Windows 11 gets an updated Microsoft Store with better app control
Microsoft is currently testing a revised Microsoft Store for Windows 11, which is available to Windows Insiders on the Canary and Dev channels. The new version of the Microsoft Store has a new download area, as discovered by Windows Latest.
Previously, you could view all installed apps in the Library tab of the Microsoft Store app and update them if necessary. This has now changed as Microsoft makes it easier to manage your apps.
The new Downloads section
The revamped Microsoft Store has a new Downloads tab in the left-hand sidebar, directly above the existing Library tab. If you click on Downloads, you’ll see a list of all the apps installed on your Windows computer (including both free and paid apps).
With the large Get Updates button at the top right, you can update all your apps at once. Or you can update each application individually using the three-dot menu in each app’s listing.
That three-dot menu also lets you do a few other things, like share the app with others, write a review and rate the app, pin the app to your taskbar, and view the app’s release notes.
The changed Library section
Within the Library tab, you can also see all the apps installed on your system and all the apps you’ve purchased but aren’t currently installed on your PC. The aim here isn’t to update your apps — it’s to get a complete overview of all apps in an efficient manner.
For each app, you’ll see the date on which you installed the app. However, unlike in the Downloads section, you can change between overviews (e.g., a list of all apps, only games, only films, etc.). You can sort these lists by date or name, and you can filter for only apps that are currently installed. There’s also a search field.
All in all, this change in the Microsoft Store that splits between Downloads and Library makes it easier to keep track of all installed apps.