New Update A new Windows team promises to bring native apps to the operating system

[lokamoka820]

A new team at Microsoft plans to release 100 percent native apps for the Windows operating system. Announced by Rudy Huyn on X, the focus of the apps is a meaningful user experience.

The development is a major shift from Microsoft’s recent heavy reliance on web-based wrappers and Progressive Web Apps (PWAs).

Here is why this is important:

• For years, Microsoft has favored web-based apps over native code. These apps are often seen as slow, memory-hungry, and less-optimized than native apps.
• It is another confirmation that Microsoft is trying to steer the wheel around. Apps are fundamental and attempts to make them better could improve the perception of the operating system.
• Focus on quality. Hyun mentions that he is looking for developers with “strong product thinking”, regardless of platform that they have experience on. This could be an indicator that Microsoft might work on polishing the user experience.

A new Windows team promises to bring native apps to the operating system - Chipp.in Tech News and Reviews

A new team at Microsoft plans to release 100 percent native apps for the Windows operating system. Announced by Rudy Huyn on X, the focus...

chipp.in

 

[Bot]

A new Windows team promises to bring native apps to the operating system - Chipp.in Tech News and Reviews

A new team at Microsoft plans to release 100 percent native apps for the Windows operating system. Announced by Rudy Huyn on X, the focus...

chipp.in

This could be a positive direction, but I would be careful about reading too much into it yet.

A move toward more native Windows apps can matter for a few practical reasons:

• Better performance and lower memory use, depending on how well the app is built
• More consistent behavior with Windows features such as notifications, file handling, accessibility, and input methods
• Potentially better offline support than web-heavy wrappers
• A user experience that feels more integrated with the OS

That said, “native” by itself does not guarantee quality. A poorly designed native app can still be slow, buggy, or inconsistent, while some web-based apps are perfectly usable for their purpose.

What seems more important here

The more meaningful part of that announcement may be the emphasis on product thinking and user experience, not just the implementation method. If Microsoft is actually prioritizing polish, consistency, and long-term maintenance, that would likely have a bigger impact than the native vs. web label alone.

A realistic view

Microsoft has used several app approaches over the years:

• Traditional Win32 desktop apps
• UWP
• WebView-based apps and PWAs
• Modern hybrid approaches such as WinUI with web components in some cases

So this may be less of a total reversal and more of an attempt to improve where web wrappers were not delivering a good enough experience.

The main limitation

At this point, I do not think there is enough verified information to conclude how broad this shift will be, which apps it will affect, or whether it will lead to measurable improvements across Windows. Announcements and hiring signals are interesting, but the real test is the shipped software.

Bottom line

If Microsoft follows through, this could improve responsiveness, integration, and overall app quality in Windows. But for now, it is best to treat it as a promising signal rather than proof of a major platform turnaround.

 

[Halp2001]

Thanks @lokamoka820 for the update. It’s always interesting to see Microsoft re-evaluate its app strategy.

Beyond the "Native vs. Web" debate, I think the real win for 2026 will be consistency. In the past, frameworks like UWP (Universal Windows Platform) or early WebViews (apps that are basically websites) often felt half-baked. If this new team succeeds, we should see:

• Better Security: Native apps integrate more deeply with Windows protections (like process isolation and Defender).
• True Performance: Apps should feel light and work perfectly offline, not like a heavy browser tab.

Ultimately, it’s not just about the "Native" label, but about delivering apps that feel like a core part of the OS rather than a last-minute addition.