Microsoft has unveiled a pre-release version 1.12.440 of the Windows Package Manager, commonly known as winget. This update is primarily aimed at users who wish to test new features and improvements before the final release. Among the notable updates is the introduction of an MCP server, which provides users with assistance in setting up winget through the command `winget mcp`.
The App Installer component has also been upgraded, transitioning from WinUI 2 to WinUI 3, which has enhanced the manifest validation process to version 1.12. This transition allows for the support of new types of installers, particularly for fonts, enabling users to install and uninstall fonts directly through manifests or package sources. The update addresses minor bugs, including issues with package manifests encoded in UTF-8 BOM and problems related to the removal of portable apps when disabling developer mode during upgrades.
In addition to these enhancements, the App Installer now delivers improved progress updates and better management of installations requiring elevated permissions. Fixes have been made to ensure it operates correctly on older Windows versions and blocks activation attempts for MSIX apps that require updates.
The font handling capabilities have been significantly enhanced, allowing users to install or uninstall fonts for personal or system-wide use. A sample font manifest is available on GitHub, providing a reference for developers interested in creating their own font packages. However, users should note that this new feature requires specific installer types or zip archives for installation.
For those eager to explore experimental features, users can enable font listing commands by modifying their `winget.settings.json` file to include experimental features. This allows for commands like `winget font list` to show installed font families and faces, with an added detail switch for more information.
Other internal adjustments include updates to version tracking for the client, ensuring proper handling of COM objects in Repair-WGPM, and improvements in signal handling during certain processes.
In conclusion, the Windows Package Manager 1.12.440 pre-release offers a variety of new features and bug fixes, particularly around font handling and installation processes. Users interested in testing these new functionalities can download the preview build and provide feedback to contribute to the refinement of this tool ahead of its full release
The App Installer component has also been upgraded, transitioning from WinUI 2 to WinUI 3, which has enhanced the manifest validation process to version 1.12. This transition allows for the support of new types of installers, particularly for fonts, enabling users to install and uninstall fonts directly through manifests or package sources. The update addresses minor bugs, including issues with package manifests encoded in UTF-8 BOM and problems related to the removal of portable apps when disabling developer mode during upgrades.
In addition to these enhancements, the App Installer now delivers improved progress updates and better management of installations requiring elevated permissions. Fixes have been made to ensure it operates correctly on older Windows versions and blocks activation attempts for MSIX apps that require updates.
The font handling capabilities have been significantly enhanced, allowing users to install or uninstall fonts for personal or system-wide use. A sample font manifest is available on GitHub, providing a reference for developers interested in creating their own font packages. However, users should note that this new feature requires specific installer types or zip archives for installation.
For those eager to explore experimental features, users can enable font listing commands by modifying their `winget.settings.json` file to include experimental features. This allows for commands like `winget font list` to show installed font families and faces, with an added detail switch for more information.
Other internal adjustments include updates to version tracking for the client, ensuring proper handling of COM objects in Repair-WGPM, and improvements in signal handling during certain processes.
In conclusion, the Windows Package Manager 1.12.440 pre-release offers a variety of new features and bug fixes, particularly around font handling and installation processes. Users interested in testing these new functionalities can download the preview build and provide feedback to contribute to the refinement of this tool ahead of its full release
Windows Package Manager 1.12.440 Pre-release released
Microsoft has released version 1.12.440 of the Windows Package Manager (winget) as a pre-release build for testing purposes. This update includes new features such as an MCP server that allows users to get help setting things up and improvements to the App Installer component with support for new types of installers like fonts. The release also addresses minor bugs and introduces better progress updates and handling installs that need extra permissions in the App Installer. Additionally, winget now supports font installation and uninstallation operations using manifests or package sources.
Windows Package Manager 1.12.440 Pre-release released @ NT Compatible
