Microsoft pivots to native apps with WinUI 3 and Windows App SDK 2.0
Updated
Updated · WindowsLatest · May 7
Microsoft pivots to native apps with WinUI 3 and Windows App SDK 2.0
8 articles · Updated · WindowsLatest · May 7
The update adds semantic versioning, a refactored Windows ML stack and drag-and-drop support linking WebView2 content with native WinUI 3 shells.
Microsoft is also replacing legacy Windows 11 interfaces, including the File Explorer Properties page and Run dialog, with WinUI 3 code; the rebuilt Run tool reportedly shows in 94ms.
The shift follows years of failed Win32 successors and growing reliance on WebView2-based apps, which critics say increased memory use and weakened developer trust in Windows frameworks.
Will Microsoft's notoriously slow web apps like Teams and Outlook ever become fast, native applications on Windows?
After a graveyard of abandoned frameworks, can Microsoft's latest native app strategy finally succeed where others have failed?
Does Microsoft's retreat from web apps signal the end of the 'write-once, run-anywhere' dream for the desktop?
Microsoft Revitalizes Native Windows Development with Windows App SDK 2.0 and WinUI 3 Gallery 2.9
Overview
In early 2026, Microsoft released Windows App SDK 2.0 and WinUI 3 Gallery 2.9, introducing key features like the SystemBackdropElement and SplitMenuFlyoutItem that simplify building modern, fluent Windows apps. This release adopts Semantic Versioning for clearer updates and is part of a broader strategic pivot to modernize Windows by replacing legacy components with native WinUI 3 alternatives. Developers have responded positively to the interactive Gallery and streamlined workflows, though some note a learning curve. Alongside growing enthusiasm for AI-assisted coding tools, this update positions Windows App SDK 2.0 to challenge web-based frameworks by enabling faster, more integrated native app development.