Mozilla Firefox now available in Microsoft Store for Windows 10 and Windows 11

Bree · Nov 11, 2021

Winuser said:
I guess it could be an advantage for some users. With MS wanting users to switch to Edge I wonder why they decided to include Firefox in the MS Store?

Ghot said:
I don't see the advantage for Firefox in having it in the store.

Microsoft's argument is that now you can publish Win32 apps in the Store you can now reach users who would not want to or know how to install from anywhere else, those with Windows S Mode, for example.

Microsoft said:
We are extremely happy to share that your traditional desktop apps, packaged as MSI or Executable(.EXE) installers, can now be distributed through the new Microsoft Store on Windows!

Bringing your app to the Microsoft Store adds another distribution channel for your traditional desktop app by making it discoverable to Windows customers, all while keeping your existing build production workflows. The new Microsoft Store on Windows supports Windows 11 alongside Windows 10, reaching more Windows customers.

Publish traditional desktop apps through Microsoft Store

Ghot · Nov 11, 2021

@Bree
I'm thinking it's more like they are trying to get a monopoly. And when they do, they'll have complete control.
Scary. Disgruntled millennials.

What's that old saying?
"H*ll hath no fury like that of a millennial scorned".

Ed Tittel · Nov 11, 2021

I'm grappling to understand the pros and cons myself. I've read in other publications that the Store version must be installed separately for each user account on the PC. Goes off to check...yes, it's true. In a local account, I could only access the installed .exe version, not the store version. I had to visit the Store to "Get" the application again, to wit:

I don't find this terribly efficient or convenient. Is this just a consequence of the way Store/UWP apps work? Strictly user account associated?
Interesting...
--Ed--

ThrashZone · Nov 11, 2021

Hi,
Depends on how your apps install setting is setup
If set to install apps from anywhere it's a lot different from being set to install apps from the store only thus firefox at the store.

So it means firefox jumped through the ms store listings hoops.

swarfega · Nov 11, 2021

Ed Tittel said:
I'm grappling to understand the pros and cons myself. I've read in other publications that the Store version must be installed separately for each user account on the PC. Goes off to check...yes, it's true. In a local account, I could only access the installed .exe version, not the store version. I had to visit the Store to "Get" the application again, to wit:

View attachment 13321

I don't find this terribly efficient or convenient. Is this just a consequence of the way Store/UWP apps work? Strictly user account associated?
Interesting...
--Ed--

Do I sense another blog post on your site coming Ed?

Corona · Nov 11, 2021

People asked me to explain myself concerning Malwarebytes becoming more like Piriform, etc.
My answer is.....this.

HRPuffnstuff · Nov 11, 2021

If the store app is the same version that is offered directly by Mozilla then I'm all for it as having it in the store is more convenient when performing a clean install.

Zardoc · Nov 11, 2021

There are some apps I will never install through the store like Firefox. On the other hand, there are apps that I like to have from the store like Windebug preview version. Has just enough info to be able to find crash info. The only issue is that it takes a while for the store version to update to new versions while you can usually simply get the Win SDK package from MS right on release.

iTunes is another I rather have with the store. It has updated version at hand. I'm also getting to like WhatsApp. I like the windows version more and more.

Stigg · Nov 11, 2021

Can someone who has tried it confirm that the functionality is the same?
Some apps that have become available in the store are crippled versions. VLC is a good example.

Zardoc · Nov 11, 2021

Stigg said:
Can someone who has tried it confirm that the functionality is the same?
Some apps that have become available in the store are crippled versions. VLC is a good example.

That's another one that I don't install with the store. The most notable one that I do install and love it way more than installing the software is the HP printer APP. Man those HP drivers are a pain and full of bloatware. :boom:

swarfega · Nov 12, 2021

I install that too, useful for monitoring ink levels.

HRPuffnstuff · Nov 12, 2021

Stigg said:
Can someone who has tried it confirm that the functionality is the same?
Some apps that have become available in the store are crippled versions. VLC is a good example.

Its the same version as the standalone. I removed the standalone and installed the store version last night and it works the same.

Fabler2 · Nov 12, 2021

I also use the HP printer App. The other two are CrystalDiskInfo and CDMark. Unfortunately CDInfo isn't available in the Windows 10 Store yet

Corona · Nov 12, 2021

MS buys them all up, runs them till end of life/contract, then runs their own crippled brands, or just drops the concepts altogether. Whichever costs less.

Ed Tittel · Nov 12, 2021

@swarfega: how astute of you to so speculate! I'm still digging in and pondering, but yes, you're probably right. My best guess is that it's aimed primarily at lower-skilled users (or captive audiences) who may be allowed to "get stuff" from the Store, but not to install full-fledged apps as a matter of policy. Don't fully understand this thinking yet, but still noodling about...
--Ed--

mccnavy · Nov 13, 2021

I wouldn't mind trying the Microsoft Store version except I use Firefox Beta channel and I doubt that channel will get added.

Slavic · Nov 13, 2021

I can conclude that right now MS Store is good mostly for video games (some of them, esp. from MS, cannot be downloaded from other sources). And, of course, for some Windows components like Linux or Android subsystems. But for many serious purposes, Store-style installation has disadvantages in compare to traditional MSI installer. This may change, but no signs that it will happen in the near future.

Slavic · Nov 16, 2021

Mozilla also implemented its own workaround to quickly and easily set Firefox as the default browser on Windows 10 and Windows 11 in a single click. It’s a feature that Microsoft limits to its Edge browser. While Mozilla’s workaround is available in the version of Firefox you download from the web, if you download Firefox from the Microsoft Store then the default browser workaround is missing.

- Tom Warren, The Verge: Microsoft blocks EdgeDeflector to force Windows 11 users into Edge