Windows 11 Store Adds Ninite-Style Bulk App Installer
▼ Summary
– Microsoft Store now allows creating multi-app install packages on Windows 11 to install multiple applications simultaneously from a single installer.
– This feature eliminates the need to manually download each app individually, streamlining the installation process for users.
– The multi-app install function currently works only through the Microsoft Store website, not within the Store app on Windows 11.
– Users can select up to 16 apps at once for installation to prevent overloading Store servers, downloading an executable that installs them in the background.
– The feature is currently limited to a curated list of 64 apps and is not yet available for all applications in the Microsoft Store.
A significant upgrade has arrived for the Microsoft Store on the web, introducing a powerful new capability for Windows 11 users: the ability to create a single installer package that handles the download and installation of multiple applications simultaneously. This streamlines the often tedious process of setting up a new computer, eliminating the need to manually visit each app’s product page one by one.
The functionality bears a strong resemblance to popular third-party tools like Ninite, which have long offered batch installation services. Previously, whether using the web-based or native Windows 11 Store app, you were forced to initiate each installation individually. While functional, this method was far from ideal for efficiently preparing a new system.
With this new multi-app install feature, the process becomes remarkably simple. You navigate to the Microsoft Store website, browse through the available applications, select the ones you require, and then generate a custom package. This package is responsible for fetching and installing all your chosen software from the Store in one coordinated action.
Reports indicate this feature became available on the Store web earlier this week. To use it, you open the web version of the Store, pick your desired apps, and click the “Install selected” button. Currently, the system limits selections to 16 applications per package, a measure likely in place to prevent overloading the Store’s servers.
Once you confirm your selection, the website automatically downloads a single executable file. Running this file initiates a background process that quietly installs all the applications you included in your package. During testing, it was confirmed that this feature is exclusive to the web version of the Store and is not yet functional within the dedicated Store application on Windows 11.
It is important to note that this multi-app installation tool is still in a developmental phase and not yet a fully public offering. A notable limitation is that users can currently only choose from a pre-selected list of 64 curated applications. It remains unclear if Microsoft intends to expand this feature to encompass the entire catalog of apps available in the Microsoft Store. Inquiries have been made to the company regarding their future plans for this convenient new capability.
(Source: Bleeping Computer)
