In 2019, Microsoft finally introduced support for Win32 games on the Microsoft Store for Windows. But if you’ve downloaded the games, you might want to wait for the latest build from Windows Insider. The latest Dev Channel update prevents users from uninstalling Win32 apps, meaning many games found on the Microsoft Store and Steam will be blocked on your computer for the time being.
Microsoft’s Windows 11 Insider Preview build 25211 was recently released for Windows Updates Dev Channel subscribers. The new version comes with a slew of new features, bug fixes, and one big snag. This particular update has only been rolled out to the Dev Channel and should not affect Windows Insider subscribers who are using the Beta Channel or Release Preview builds of Windows.
Some of the more significant updates rolling out in Preview Build 25211 include:
The new features also come with a handful of bug fixes, but it all comes with an interesting caveat. Machines with this update installed will not be able to uninstall or repair Win32 applications with dependencies. In short, this means you won’t be able to uninstall many games that are running on the Steam client or on Steam itself. Luckily, this appears to be a temporary thing.
Since the Microsoft Store started supporting native Win32 apps, it has become increasingly popular with developers who want more customization and control over their apps, not just game developers. The list of games and applications that depend on Win32 is only growing, which makes the limitations of this version annoying.
Microsoft has always warned that its Dev Channel updates are often very loose and not very stable. While the ability to summon the taskbar without ctrl+alt+delete your path is tempting, we don’t recommend installing this update at this time, as rolling back Windows Insider Updates without affecting also applications or important documents can be a bit tricky.
