Microsoft fine-tunes Windows Store's app certification policy ahead of Windows 10 launch

Microsoft is expected to release Windows 10 Mobile later this year, and Windows 10 for PCs in “late July”. At its annual developer conference, the company revealed a new Developer Dashboard (Beta) for Windows 10 apps and introduced some changes to the Windows Store app categories. However, today, the company revealed its plans to remove the app clutter from the Windows Store. Microsoft is making changes to its app verification policy, which will be focusing on the following things:

• Eliminating app clutter
• Ensuring apps are appropriately priced
• Distinguishing informational apps
• Ensuring relevant app titles and keywords

The company announced that apps that have icons and titles that are too similar to other apps on the Windows Store may get removed. To fine-tune the Windows Store, the company may remove apps that do not include “unique content, creative value or utility”. As an example, the company explained that if some apps have same look and functionalities, they may get removed from the store.

Alongside this, Microsoft is also taking other steps to remove clutter from the Windows Store. The company announced that they’ll be ensuring all apps on the Windows Store have relevant app titles and keywords, to offer better search results.

Obviously, this isn’t very surprising as the company will be releasing Windows 10 in the next few months. With the launch of Windows 10, Microsoft expects to get more developers on the platform, which will increase the amount of apps on the Windows Store. And the latest update to the app certification policy for Windows Store ensures that there isn’t any app clutter.

What do you think of the new changes? Discuss in the comment section below!