Typically, Microsoft releases new Windows 10 Insider Preview builds in the Fast ring on Wednesdays, but the firm is coming in a little bit early this week. If you're on the Fast ring, you can now go ahead and grab build 18990. As usual, it's from the 20H1 development branch, so it's a preview of the feature update that will arrive next spring.
As usual, there aren't a lot of new features. You'll now be able to automatically restart UWP apps (instead of just Win32 apps) when you restart your PC, and there are some WSL improvements. Here's the full changelog:
Enabling automatic restart for UWP apps
Last month, we introduced a new separate setting to control if registered desktop apps from your previous sign-in session are restarted when signing back in to Windows. In the latest Insider Preview builds, in addition to registered desktop apps, when you opt into this setting, the majority of open UWP apps are now also automatically restarted as well! To reduce sign-in time, UWP apps are restarted minimized, in a suspended state, giving Windows and other apps more resources to get started. To try it out:
- Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and turn on “Automatically save my restartable apps when I sign out and restart them after I sign in.” under “Restart apps”.
- Start one or more UWP apps, such as Feedback Hub.
- Sign out and then sign back into Windows.
UWP apps that were started, such as Feedback Hub, should restart minimized with a taskbar button.
Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) improvements
- Improved the performance for directory listings in \\wsl$
- [WSL2] Injected additional boot entropy [Github Issue 4461]
- [WSL2] Fixed Windows interop when using su / sudo commands [Github issue 4465]
For the full details of changes in this latest Insider Preview build, please see the WSL release notes.
Other updates for Insiders
Xbox Game Bar Updates
In case you hadn’t seen, we’re starting to roll out an FPS counter and achievement overlay! Thanks to everyone who shared feedback about this. The update will come via the Microsoft Store. Just set focus to your favorite game and press WIN + G to get started.
NOTE: You may have to be joined to receive Game Bar updates via the Xbox Insider Hub app (under Insider Content) from the Microsoft Store to see this update.
Reset your PC from the cloud
Earlier today in our Windows Insider webcast, we had the Deployment Team as guests to talk about the new feature that is coming with 20H1 that allows you to reset your PC using the cloud. For more information, check out this article from Program Manager Aaron Lower. You can also watch the on-demand video of this morning’s webcast by visiting our Mixer channel!
Microsoft is holding an event next week, where it will announce refreshes of its various Surface PCs. Interestingly, Brandon LeBlanc of the Windows Insider team will be there, so hopefully there will be some news on the Windows front.
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