Microsoft wants Windows Update to handle all apps

vaxvms

https://www.theverge.com/news/675446/microsoft-windows-update-all-apps-orchestration-platform

Microsoft is starting to open Windows Update up to any third-party app that needs to be updated. The software giant is now allowing developers to sign up for a private preview of what it calls the Windows Update orchestration platform, that will enable Windows Update to support any update for apps or drivers in the future.

Blackbird

For those who need to keep tight control of their system configurations, this may become a serious problem since Windows Update uses Microsoft’s “backdoors” to update directly onto platform code without the user necessarily either controlling or even knowing what has taken place. Moreover, it opens up a Pandora’s Box of issues regarding how to identify and recover from a flawed or incompatible app/driver update that has been delivered “silently” via Windows Update without the user being aware it’s occurred.

To maintain system configuration control in this situation, the use of 3rd-party tools to govern Windows Update will become critical - but constantly maintaining a full system backup will become even more important in order to recover a given app or driver version that has been silently overwritten with a flawed version.

codezer0

Do they seriously want another thing like that antivirus that broke so many businesses at once? Because this is how you get that scenario to happen more frequently.

px_eliezer_

Delusions of grandeur… 🙁

Microsoft can’t even properly handle their OWN updates, much less others.

Sheesh.

Eskimo007

I for one look forward toi this. I remember some years back having to search all over the place for latest updates, and then each vendor having (or not) the drivers in an easily findable, downloadable, installable format. HP did it one way, Acer another, AMD, etc and I always have to carry around a USB stick with latest versions of killer apps that grom old on the stick without me knowing even

vaxvms

Eskimo007 Only if MS Update gives me the option to do an update or not do it.
Getting the latest-and-greatest update as soon is it is available isn’t always a smart choice.

MS: xxx update is available. Do you want it now?
me: No not now. Remind me later.

GrumpyCanadian

vaxvms Agreed, but there needs to be another choice, such as, “No, and don’t pester me about it again unless I ask for it”. That means that we bring back the list of available updates, and the administrator gets to decide what gets updated and when, if it does at all. After all, the administrator is responsible for that machine, therefore they should be treated as the all-powerful dictator concerning what is or isn’t installed. It’s a huge failing that the people at Microsoft (and others) refuse to respect that fact.

Somewhat-Reticent

There have been apps for keeping apps updated for years.

telcodad

Somewhat-Reticent There have been apps for keeping apps updated for years.

Yes, from: https://www.partitionwizard.com/partitionmagic/how-to-update-apps-on-windows-10.html

Update Windows 10 Apps via a Reliable Software Updater Program
A software updater program can usually check for updates for multiple Windows 10 apps at once, which might save some time for you.

There are many free software updater programs on the market, such as IObit Software Updater, Systweak Software Updater, Glarysoft Software Update, etc. You can choose a reliable and professional one to have a try. …

Also:

11 of Our Favorite Free Software Updater Programs for 2025
Home Updater and UniGetUI are the most useful for keeping your software up to date
By Tim Fisher, Lifewire - Updated on January 7, 2025
https://www.lifewire.com/free-software-updater-programs-2625200

px_eliezer_

Somewhat-Reticent There have been apps for keeping apps updated for years.

But those updater services simply connect you to the specific sites provided by the individual app companies.

It sounds like Microsoft wants to do much more than that.

Eskimo007

Somewhat-Reticent “That’s the beauty of standards, there are so many of them”.

thephantom

vaxvms Only if MS Update gives me the option to do an update or not do it.
Getting the latest-and-greatest update as soon is it is available isn’t always a smart choice.

MS: xxx update is available. Do you want it now?
me: No not now. Remind me later.

Plus 1….

I have old apps that run just fine and run like crap when I update them. Let me choose when and what to update, thank you.
S.

antdude

I disable my autodownloads and autoinstalls. I want to be in the control. However, picking which updates is going to be a problem.