developer mode Archives

Winsage

May 20, 2025

Microsoft Makes Individual Developer Accounts Free Next Month

Microsoft is removing all onboarding fees for individual developers to publish applications on the Microsoft Store, effective next month. This change allows developers to publish without a credit card, making the platform more accessible. Company accounts will still incur a fee, but individual developers can utilize the built-in developer mode on Windows 10, 11, and Xbox consoles to create unsigned applications. The Microsoft Store will also see improvements in discovery, delivery, and user acquisition processes. While developer mode is popular for running emulation software, it remains limited by the deprecated UWP application platform, affecting Xbox console applications.

Winsage

May 20, 2025

Securing the Model Context Protocol: Building a safer agentic future on Windows

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a lightweight, open protocol functioning as JSON-RPC over HTTP, facilitating standardized discovery and invocation of tools. MCP defines three roles: MCP Hosts (applications accessing capabilities), MCP Clients (initiators of requests), and MCP Servers (services exposing functionalities). Windows 11 will incorporate MCP to enable developers to create intelligent applications leveraging generative AI. An early preview of MCP capabilities will be available for developer feedback. MCP introduces security risks, including cross-prompt injection, authentication gaps, credential leakage, tool poisoning, lack of containment, limited security review, registry risks, and command injection. To address these, Windows 11's MCP Security Architecture will establish security requirements for MCP servers, ensuring user safety and transparency, enforcing least privilege, and implementing security controls like proxy-mediated communication, tool-level authorization, a central server registry, and runtime isolation. MCP servers must comply with security requirements, including mandatory code signing, unchanged tool definitions at runtime, security testing, mandatory package identity, and declared privileges. An early private preview of MCP server capability will be offered to developers post-Microsoft Build for feedback, with a secure-by-default enforcement strategy planned for broader availability. Microsoft aims to enhance defenses continuously and collaborate with partners to bolster MCP's security framework.

Winsage

April 22, 2025

New Windows 11 setting lets users kill stubborn apps instantly from taskbar

Microsoft has introduced a new "End Task" option in Windows that allows users to close unresponsive applications directly from the taskbar by right-clicking on the app. This feature simplifies the process compared to the traditional method of using Task Manager. To activate it, users must go to Settings > System > For Developers and toggle on the "End Task" setting. The "End Task" command forcefully terminates an application and its related processes, unlike the "Close Window" command, which may leave background processes running. However, it cannot terminate system processes like File Explorer, and using it may result in the loss of unsaved data. This feature is located in the "For Developers" section of Settings and does not require Developer Mode. It has recently been included in the final Windows 11 24H2 build.

Winsage

April 1, 2025

Wintoys new update lets you set classic File Explorer, uninstall Edge and more in Windows 11

Wintoys has released a significant 2.0 update for Windows 11 users after nearly a year without updates. Key features include a new logo supporting light and dark modes, a settings restore button, the option to revert to the classic File Explorer, compliance with the Digital Markets Act allowing uninstallation of Microsoft Edge in unsupported regions, an enhanced Super-user Tweaks menu, and updated system properties cards. The update also addresses bugs and improves performance, although there is a known issue with the Alt + Tab function freezing the app. Wintoys 2.0 is available for free download from the Microsoft Store for Windows 10 and 11 users.

AppWizard

March 8, 2025

Good News! Google Starts Rolling Out Native Linux Terminal to Android Devices

Google has introduced a native Linux Terminal app for Android, leveraging the Android Virtualization Framework to run a local virtual machine powered by Debian. The app is currently being rolled out to select Google Pixel devices as part of the March Pixel Drop and requires a 500 MB download to set up. Users must enable developer mode to access the app, which allows them to adjust storage, configure network settings, and recover the virtual machine's storage partition.

AppWizard

March 7, 2025

Your Android phone will run Debian Linux soon (like some Pixels already can)

Qualcomm claims that its Snapdragon 8 Elite CPU outperforms Intel's Core Ultra 288V chip. Google has introduced a native Linux Terminal application in its March 2025 Pixel Feature Drop, available exclusively on the latest Pixel devices running Android 15. This Linux Terminal operates on a Debian Linux virtual machine and allows users to run desktop Linux applications directly from their devices. Users must enable Developer Mode to access the app, which requires downloading a 500MB Debian package. Graphical user interface applications are not yet supported, but enhancements in Android 16 are expected to improve compatibility with traditional PC input methods and display options. There is speculation about a potential merger between Android and Chrome OS, aiming for a seamless integration between smartphone and desktop experiences. The integration of Linux into Android devices may lead to large Android phones and tablets replacing traditional laptops for some users.

Winsage

October 24, 2024

Microsoft’s official Windows 11 virtual machines are no longer available

Microsoft's official virtual machines for the Windows 11 Development Environment are currently unavailable for download as of October 23, 2024, due to expiration and activation issues. Users with operational environments will face activation problems, as these virtual machines do not support activation via product keys, resulting in a black desktop background and shutdown every hour for expired versions. The last update for these virtual machines was in July 2024, based on Windows 11 build 22621.3880. The Windows 11 Development Environment was offered in four configurations: Hyper-V, Parallels for Mac, VirtualBox, and VMware, and included tools such as Visual Studio 2022 Community Edition, .NET Desktop, Azure, Windows App SDK for C#, Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 with Ubuntu, Windows Terminal, and Developer mode.

BetaBeacon

October 23, 2024

How to disable Android’s 60Hz frame rate limit for games

- Android 15 has a new option to disable default refresh rates - This feature is located in the developer menu and requires enabling developer mode - The feature is currently only available on the Pixel series - Disabling default frame rate for games allows the Pixel to run them at full speed - This option can cause instability in some titles and may not always work