📢 Windows 11 Build 25217 adds support to build 3rd party widgets

Developers can now build and test 3rd party widgets

As part of the WinAppSDK 1.2 release, Microsoft announced the support for 3rd party widgets. With the release of Windows 11 Insiders (Preview) Build 25217, you can now develop and test 3rd party widgets on your local system.

Developers with packaged Win32 apps will be able to create and test 3rd party widgets locally if their machine is running in Developer Mode under Settings > Privacy & security > For developers. Developers will also need to be on the latest Insider Preview build from the Dev Channel to get the necessary update for the Widgets Board (version 521.20060.1205.0 or higher).

3rd party widgets | Known limitations

• 3rd party widgets can only be tested locally on the latest Insider Preview builds from the Dev Channel for this preview release. Once WinAppSDK 1.2 GA is out, users on released versions of Windows 11 can begin acquiring 3rd party widgets via the Microsoft Store for shipped versions of their app.
• Support for 3rd party PWA widgets will also be coming as part of a future Microsoft Edge release.

Other improvements and fixes in Windows 11 Build 25217

Changes and Improvements

Input

• The cloud suggestion and integrated search suggestion has been improved in the Simplified Chinese IME. The cloud suggestion adds the most relevant word from Bing to the IME candidate window. The integrated search suggestion gives you additional suggestions that are similar to what you see in Bing search page.
• Along with Windows 11 Build 25179, Microsoft first previewed Tamil Anjal keyboard in Windows 11 for the Tamil users. Initially it was rolled out to a set of limited insiders, but with the latest Windows 11 build 25217 it is now rolling out for all Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel.
• In this build Microsoft disabled the touch keyboard setting that was first rolled out with Windows 11 Build 25188. We hope to bring this feature back in the future after further refinement of the design, says Microsoft.

Fixes

[Tablet-optimized taskbar]

NOTE: These fixes will only show if tablet-optimized taskbar is enabled on your device. Tablet-optimized taskbar is still rolling out to Windows Insiders and not yet available for everyone.

• We fixed the issue causing the taskbar to sometimes collapse when it should be expanded if there are no running windows on the desktop.
• We fixed an issue that would occur when using the left or right edge gestures resulting in the Widgets or Notification Center (respectively) to overlap with or look truncated by the taskbar.
• Fixed an issue that was causing the tablet-optimized taskbar to crash explorer.exe while switching apps.
• Fixed an issue that was causing the tablet-optimized taskbar to crash explorer.exe if you entered the overflow flyout.

[Windowing]

• Fixed an issue where the close button for window preview thumbnails in Task View was drawing slightly outside the bounds of the thumbnail.
• Fixed an issue where when switching between windows in recent builds you might see the entire window flash black for a frame while rendering.
• Fixed an issue causing Miracast video quality to be very slow and stuttering in recent flights despite having a solid internet connection.

[System Tray Updates]

NOTE: These fixes will only show if System Tray Updates is enabled on your device. Tablet-optimized taskbar is still rolling out to Windows Insiders and not yet available for everyone.

• Fixed an issue so that Quick Settings items can now be rearranged with touch again.

[Settings]

• Fixed an issue under Network and Internet > Advanced Network Settings, where certain networks were displaying the wrong link speed.

[Other]

• Fixed an issue where remote desktop on ARM64 PCs was unexpectedly not using UDP and only TCP.

NOTE: Some fixes noted here in Insider Preview builds from the Dev Channel may make their way into the servicing updates for the released version of Windows 11.