According to XDA-Developers, Microsoft is testing a unified app update feature in Windows 11 that could finally bring Linux-style updating to Windows. The feature was spotted in a January 2025 preview build as a dedicated “app updates” page within Settings. It includes a status tracker showing available updates, a last-checked timestamp, and a prominent “Check for updates” button. While the feature isn’t currently functional, it represents Microsoft’s latest attempt to streamline the Windows update experience. The discovery comes after years of user complaints about Windows’ fragmented updating process compared to Linux distributions.
The Linux advantage Microsoft might finally copy
Here’s the thing about Linux that Windows users have envied for years: you can update your entire system with one command or click. Whether it’s sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade on Ubuntu or clicking the update button in KDE’s Discover, everything gets handled in one place. Windows? You’ve got Windows Update for the OS, individual apps checking for their own updates, the Microsoft Store for Store apps, and countless background updaters running. It’s a mess.
The big question: Will it work for third-party apps?
My biggest concern is whether this will actually update apps installed outside the Microsoft Store. The preview screenshot doesn’t clarify this, and Microsoft has a history of keeping features locked to their ecosystem. If this only works for Store apps, it’s basically just moving the Store’s update page to Settings. But if it can detect and update third-party applications? That would be revolutionary for Windows.
Why this matters for Windows’ future
Microsoft is clearly feeling the pressure from more streamlined operating systems. Between Chrome OS’s simplicity, macOS’s App Store integration, and Linux’s package management dominance, Windows’ update chaos stands out as a genuine usability problem. This move could significantly improve the experience for everyday users who just want their software current without hunting through multiple interfaces. And honestly, it’s about time.
The technical hurdles ahead
Making this work for non-Store apps won’t be easy. How would Windows detect update availability for, say, Chrome or Photoshop installed from their websites? Would Microsoft create some kind of universal update API that developers could opt into? Or would they try to scrape version information from executables? There are serious technical and privacy considerations here that could limit this feature’s initial scope.
