Microsoft opens voting for best Windows apps

By Sean Endicott
published

Microsoft is on the hunt for the best Windows apps available through the Microsoft Store.

Microsoft Store Windows11 October 2021
Microsoft Store Windows11 October 2021 (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • Voting for the Microsoft Store App Awards 2022 recently opened.
  • There are three categories of applications with awards up for grabs: file management, utility, and open platform.
  • Voting opened on May 12, 2022 and will close on May 17, 2022 at 11 PM ET.

Microsoft is looking for the best Windows apps available through the Microsoft Store. The company recently opened voting for its Microsoft Store App Awards 2022 (opens in new tab). There are three categories of apps to vote for: file management, utility, and open platform.

"We'd like to recognize apps which are amazing, beautiful, and useful -- the apps which make your day better, more productive, or more enjoyable. This vote is about you and the apps you love to use," explained Microsoft on the voting form (opens in new tab).

Here are the nominees for file management applications:

  • HEIC to JPEG
  • Mp3tag
  • 8 Zip
  • Metro Commander
  • IrfanView64
  • Shrestha Files
  • Rufus
  • Files
  • One Commander
  • NanaZip
  • QuickLook

Below are the options for the best utility apps:

  • ShareX
  • MyASUS
  • 2fast - Two Factor Authenticator
  • Speedtest by Ookla
  • Fluent Screen Recorder
  • Torrex
  • Screenbits
  • WiFi Analyzer
  • Visum Photo Viewer

These are the nominees for the open platform category, which focuses on modifying Windows:

  • Ink Workspace
  • EarTrumpet
  • ModernFlyouts
  • TranslucentTB
  • CopyAndPaste
  • RoundedTB
  • Dynamic Theme
  • Lively Wallpaper
  • Auto Dark Mode
  • Fluent Search

Voting runs from May 12, 2022 to May 17, 2022 at 11 PM ET. We plan to take a look at some of these apps over the coming weeks and months, so keep an eye out for reviews.

Sean Endicott
Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott brings nearly a decade of experience covering Microsoft and Windows news to Windows Central. He joined our team in 2017 as an app reviewer and now heads up our day-to-day news coverage. If you have a news tip or an app to review, hit him up at sean.endicott@futurenet.com (opens in new tab).

8 Comments
  • I don't use any of those programs.
  • Nice, this should be fun.
  • I love one commander, auto dark mode, dynamic theme, lively, and I don't see these on the list but f.lux and windynamicdesktop.
  • Doesn't installing, using, reviewing & rating an app constitute a vote?
  • Quicklook for me since ita the only one I use. Takes one of Macs best feature and brings it to Windows. I.e. hit spacebar to preview any file.
  • Funny that at the same time that they have nominated our app, Screenbits, it is taken down from the Store listing for some reason and they don't respond to my e-mails quickly so we can bring it back. It has been down for around a week. I wish someone from MSFT could help...
  • I wish we could submit entries. Like I love love love Ditto. Thst is my favorite clipboard manager and beats out the windows 11 version (windows 10 too).
  • I love the Eagle-Calculator app, I use it whenever I have calculations to do. I discovered it recently and honestly it is much more pleasant to use than the Windows calculator! Unfortunately, it's not in the list...