Find, install, and uninstall applications from the Microsoft Store

• Applies to:

  HoloLens (1st gen), HoloLens 2

The Microsoft Store is your go-to source for apps and games that work with HoloLens. When you go to the Store on your HoloLens, any apps you see there will run on it.

Apps on HoloLens use either 2D view or holographic view. Apps that use 2D view look like windows and can be positioned all around you. Apps that use holographic view surround you and become the only app you see.

HoloLens supports many existing applications from the Microsoft Store, and new apps built specifically for HoloLens. This article focuses on holographic applications from the Microsoft Store.

To learn more about installing and running custom apps, read Custom holographic applications.

New look for the store

There is a new version of the Microsoft Store app for the HoloLens 2. This app update occurs seamlessly when the Microsoft Store app itself is updated. When the update is complete, you see a storefront similar to the store app that is available on desktop. Since this update is an app update it's distributed to all HoloLens 2 devices, regardless of OS version.

Much of the store's functionality is the same; however some placement of items or changes in icons occurred. One such instance is that the see more button "..." was removed. To find your apps and updates, use the Library button.

Find apps

Open the Microsoft Store from the Start menu. Then browse for apps and games. You can use voice commands to search by saying "Search", once the search window opens say "Start dictating" and then when prompted begin saying your search terms.

Note

The System Requirements for HoloLens devices are based on the architecture of the app build. If an app build for HoloLens (1st gen) has not been updated with to a newer UWP in the store to include the ARM architecture package, then it will not be available for HoloLens 2 devices. Likewise, if a HoloLens 2 app does not include the x86 architecture package, it will not be available for HoloLens (1st gen) devices. HoloLens device architectures:

• x86 = HoloLens (1st gen)
• ARM = HoloLens 2

Note

On January 12, 2021 the following apps will reach End of Support on HoloLens devices. We encourage you to use the following link on your device to use the web version of the app.

App	Link
Excel mobile	https://office.live.com/start/Excel.aspx
Word mobile	https://office.live.com/start/Word.aspx
PowerPoint mobile	https://office.live.com/start/PowerPoint.aspx

Install apps

To download apps, you must be signed in with a Microsoft account. Some apps are free and can be downloaded right away. For apps that require a purchase, you must be signed in to the Store with your Microsoft account and have a valid payment method.

Note

The account you use on Microsoft Store doesn't have to be the same as the account you are signed in with. If you are using a Work or School account on your HoloLens then you may need to sign in with your personal account in the Store App to make a purchase.

Tip

To set up a payment method, go to account.microsoft.com and select Payment & billing > Payment options > Add a payment option.

1. To open the Start menu, perform a Start gesture or bloom gesture on HoloLens (1st gen).

2. Select the Microsoft Store app. After the Store app opens:

   1. Use the search bar to look for applications.
   2. Select essential apps or apps made specifically for HoloLens from one of the curated categories.
   3. On the top right of the Store app, select the "..." button and then select My Library to view any previously purchased apps.

3. Select Get or Install on the application's page (a purchase may be required).

Install Microsoft OneDrive Preview App

OneDrive recently unveiled new enhancements to the OneDrive experience, and these enhancements will be coming to the HoloLens OneDrive app in the coming months. Until then, we welcome you to try out these changes by deploying the HoloLens OneDrive Preview app in your environment and provide us with feedback!

Note

The preview app is only available to users signing in with a Microsoft Entra ID. If you're using a personal Microsft Account, please follow these instructions.

The HoloLens OneDrive Preview app can be easily deployed in your environment by downloading the app package using WinGet and then distributed using Intune:

1. On a PC, open Command Prompt and type winget -v
   • If the version is 1.8.1791 or greater, proceed to the next step.
   • If the version is lower than 1.8.1791, type winget upgrade winget to update WinGet to the latest version
   • If WinGet isn't found, install WinGet.
2. In the same window, type winget download 9MZZKBPB6915 --skip-license. This command downloads the app package to your Downloads folder.
3. On a PC, sign in to the Microsoft Intune admin center.
4. Navigate to Apps > All apps and add a new App of type Line-of-business app.
5. Upload the .msixbundle that was downloaded in step 2.
6. Assign the app to a group. This preview app can exist side-by-side with the existing OneDrive app. The existing OneDrive app is still available to use on devices with the preview app installed.

We'd love to hear your feedback regarding the new OneDrive experience. When providing feedback, use the category Apps > All other issues.

Note

The existing OneDrive app will receive an update in the coming months to provide the same experience as the HoloLens OneDrive Preview app. At that point the HoloLens OneDrive Preview app can be uninstalled by changing the app assignment in Intune from Required to Uninstall.

Install Microsoft OneDrive PWA App

1. Open start menu and launch Microsoft Edge browser.

   

2. On your HoloLens go to https://onedrive.live.com/about/signin and enter your account credentials.

   

3. After you log into your OneDrive web portal, wait for 30 secs to 60 secs for PWA download button to show up

   

4. Select the PWA download button and install the app

   

5. Close the Microsoft Edge browser and from the Start menu, select the All Apps button and launch the OneDrive PWA App labeled Microsoft OneDrive

   

   Note

   The “Microsoft OneDrive” is the PWA app where as “OneDrive” is the older UWP.

6. You can then see your OneDrive files.

   

For OneDrive for work or school users, if you would like to automatically upload pictures and videos taken on the device to OneDrive, see enabling automatic uploads to OneDrive for work or school.

Update Apps

Manual updates

While apps from the Microsoft Store are kept up to date automatically by the device, sometimes you may want to manually check for updates to get those app updates sooner. This step can be done from either the Settings app or the Microsoft Store app.

Settings app

To manually check for updates to Store apps from the Settings app, go to Apps -> App updates.  This step is useful if access to the Microsoft Store is blocked in your environment.

IT admins are able to block or allow this page with the Settings/PageVisibilityList policy with the URI ms-settings:appupdate.

See the following screenshot of the Settings app where this feature can be seen.

Note

The ability to check for app updates from the Settings app is only available to users on 23H1 and later builds.

Microsoft Store app

1. To open the Start menu, perform a Start gesture.

2. Select the Store app.

3. Look at the bottom left of the store app.

4. Select the Library icon and Get updates.

Want to know what version an app is on? From the Library screen select an app installed on your device to go to that apps page, and scroll to the bottom and look for >_ Installed version.

Note

If the apps on your device were distributed by your organization they can be updated through the same commercial app management methods. If this applies to your situation, read more via our overview of commercial app deployment.

If you would like to update a custom app that has been sideloaded or deployed, you will need to use the same method with the updated version of your app. To learn more about installing and running custom apps, read custom holographic applications.

Automatic app updates

Automatic updates apply to Microsoft Store apps, and they can be updated automatically only if they have been installed directly from the Store or installed using the store package via Intune. If installed from Intune using a private package, IT can push updates down from MDM.

Note

With the retirement of the Microsoft Store for Business, please see Microsoft Store for Business & Intune.

How automatic updates work

Automatic app updates are scheduled to occur daily subject to network availability. These updates occur approximately every 24 hours, although updates per device can be random. Keep your device either active or plugged into AC to receive updates. Even if app updates are downloaded during active daily usage, they will only be applied when the app to be updated is no longer in use.

Tip

If possible, charge your device overnight while it is connected to the corporate network. If updates can be downloaded and installed overnight, they are less likely to interrupt active device usage.

How IT administrators can control automatic updates

IT administrators can control automatic app updates through the ApplicationManagement/AllowAppStoreAutoUpdate policy. This policy allows them to enable or disable automatic app updates completely, but it does not control when updates occur.

As of 21H2, IT administrators can also use the ScheduleForceRestartForUpdateFailures policy to control when apps that were in use, but could not be updated in previous attempts, should be forcibly restarted.

Uninstall apps

There are two ways to uninstall applications. You can uninstall applications through the Start menu or from Settings.

Warning

You cannot uninstall a system app or the Microsoft Store.

Important

If your HoloLens 2 has multiple users, you must be logged in as the user who installed the app to uninstall it.

Uninstall from the Start menu

On the Start menu or in the All apps list, browse to the app. Select and hold until the menu appears, then select Uninstall.

Uninstall from Settings

On the Start menu, select Settings > Apps. Find the app from the list, select it and then click Uninstall.

HoloLens 1 only

1. To open the Start menu, perform a Start gesture or bloom gesture on HoloLens (1st gen).

2. Select the Store app.

3. Look to the top right of the Store app.

4. Select the "..." or "See more" button.

   

5. Select Downloads and updates.

   1. If your device previously identified updates, there may be a down arrow and a number that represents pending updates.

6. Select Get updates. Your device will now search for updates and set them to download and install.

   

If you are unable to uninstall an app, please file feedback using the Feedback Hub.