Microsoft is working to simplify app updates in Windows 11

Microsoft appears to be testing a new way to update Windows 11 apps without relying on the Microsoft Store — a long-standing frustration for many users. The change was spotted in recent Insider builds, where a new App Updates page has quietly appeared inside the Settings app.

If the feature rolls out broadly, Windows 11 users would be able to update both system components and installed apps directly from Settings, eliminating the need to open the Store for routine patches.

A more unified update experience

The discovery was first reported by Windows Central, which noted the new App Updates section under Settings > Apps. For now, the feature remains part of Insider preview builds, but it lines up with Microsoft’s previously stated plan to streamline…