Microsoft begins removing apps from Windows Store for age compliance violations

2 min. read

Published onOctober 20, 2016

published onOctober 20, 2016

Share this article

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more

It’s been a few months now since Microsoft warned Windows Store developers that it would start toremove apps and games that did not have their age rating correctly setstarting September 30th. However, the company explained last week (when the deadline had already expired) that it would actuallyremove these non-compliant apps “on a rolling basis”, giving developers additional time to comply with the policy by logging in to Dev Center and taking a brief questionnaire.

According to new report fromNeowin, a first wave of developers have now received emails from Microsoft to inform them that their apps non-compliant apps have now been removed from the Windows Store.

It’s not clear yet how many apps Microsoft has already unpublished from its Store, though developers who missed the deadline by mistake can still do something about it: they can easily resubmit their app to Microsoft after completing the Dev Center age rating questionnaire, a process which shouldn’t take more than a couple of minutes.

It’s quite possible though that many Windows Store apps that have been left to abandon by their developers could disappear for good. However, these apps should still continue to work (in an unsupported state) for those of you who already installed them on their devices.

While the new age rating policy is obviously a good thing for consumers, could the disappearance of unsupported but still fully functional apps anger some users? It may be to soon to evaluate the consequences for the platform yet, but we’ll definitely keep an eye on the Windows Store in the coming days and weeks.

Radu Tyrsina

Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time).

For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web.

Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they’re looking for.

User forum

0 messages

Sort by:LatestOldestMost Votes

Comment*

Name*

Email*

Commenting as.Not you?

Save information for future comments

Comment

Radu Tyrsina

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low#

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app#

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities#

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount#

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier#

Microsoft begins removing apps from Windows Store for age compliance violations#

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier

Microsoft begins removing apps from Windows Store for age compliance violations