Windows 10 20H1 build 18990 is out with WSL improvements and automatic restart option for UWP apps

As Microsoft’s first 20H1 Bug Bash will kick off tomorrow, September 25, the Windows Insider team has just announced the release of Windows 10 20H1 build 18990 for Fast Ring Insiders. This latest build is a minor update that brings more control over restarting apps at sign-in. In the build 18965, a new setting allowed registered desktop apps from your previous sign-in session to automatically restart when signing back in to Windows, and Microsoft is now enabling automatic restart for UWP apps in the build 18990.

This new build also includes minor improvements for the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), and the team also mentioned today that an FPS counter and achievement overlay has started rolling to the Xbox Game Bar app. You can learn more about new features and other updates for Insiders below.

Enabling automatic restart for UWP apps

Last month, we introduced a new separate setting to control if registered desktop appsfrom your previous sign-in session are restarted when signing back in to Windows. In the latest Insider Preview builds, in addition to registered desktop apps, when you opt into this setting, the majority of open UWP apps are now also automatically restarted as well! To reduce sign-in time, UWP apps are restarted minimized, in a suspended state, giving Windows and other apps more resources to get started. To try it out:

1. Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and turn on “Automatically save my restartable apps when I sign out and restart them after I sign in.” under “Restart apps”.
2. Start one or more UWP apps, such as Feedback Hub.
3. Sign out and then sign back into Windows.

UWP apps that were started, such as Feedback Hub, should restart minimized with a taskbar button.

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) improvements

• Improved the performance for directory listings in \\wsl$
• [WSL2] Injected additional boot entropy [Github Issue 4461]
• [WSL2] Fixed Windows interop when using su / sudo commands [Github issue 4465]

For the full details of changes in this latest Insider Preview build, please see the WSL release notes.

Other updates for Insiders

Xbox Game Bar Updates

In case you hadn’t seen, we’re starting to roll out an FPS counter and achievement overlay! Thanks to everyone who shared feedback about this. The update will come via the Microsoft Store. Just set focus to your favorite game and press WIN + G to get started.

Updated Xbox Game Bar via Win10 Store and …. pic.twitter.com/25kf5YavwH

— Mike Ybarra (@Qwik) September 20, 2019

 

NOTE: You may have to be joined to receive Game Bar updates via the Xbox Insider Hub app (under Insider Content) from the Microsoft Store to see this update.

Reset your PC from the cloud

Earlier today in our Windows Insider webcast, we had the Deployment Team as guests to talk about the new feature that is coming with 20H1 that allows you to reset your PC using the cloud. For more information, check out this article from Program Manager Aaron Lower. You can also watch the on-demand video of this morning’s webcast by visiting our Mixer channel!

As usual, this new build also comes with bug fixes and quality improvements, and the release notes mention a fix for an issue impacting Action Center reliability. You can learn more about other fixes and known issues in our separate post.

Lastly, if you want to participate to the first 20H1 Bug Bash, you can check out the Windows 10 Feedback Hub app at midnight (PDT) to start completing the first Bug Bash Quests. The event will last through October 2, and more quests will be added in the coming days.