Microsoft wants Windows to update all software on your PC

Microsoft has introduced a new update orchestration platform built on the existing Windows Update infrastructure, which aims to unify the updating system for all apps, drivers, and system components on Windows systems.

The company explained that developers and IT product teams can onboard their updates to this new orchestration platform via Windows Runtime (WinRT) APIs or PowerShell commands after joining the private preview by contacting [email protected].

After registering as an update provider, the orchestrator will regularly run an update scan tool supplied during the registration process to discover pending updates. The orchestrator then queues downloads and updates at optimal times to minimize CPU and bandwidth spikes while also considering user activity, power status, and network conditions.

Under this new update model, it will also handle restart requirements, notification deadlines, and rescheduling of failed operations without requiring developers to build a custom scheduling or logging solution.

"Updates across the Windows ecosystem can feel like a fragmented experience. To solve this, we're building a vision for a unified, intelligent update orchestration platform capable of supporting any update (apps, drivers, etc.) to be orchestrated alongside Windows updates," Microsoft said.

"Built on the Windows Update stack, the orchestration platform aims to provide developers and product teams building apps and management tools with an API for onboarding their update(s) that supports the needs of their installers."

Currently in private preview

Microsoft's new update orchestration platform is now in private preview for developers or anyone who builds apps or management tools for updates, and it supports applications packaged as MSIX, APPX, or traditional Win32 installers.

Onboarding offers several key benefits, including a consistent notification experience through native Windows Update dialogs and centralized app update history in the Settings app together with official Windows updates.

"Built on the Windows Update stack, the orchestration platform aims to provide developers and product teams building apps and management tools with an API for onboarding their update(s) that supports the needs of their installers," Microsoft added.

"The orchestrator will coordinate across all onboarded products that are updated on Windows 11, in addition to Windows Update, to provide IT admins and users with a consistent management plane and experience, respectively."

This new initiative adds to Redmond's Winget Windows package manager and Microsoft Store, as well as third-party package managers like Chocolatey and Scoop, which can also be used to install, manage, and update applications on Windows systems.