Microsoft has eliminated the registration fee for individual developers who want to publish their applications on the Microsoft Store. This change applies to a wide range of app types, including Win32, UWP, PWA, .NET MAUI, and Electron. The company will also cover hosting and signing costs, distributing apps via its own infrastructure and providing free digital signatures to enhance trust and security.
Additionally, developers of non-gaming apps can use their own payment systems within apps, allowing them to keep all generated revenue. To begin publishing, developers must use a personal Microsoft account and verify their identity using a government-issued ID and a selfie. This move aims to reduce barriers for creators worldwide by removing financial and procedural obstacles.
The updated store, which was redesigned with Windows 11, now supports more development frameworks and sees over 250 million active users each month. Microsoft hopes these changes will foster a more inclusive and innovative developer ecosystem.
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