Microsoft Transforms Windows Update: New Platform Empowers Third-Party Apps with Seamless Update Integration

On Wednesday, Microsoft revealed its plan to allow third-party applications to utilize Windows Update. The tech powerhouse from Redmond has rolled out a new orchestration platform for Windows Update, enabling developers of third-party apps to synchronize their updates with those of Windows. According to the company, this innovative platform provides various advantages for developers, including native Windows notifications for app updates, the ability to update applications based on user engagement to minimize CPU and bandwidth usage, and cost savings by eliminating the need for separate installer systems.

Third-Party Developers Can Now Release Updates Concurrently with Windows Updates

In a blog entry, Microsoft mentions that the majority of third-party applications handle updates on their own through proprietary methods. These methods not only manage package installation but also cater to troubleshooting needs and update notifications, while ensuring that updates are deployed during periods of low user activity. The company aims to transform this disjointed process into a cohesive update system.

The Windows Update orchestration platform will necessitate that third-party developers register with the orchestrator as update providers, submit a path to the executable that contains the logic to check for new updates, and relay update information to the platform via application programming interfaces (APIs).

Following this, the orchestrator will intelligently manage the scheduling of download and installation of updates, considering factors such as user activity, system performance, battery level, and additional variables.

The tech giant has enumerated several advantages for developers; third-party applications will be able to display their update notifications within the standard Windows Update notifications, thereby creating a unified update notification space for users. Additionally, users can review their app update history in the Settings, and a consolidated set of logs and diagnostic information will be available for all updates.

Moreover, developers creating enterprise applications will have support for administrative policy management regarding deadlines and notifications by leveraging Microsoft’s systems, as stated by the company.

The orchestration platform will support apps packaged in MSIX/APPX formats as well as selected custom Win32 applications. Developers and application publishers interested in these features can now enroll in Microsoft’s private preview, but will first need to register their app’s installer through APIs.