Microsoft has improved the functionality of the Microsoft Store by adding the ability to update third-party apps that are not stored on Microsoft’s own servers. The innovation is available to participants of the Windows Insider test program in all distribution channels of new builds.

Updates for such third-party apps will now be marked as “provided and updated by the respective developers or publishers ” and after clicking the “Get Updates” button, they will appear in the list of general updates offered by the Microsoft Store. Before that, only programs hosted on Microsoft servers could be updated this way.

It is worth noting that the new update process does not work with applications installed on the computer outside of the Microsoft Store, for example downloaded from the developer’s site or GitHub. Also, the automatic update function is not available in third-party programs.

Here’s what Microsoft has to say about the changes to the Microsoft Store:

“For Win32 apps that have been ‘updated and provided’ by their publishers, the Microsoft Store will now support updates directly from the Store. Previously, these apps could only be updated outside of the Microsoft Store. Insiders can go to the Downloads page and click Check for Updates. If there are updates for any third-party applications installed, they will appear in the list waiting to be downloaded and installed. In this case, you can update by clicking the “Update” button. Automatic update functionality is not available in such applications.”

Microsoft wants to turn the app store into a kind of universal tool for updating all applications installed on users’ computers, as well as on mobile platforms Android and iOS. However, Microsoft will not be able to provide updates for software that is not installed through the Microsoft Store.

It is currently unknown when the new Microsoft Store update feature will appear as part of the stable version of Windows and be available to all users.