Microsoft doesn’t want you to install apps which are not from its own Windows Store. The company is reportedly set to release a new Windows 10 Creators Update which will include a new feature that will allow blocking of app installation if it is not from the official store.
Similar to Apple macOS’s Gatekeeper, the feature lets users restrict the installation of apps built using the Win32 API. This option has been added to essentially protect the device against bloatware and malware. As a report on Ars Technica explains, if you go to the Settings menu after the new update, there are three options – allow apps from anywhere (which is the default setting), allow apps from anywhere but prefer apps from the Store, and a third option to only allow apps from the Store.
With the restrictive settings in place, installation of only those Win32 apps will work which have been shipped through the official Store using the Project Centennial technology. To help understand the Project Centennial is the Desktop App Converter, which lets one convert desktop applications to the Appx format used by Windows Store apps.
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Interestingly, if you apply the restrictive settings, only the new apps will be stopped from installing. Existing Win32 apps will continue to work. Now, this also allows one to install approved Win32 apps and then apply the restrictive setting to protect against malware.
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Furthermore, it allows Win32 app developers encourages to update their apps to the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) which is Microsoft’s framework for apps to run on all Windows 10 devices. Recently, Microsoft has also appealed to developers to use UWP, saying it is the best way to reach its millions of Windows 10 users. To put into perspective, Windows 10 is said to be Microsoft’s last version of the popular computer software and going forward, Microsoft plans to continue bettering the software. The setting will essentially make every version of Windows 10 offer a similar restriction to the Windows 10 Cloud edition.
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Additionally, it is speculated that the feature will require a paid upgrade to regular Windows 10 or Windows 10 Pro to change out of the setting. Now, this would give Windows an iOS-like experience, where legacy apps can’t be installed and Store acts as the gateway to any third-party apps.
While it is not officially confirmed if this feature will ship with the new version Windows 10 will be made available commercially, the new Creators Update is expected to be released in April.
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