I was privileged to byline the cover story of the last print issue of PC Magazine, the Windows 7 review, and I’ve witnessed every Microsoft win and misstep up to the latest Windows 11. I’ve been reviewing software for PCMag since 2008, and I still get a kick of seeing what's new in video and photo editing software, and how operating systems change over time. PC hardware is nice, but it’s not much use without innovative software. We pick out the gems that are destined to deliver enjoyment and functionality. Sadly, as with all app stores, there’s still a good deal of cruft in the Microsoft Store. Now that we’ve sold you on installing Microsoft-vetted apps on your PC, only one question remains: Which ones should you download? In researching for this story, we found that there are a lot more good choices than we'dexpected.

Microsoft recently made it easier for developers to convert both traditional Windows applications and PWA apps (basically app-like websites) for inclusion in the store as well as UWP apps (Universal Windows Platform apps), so the selection is growing in more ways than one. This roundup, however, is limited to true Windows apps. The big news for the Microsoft Store is that it’s gaining support for Android apps you can run on your Windows 11 PC, courtesy of the Amazon AppStore. Traditional Windows Apps, Android Apps, and More

We're fans of desktop app stores, including the App Store for macOS, because like Windows’ store, it lets you reinstall purchased apps on any computer you signed in to. Plus, they run in a sandboxso that they can’t wreak havoc on other parts of your system. Apps from the Microsoft Store deserve more of your confidence than apps you might download elsewhere, because they’re vetted by Microsoft staff for security, technical compliance, and content. The Microsoft Store app, sometimes called the Windows app store, makes it easy to find, install, and uninstall apps on Windows 11.

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