# Microsoft Store (متجر مايكروسوفت)

> Microsoft Store is currently blocked in Syria, as of 2026-08-10.

- Status: blocked
- Outreach: Contacted
- Company: [Microsoft](https://unblocksyria.com/en/companies/microsoft.md)
- Categories: App Stores, Digital Goods, Game Stores & Launchers
- Official site: https://apps.microsoft.com/home
- Community votes: 453
- Last updated: 2026-08-10
- Page: https://unblocksyria.com/en/services/microsoft-store

## About

Digital marketplace for apps, games, and content on Windows and Xbox

## Activity summary

Blocked in Syria, documented in February 2026, with users unable to sign in or install apps. The team and community volunteers contacted Microsoft's export controls team repeatedly since February 2026; a compliance case covering Microsoft Store and LinkedIn was opened, and a follow-up in May 2026 requested an update, but no resolution has followed.

## Official timeline

- 2026-03-31 — Contacted Company. Official outreach email sent from corporateaffairs@unblocksyria.com to eccn@microsoft.com. Microsoft Store was explicitly named alongside LinkedIn as a Microsoft product with Syria restrictions requiring review. The email argued for a single corporate-level compliance review.

## Community reports

- 2026-05-15 — Follow-up Sent. A community volunteer emailed Microsoft's export controls team at eccn@microsoft.com requesting an update on a prior support case opened with Microsoft regarding restrictions on Microsoft Store and full LinkedIn access for Syrian users. The follow-up referenced the December 2025 U.S. Treasury announcement lifting the comprehensive trade embargo on Syria and noted that Syria is no longer listed under OFAC's embargoed countries.
- 2026-03-03 — Contacted Company. A community volunteer emailed Microsoft's export compliance team at eccn@microsoft.com requesting that Microsoft Store restore access for users in Syria. The email referenced the updated OFAC and BIS guidance on Syria sanctions and asked Microsoft to review its export control restrictions affecting Syrian users.
- 2026-02-22 — Follow-up Sent. A community volunteer sent a follow-up outreach email to Microsoft's Export Control and Compliance team at eccn@microsoft.com specifically requesting access to Microsoft Store for Syrian users. The email focused on the ability to sign in, install applications, and access developer accounts. The volunteer highlighted a security concern: restricting Microsoft Store access pushes Syrian users toward unsafe third-party downloads, increasing malware risks and compromising system security. The email referenced the 2025 OFAC and EU sanctions lift and included supporting documentation from unblocksyria.com.
- 2026-02-16 — Contacted Company. Outreach email sent to Microsoft's Export Control and Compliance team at eccn@microsoft.com requesting a policy review of Microsoft Store accessibility in Syria. The email referenced the 2025 OFAC and EU sanctions lift and asked Microsoft to review its regional restrictions on the Microsoft Store for Syrian users.
- 2026-02-01 — Evidence Added. (evidence: https://api.unblocksyria.com/files/evidence/xpatx9djmk00p1q7ffqmekx0/lxwkzmz0e9s28qtvq8o4ahx5-fp4gxyknl7cv5scd92j3becf-microsoft-store.png)

## Context

These are geo-restrictions the companies applied themselves, not filtering by Syrian ISPs and not a legal requirement. US and EU sanctions on Syria were lifted in 2025. See https://unblocksyria.com/llms.txt for the regulatory summary and https://unblocksyria.com/en/about for citations to the specific orders and regulations.

## Machine-readable

- JSON: https://api.unblocksyria.com/services/microsoft-store?locale=en
- Timeline JSON: https://api.unblocksyria.com/services/microsoft-store/timeline?locale=en
- HTML: https://unblocksyria.com/en/services/microsoft-store
- Other languages: https://unblocksyria.com/ar/services/microsoft-store.md, https://unblocksyria.com/ku/services/microsoft-store.md