Microsoft announced that individual developers can now sign up and publish their apps to the store for free. Previously, this required a one-time fee and a credit card, which could be a barrier for some developers. The company believes that this change will make the Microsoft Store platform more accessible to developers around the world.
The blog also notes that the Microsoft Store has more than 250 million monthly active users, making it one of the largest and most trusted channels for distributing PC software.
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Changes in the registration process
- Free registration. Individual developers (enthusiasts, students, etc.) no longer need to pay a one-time fee. Simply sign in with your personal Microsoft account.
- Simplified identity verification. To confirm your identity, you can now scan your current government-issued ID and take a selfie. The procedure is supported in all countries.
- Instant setup. After verification, the profile is filled in automatically, and the developer immediately gets access to the Partner Center. The entire process from registration to sending the application for review can take just a few minutes.
Microsoft emphasizes that the Windows platform is rapidly evolving thanks to the introduction of Copilot+ PCs, AI innovations, and a growing ecosystem. The Microsoft Store offers unique benefits to developers:
- Huge reach. The store is visited by more than 250 million users monthly.
- Support for all types of applications. You can publish Win32 applications (including.NET WPF and WinForms), UWP, PWA,.NET MAUI or Electron without having to change the code.
- Trusted distribution Store apps are easy to find through Windows Search, install securely, and enterprise customers can deploy them through Intune.
- Flexible monetization Developers can use Microsoft's low-fee payment system or integrate their own monetization system and keep 100% of the revenue (not available for games).
- Free hosting and updates. When you package an application in the MSIX format, Microsoft will host it on its infrastructure for free, sign it with a digital certificate to increase trust, and provide automatic updates to users. This allows developers to reduce costs and focus on creating a quality product.
You can register as a developer in the Microsoft Store at storedeveloper.microsoft.com.
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