Microsoft Accidentally Leaks Internal App for Windows 11 Features
Microsoft has accidentally leaked its internal app, called “StagingTool,” which is used by employees to enable secret unreleased features of Windows 11. Typically, the software giant tests experimental or hidden features in public builds of the operating system. However, until now, Windows enthusiasts had to rely on third-party tools to access these secret features that Microsoft hadn’t enabled for all testers.
The accidental release of Microsoft’s StagingTool occurred during the company’s “bug bash” event this week. This event aims to gather feedback from Windows 11 testers in order to address any remaining bugs before a major update. Microsoft is expected to deliver its next big update for Windows 11 in September, which will include native support for RAR and 7-Zip files.
The StagingTool was first discovered by a Twitter user named XenoPanther on Wednesday. Microsoft swiftly removed the tool a few hours later, but it has already been widely shared within the Windows community. StagingTool is similar to the third-party ViveTool app that Windows enthusiasts have been using for years to enable hidden Windows 11 features.
StagingTool is a command line app that allows users to toggle feature IDs, enabling certain unreleased parts of Windows 11. It proves particularly useful when Microsoft employs A/B testing for features, where only a small subset of Windows Insiders can access a feature before it is rolled out more broadly to testers.
Whenever Microsoft releases a new build for testing, Windows enthusiasts eagerly search for new features. Hidden flags within the operating system enable these features, giving the Windows community a glimpse of the additions that Microsoft is experimenting with, even before the company acknowledges them.
Microsoft is fully aware that the community is enabling these secret features. In a blog post last year, Amanda Langowski, the lead for the Windows Insider Program, acknowledged, “We also recognize that some of our more technical Insiders have discovered that some features are intentionally disabled in the builds we have flighted.”
The accidental leak of Microsoft’s own StagingTool now makes it even easier and more “official” for users to enable these secret features. This internal tool provides engineers with a means to test unreleased features, and its availability to the public streamlines the process for Windows enthusiasts.
In the realm of Windows 11, the excitement for new and exclusive features continues to grow. With the accidental leak of StagingTool, users can now explore previously hidden aspects of the operating system more easily. As Microsoft prepares for its next major update, the Windows community eagerly anticipates the exciting new features that will be officially released in September.
Sources:
– Microsoft Accidentally Leaks “StagingTool” App for Windows 11 Features – Windows Latest