Windows Update could soon handle all apps and drivers, not just the OS

[midian182]

In brief: Microsoft wants to unify the Windows Update process so it includes all third-party apps. The company said developers or anyone who builds apps can now sign up for a private preview of the Windows Update orchestration platform, which is capable of supporting any updates, including apps and drivers, alongside the usual Windows updates.

Angie Chen, a product manager at Microsoft, writes that the updates across the Windows ecosystem can feel like a fragmented experience, which has led to Microsoft developing the Windows Update orchestration platform.

The platform is mostly focused on business apps, though it will be open to any apps and management tools. The idea is to let software makers hand off their existing updaters and rely instead on a Windows-native service.

Developers who take part can use a set of WinRT APIs or PowerShell cmdlets to register their product as an "update provider." During registration they supply a tiny scan tool that the orchestrator runs on a schedule; when a newer version is detected, the orchestrator downloads and installs it at an eco-efficient moment, such as when the device is on AC power and Wi-Fi during Microsoft's sustainable update window.

The service supports modern MSIX/APPX packages as well as some traditional Win32 apps. Apps that integrate will appear in the Windows Update history page, can surface native toast notifications, and receive future improvements to the Windows Update platform.

Windows already offers at least three official ways to keep software current – the Microsoft Store, Windows Package Manager (WinGet) and Windows Update itself – yet many businesses still ship background services that update independently. That patchwork increases support costs and, according to Microsoft, "can lead to confusing or conflicting notifications" for end users, as well as CPU and bandwidth spikes.

By folding everything into the Windows Update stack, Microsoft hopes to make life easier for enterprises that run dozens or hundreds of line-of-business apps.

Windows 10's end-of-support date arrives on October 14, 2025, and with Windows 11 adoption rising among enterprises, a single update that covers the OS and all apps has obvious appeal. If the private preview goes well, expect a public beta later this year and, eventually, a future where clicking "Check for updates" could mean every update.

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Windows Update could soon handle all apps and drivers, not just the OS

 

[DrSuess]

I don't mind it if I can control what gets installed and when it gets installed. I need a stable machine and can't be troubleshooting each week to figure out why one of my software development or engineering tools is crashing because something was randomly updated.

This one updater to rule the world could also be a single point of failure, if someone ever figures out how to compromise that ecosystem it will be a nightmare for Microsoft, its partners and its customers.

 

[Dreadcthulhu]

I don't even trust Microsoft to be able to update its own software & not break things, no way I want them updating other stuff. I had an issue in the past regarding my wife's laptop where Windows would continually install the wrong video card driver. I ended up having to use the group policy editor to make Windows stop trying to update it.

 

[Nobina]

The goal: Make it more ****

 

[guillejp]

While it sounds like 'the next logical step' to integrate everything in one pipe, it can create a couple problems even if the updates happen flawlessly;

In a business or productive environment, you don't really want major or 'kinda major' version updates if you haven't had the chance to investigate or test that it doesn't break your toolchain in some case or corner.

In a home or gaming environment, I wouldn't want to be downloading updates every day, though incremental and small, for apps I don't use regularly.

And yes, apps that use background services for updating should be nuked out of existence (browsers, Adobe), or MS could contact them and throw their weight to make them stop that malpractice.

Interestingly, Linux operates like this and has 'solved' this already, but I don't use it to know enough about how it feels.

 

[goldman]

Man, drivers should've been there from the begging, the idea of "searching for a driver" shouldn't be something as common as it is today.
For apps, dunno, it doesn't sound bad, but can be problematic if you can't, for example, select apps that you don't want to update for any reason

 

[MasterAce]

Taking steps towards a walled garden? The key feature of PC is that its an open platform.

With all the things going on with windows lately, I feel like we could really use a new player in the OS space. SteamOS seems the only one that could pull it off.

 

[disinfect8280]

You mean like Linux? Such innovation

 

[LimyG]

This will be a disaster if it is forced. Seems like it won't be though - but who knows a few years down the line?

Drivers. Big problem. I have driver downloads fully blocked in Group Policy. For example, I don't want my Nvidia drivers updated unless and when I want to.