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Microsoft has removed the upfront developer-account registration fees for both individual publishers and companies. Individuals received free registration in 2025; Microsoft announced free company account creation in 2026. The change lowers the cost of getting started, but it does not establish that selling apps or making in-app purchases is free of transaction charges.
What Microsoft changed
The changes concern the cost and process of opening a developer account—not every possible cost of distributing or selling an app through the Store.
| Account type | Announcement | Previous registration fee | Signup and verification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | Free registration announced as live on September 10, 2025 | $19; Microsoft Learn says the fee is waived in the new flow | Personal identity verification, including a government-issued ID and selfie |
| Company | Free account creation announced May 7, 2026 | $99; Microsoft says the fee was removed | Work-account signup supported through Microsoft Entra ID, with organization verification |
Microsoft said the individual registration flow was available in nearly 200 markets. That wording does not mean it is available everywhere; prospective publishers should check the Microsoft Store enrollment page for current eligibility and steps in their market.
What free registration does—and does not—cover
For a developer deciding whether to try publishing, the direct financial benefit is that the stated account-opening fee is no longer an initial expense. Microsoft’s September 2025 announcement also said developers would no longer need a credit card to get started. That is a statement about registration, not a promise that a credit card or payment account will never be needed for other services or business purposes.
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The announcements do not establish the current terms for transaction commissions, paid downloads, or in-app purchases. Treat account registration and Store commerce as separate questions. Before setting prices or forecasting net revenue, review the current App Developer Agreement and relevant payment terms; free registration alone does not show what Microsoft may charge on sales.
What individual developers need to do
Free signup is not anonymous publishing. Microsoft Learn describes a verification process using a government-issued identity document and a selfie, after which the developer can access Partner Center.
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- Start from Microsoft’s Microsoft Store developer enrollment page and choose the individual account route if you are publishing in your own name.
- Complete the identity checks requested in the flow. Microsoft Learn identifies government-issued ID and selfie verification as part of individual registration.
- After verification, access Partner Center and follow its publishing steps to submit an app. Current interface labels and market availability can change, so use the live enrollment flow rather than relying on an old walkthrough.
Microsoft’s individual developer registration guidance says the $19 fee is waived in the new process. The September 2025 announcement described availability in nearly 200 markets, so a developer should confirm that registration is offered where they are located.
What companies need to know
Microsoft announced free company account creation on May 7, 2026, removing the previous $99 fee. The company flow adds Microsoft Entra ID support for signing up with work accounts and is described by Microsoft as a faster onboarding experience.
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Company signup is distinct from an individual’s personal identity check. Microsoft’s announcement describes organization verification using evidence such as incorporation records, government business licenses or registration certificates, official registry records, and tax or stock-exchange filings. The appropriate document depends on the organization and what Microsoft requests during enrollment.
Why the change matters to a developer’s budget
Removing an account fee reduces the cash required before a developer can begin the Store publishing process. It is most relevant to an individual or small team testing whether a Windows app is viable, because it removes a fixed upfront registration charge. It does not remove the cost of building, maintaining, supporting, or marketing an app, and it does not by itself improve an app’s odds of earning revenue.
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Microsoft said in its September 2025 announcement that the Store had over 250 million monthly active users. That is Microsoft’s reported figure from that announcement, not an independently validated estimate or a forecast of the audience any particular app will reach.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Timeline
- May 19, 2025: Microsoft announced that it planned to remove individual developer onboarding fees.
- September 10, 2025: Microsoft said free individual registration was live, with availability in nearly 200 markets.
- May 7, 2026: Microsoft announced free company account creation, Entra ID work-account signup, and faster onboarding.
The announcements are account-onboarding changes made at different times for different account types. They should not be read as a single announcement that eliminated all costs associated with Store publishing or sales.
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