WinUI Going Open Source: What It Means for Windows Users
Imagine if Microsoft made the entire Windows operating system open source. That would be huge, possibly even game-changing for the internet. While that might not happen anytime soon, there’s still some exciting news: part of Windows is actually moving towards being open source — WinUI.
What is WinUI?
WinUI stands for Windows UI, and it’s Microsoft’s framework for building the design and interface of Windows desktop and modern UWP (Universal Windows Platform) applications. In simpler terms, it’s what shapes how certain Windows apps and menus look and feel — such as the Windows 11 start menu, the modern right-click menu, and the Settings app.
Why Does This Matter?
By making WinUI open source, Microsoft allows developers from all over the world to contribute, improve, and potentially customize the Windows design language. While this doesn’t mean you’ll be able to change everything about Windows (the core parts like the taskbar, File Explorer, and start menu are tied to the Windows Shell, which isn’t open source), it could still open the door to better-looking and more consistent apps.
What Could Change?
If WinUI becomes open source:
Developers could tweak the design to create new themes.
Apps built using WinUI might get fresh, creative styles — even something that mimics macOS or other systems.
The consistency of Windows apps could improve, since more people can work on refining the UI components.
What Won’t Change?
Don’t expect to fully transform Windows into a different OS just from WinUI changes. Key elements of the system interface are still closed-source, so full custom themes for the entire operating system aren’t on the table (yet).
Learn more and join the discussion on GitHub: WinUI Open Source Discussion
I’ve also made a video on this topic — you can watch it below.
Check out my other posts, I post useful tutorials and tech tips, maybe you will find something useful 😉.
