can now join Microsoft’s private preview to access these capabilities. However, they will first have to onboard their apps’ installer via APIs.
