Windows App SDK Archives

Winsage

December 5, 2025

Decline of Native Windows Apps: Electron’s Rise and Hybrid Future

Native Windows apps, once central to the desktop experience, are declining in favor of web-based technologies like Electron and Chromium. Developers are shifting towards web wrappers for cross-platform compatibility and efficiency, despite performance drawbacks. WhatsApp has transitioned from a native app to a web wrapper, prioritizing maintenance over performance. This trend is evident across various software categories, with applications like Spotify and Slack adopting web frameworks, leading to increased resource consumption and slower performance. Microsoft’s focus on cloud services and AI has influenced this shift, as has the demand for cross-platform solutions. Native apps are being overshadowed by web technologies, which often lack deep integration with Windows features. Performance trade-offs are significant, with web wrappers consuming more memory than native apps. The rise of progressive web apps (PWAs) and AI integration further complicates the landscape, suggesting a future where the definition of "native" may evolve. The tech community is divided on these changes, with some advocating for a balance between web and native solutions.

Winsage

November 7, 2025

Microsoft admits Windows 11’s right-click menu is cluttered, confirms fix with a new UI feature

Windows 11 is set to introduce a "Split Context Menu" update for WinUI 3-based applications, aimed at reducing menu clutter and improving usability. This update will implement context-aware nested menus that adapt based on file types, allowing for a more streamlined right-click experience. The new API, SplitMenuFlyoutItem, will enable a single menu entry to display both primary actions and secondary options in a smaller adjacent flyout. This redesign could reduce menu length by up to 38% in some cases. Currently, the Split Context Menu is intended for WinUI applications, with no confirmation on whether it will extend to the entire Windows shell. The update is still in early development and not available for public testing.

Winsage

September 29, 2025

Microsoft Releases Windows ML: Simplifying AI Integration for Apps

Microsoft has launched Windows ML, an AI framework designed to integrate AI models into Windows applications, allowing local inferences on various hardware, including CPUs, GPUs, and NPUs. It abstracts hardware complexities to optimize performance across devices and supports AI formats like ONNX for compatibility with multiple vendors. Windows ML integrates with the Windows App SDK and offers APIs in languages such as C#, C++, and Python, facilitating the development of AI-enhanced applications. Performance benchmarks indicate up to 4x faster inference on NPUs compared to CPUs. The framework aims to create a hybrid AI ecosystem, balancing local and cloud processing. Windows 11’s 24H2 update requires NPU support in Copilot+ PCs, aligning with edge computing trends. Microsoft’s strategy emphasizes cross-hardware compatibility, potentially benefiting enterprise environments. Challenges remain in model training and security, and Microsoft plans to enhance Windows ML with future updates.

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.

Winsage

October 8, 2024

Third-party tool “Rebound 11” aims to improve the Windows 11 UI, while keeping system files intact

A new tool named Rebound 11 enhances the user interface of Windows 11 using the Windows App SDK and WinUI 3 API, aiming for greater consistency and a secure user experience. It does not alter critical system files and offers applications such as WordPad-style text editors, a modernized file explorer, and a revamped Control Panel. Rebound 11 integrates with both Win32 and Microsoft Store applications and is designed to be safe and reversible. Minimum hardware requirements include a 2 GHz CPU, 4 GB of RAM, 2 GB of free storage, and a DirectX 12-compatible GPU. It is open-source and does not interfere with Windows Update processes.

Winsage

October 4, 2024

Windows 11 unofficial mod claims not to alter crucial system files while making UI better

Microsoft has been enhancing the visual appeal of its desktop operating system since the launch of Windows Vista, leading to the development of specialized hardware features like WDDM GPU schedulers. Users of Windows 11 have reported occasional sluggish performance, prompting Microsoft to acknowledge these issues and commit to improvements. A paid study claims Windows 11 outperforms Windows 10, though evidence is lacking. The Windows 11 24H2 update has reportedly increased responsiveness for some users, even on unsupported hardware. Rebound 11 is a third-party application designed to enhance the Windows 11 user interface while maintaining system security and avoiding changes to essential system files. It allows for easy reversibility of changes and does not implement system-wide customizations, preserving MSSTYLES system files. Users need a system with at least 4GB of memory and 2GB of storage, along with a DirectX 12 compatible graphics processor. Caution is advised before installation, including backing up important data and potentially using a virtual machine for testing. Rebound 11 is available for download from its GitHub repository.

Winsage

October 2, 2024

This Microsoft app update reminded me how much I hate the Windows 11 context menu

Microsoft PowerToys has released version 0.85, which includes the following updates: - New utility: New+ allows users to create personalized templates for file and folder creation via the File Explorer context menu. - Users can select their preferred UI language for PowerToys utilities. - Quality fixes for Workspaces to enhance compatibility with various applications. - Memory optimization in Peek by addressing image leaks. - New variables added to the Environment Variables Editor: NTSYMBOLPATH, NTALTSYMBOLPATH, and NTSYMCACHEPATH. - Enhanced application snapping for programs launched through Workspaces in FancyZones. - Resolved an issue with File Locksmith being activated by unrelated context menu verbs. - Improvements in PowerToys Run for clearer communication during initialization failures. - Expanded character set in Quick Accent to include Middle Eastern Romanization and additional symbols. - Corrected link to Workspaces documentation and fixed flyout issues in Settings. - Enhanced detection and snapping capabilities for applications like Discord and Steam in Workspaces.

Winsage

September 19, 2024

Bringing Universal Windows Platform apps to .NET 9

Microsoft has introduced a suite of tools to enhance UWP support in .NET 9, aimed at helping developers upgrade their existing code gradually. This includes tools that operate across Visual Studio, the Windows SDK, and the .NET framework, allowing migration of C# code to the Windows App SDK. The migration process is incremental, enabling developers to adopt Win UI elements while still using some XAML Islands functionalities. Microsoft is actively using these tools for its app updates, with the Microsoft Store set to deliver a native AOT version after .NET 9's general availability, expected in November. The new toolkit eliminates reliance on outdated .NET Native tooling, allowing access to newer .NET features and broader integration of libraries, simplifying the upgrade process and enabling developers to utilize the latest innovations in the .NET ecosystem.

Winsage

September 18, 2024

Microsoft makes good on promise to speed up Windows 11 apps

Microsoft is transitioning Universal Windows Platform (UWP) applications to the Windows App SDK, facing challenges such as performance issues with the Photos app after migration. The latest beta release of Windows App SDK 1.6 features a 50 percent reduction in app loading times and allows for a significant decrease in application file sizes. The Windows App SDK, previously known as Project Reunion, aims to create a unified API for developing applications compatible with both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Winsage

September 18, 2024

Some Windows 11 stock apps might soon be much faster to load and more responsive in general

Microsoft has introduced native Ahead-Of-Time (AOT) compilation for the Windows App SDK, aiming to enhance the performance of default applications in Windows 11. This advancement is expected to reduce loading times by up to 50% for apps like the stock Photos app and Phone Link, while also decreasing application package sizes by approximately eight times, leading to reduced memory usage. Existing applications will need updates from their developers to fully utilize this feature.