Key Classic Windows Apps Now Available On The Windows Store

Microsoft wants every developer to add their x86 desktop apps to the Windows Store, which is probably the reason why the company did the heavy lifting in bringing some of its own x86 tools to the Windows Store to prove it can be done, a move that finally bridges the gap between x86 apps and modern apps.

The apps in question are WordPad, Windows Fax and Scan, XPS Viewer and the Microsoft Character Map and are, for now, available to Windows Insider Preview users. These x86 apps have been a central part of the Windows ecosystem for years, and we expect them to stay relevant for many more years to come.

It would seem as if Microsoft used Project Centennial, the company’s desktop app converter, to get these apps ready for the Windows Store. And like every other Project Centennial apps, these apps retain the same functionality as their original counterparts. But the question remains: will Microsoft no longer update the x86 versions or will both coexist? In the long run, we expect the Windows Store versions to be the only ones left due to how bullish Microsoft is in getting developers to port their apps to the store.

This is just the beginning: we should expect more of the classic Windows x86 apps to make their way to the Windows Store very soon, with the hope that Microsoft transforms makes these apps Universal in order for Windows 10 Mobile, Xbox, and HoloLens users to take advantage.

We also hope more developers follow Microsoft’s lead on bringing their apps to the Windows Store. There should be an influx after the Windows 10 Anniversary Update. The only downside we can see here is the possibility of developers adding ads to their apps when there were none to begin with.

The apps can be downloaded via the following links: WordPad, Microsoft Character Map, Windows Fax and Scan, XPS Viewer.