MSIX gains new capabilities for shared containers and auto updates on Windows 10

MSIX containers are getting new capabilities next year.

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What you need to know

MSIX application containers are gaining new features later this year and early next year that will enhance workflows for app development. MSIX allows app developers to package Windows applications into their own container, segregating them from the rest of the OS for easy install and uninstall.

Coming later this year in preview, MSIX applications will soon be able to share containers between apps, allowing multiple apps to share the same files and registry data. In addition, coming next year is the ability to have MSIX applications support auto-updates, bypassing the Microsoft Store and pulling the latest bits straight from the developer.

This is done via metadata supplied in the MSIX package. Developers can tell Windows where to look for the update, and Windows will periodically ping that location to determine whether an update is available. If it is, it’ll automatically pull it down and apply it.

MSIX packages make it easy for app developers to package old and new Windows apps for deployment on Windows 10 in a secure manner. Similar to UWP, MSIX applications are sandboxed and containerized away from the rest of the OS. An MSIX application can range from a traditional Win32 program to a UWP app.

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Zac Bowden is a Senior Editor at Windows Central. Bringing you exclusive coverage into the world of Windows on PCs, tablets, phones, and more. Also an avid collector of rare Microsoft prototype devices! Keep in touch onTwitterandThreads