I will share some useful tips and tricks on how to make the best out of Windows Store (now, Microsoft Store) experience. Without further ado, let’s begin.
1. How to Change Download Location
When you install an app from the Microsoft Store, by default, it is installed in the C drive. That’s where you have also installed Windows operating system. You may want to install, say a game or an app, in a different drive. It could be for privacy and security, or the lack of space on the original drive. The problem is that Windows’ Microsoft Store won’t notify you that there is no space left in the folder. It will begin downloading, and then when it reaches the limit. You will be then notified. That can be very frustrating and a sheer waste of time. Press Windows key+I shortcut to open Settings and select System. Click on Change where new content is saved under Storage option in the left sidebar. That is where you can change the default location of the drive where new apps will be installed. This setting will not affect old and already installed apps, though. You can also change the location of other file types.
2. How to Download and Install Apps and Games
When you download an app or a program from the web, you have to install it using the executable EXE file. The Microsoft Store makes the process easier. Search for your favorite app or game and click on the Get button on the right to begin the process. If the app or game in question is installed on your computer already, you will see Launch instead of Get. That will open the app. If the app or game is paid, you will see the price in your local currency. You can buy, add to cart, add to wishlist to buy later, or buy and gift the game to a loved one. Neat. You can’t uninstall apps and games directly from the Microsoft Store. That would be easier, though.
3. How to Open Installed Apps
It is easy to open installed apps on Windows 10. You can search for them in the Start menu. To make it even easier, you can pin it to the Taskbar or to the Start menu itself. That way, you won’t have to search for an app. That said, opening installed apps from the Microsoft Store makes no sense.
4. How to Uninstall or Reinstall Apps and Games
Open Settings again (Windows key+I shortcut) and click on Apps. You can search for your favorite apps here and either uninstall it directly or click on the Advanced options. Let’s dive deeper. Clicking on the Move button will allow you to change the directory in which the app is installed. That makes it super easy and convenient to manage and move apps. There are three options here. One is Terminate that will close the app if you can’t do it normally. The second is Reset, which will bring the app to its original state, the way it was when you installed it for the first time. The third is Uninstall, which we also saw earlier. It is recommended that you reset an app before uninstalling and reinstalling it. That will delete all cache and other files, giving you a fresh or clean install. Sometimes, old data can mess with the way an app works. To reinstall, go back to the source, which is the Microsoft Store.
5. How to Add Friends
You cannot add friends directly via the Microsoft Store. You will need to open Xbox.com for that. You cannot add more than 1000 friends on Xbox either, for now. Here is a great guide on how to add friends on Xbox One and Xbox app. Visit Xbox.com
6. Windows Store to EXE
Every app or software that you download directly from a site comes with an EXE or executable file. You double-click on it to initiate the installation process. That was the basic process before Windows Store came along. If you want the EXE file for any reason, you can’t find it directly because Windows Store installs app package, similar to Ubuntu instead of using the EXE file. Open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc keys and under the Details tab, right-click on the app.exe file name to select Open file location. You should now see the executable file in a new folder. This trick, however, doesn’t always work.
Window to Another World
The Microsoft Store in Windows 10 offers a way to explore the app world in a convenient and easy to use interface. These simple but effective tips will make it only easier for you to get the most out of your experience. Next up: Can’t see the Windows app in the Start Menu? Here is how to solve that error.
