And that’s a wrap on #MSIgnite 2025! 🎉 This year’s event showcased the future of Windows as the platform for developers to build secure next-generation AI solutions. Thank you to everyone who joined us, asked questions, and shared your work. This is just the beginning. We invite you to explore, build, and help us shape the future of Windows. Learn more about this year’s announcements: https://lnkd.in/e2Du3-7P
Windows Developer
Everything you need to know to develop great apps, games and other experiences for Windows.
Updates
-
Windows ML is a framework that simplifies AI deployment of models across the CPU, NPU, and GPU. In addition to Windows 11, Windows ML now provides support for Windows 10 and Windows Server 2019+. Learn more from #MSIgnite: https://lnkd.in/e2Du3-7P
-
Claude by Anthropic demonstrates what’s possible with MCP on Windows. Using the File Explorer connector with user consent, Claude can gather relevant documents—such as meeting notes or status updates—and turn them into summaries or executive-style reports, all while working locally within the Windows security model. This demo shows how MCP on Windows enables privacy-first, user-controlled workflows that help teams save time and stay organized without moving data across apps or environments. Learn more from #MSIgnite: https://lnkd.in/e2Du3-7P
-
Microsoft Foundry on Windows is reshaping how developers build and deploy AI experiences. Together with Windows ML, it supports seamless on-device deployment of custom models that run efficiently across CPU, GPU, and NPU. This gives developers a unified and flexible platform for bringing advanced AI features directly into Windows applications. At #MSIgnite, Andrew Leader and Anastasiya Tarnouskaya shared how Windows ML streamlines the AI workflow, making it easier to optimize, fine-tune, and deploy models across a wide range of hardware. Discover more from #MSIgnite: https://lnkd.in/e2Du3-7P
-
Agent workspace and agent ID are shaping the next era of intelligent productivity on Windows. These new OS-level capabilities create a clearer, more structured way for agentic experiences to run on Windows. Agent workspace provides a dedicated environment for agent activity, and agent ID gives each agent its own identity, so actions stay separate and easy to follow. Together, they lay important groundwork for building more intuitive and powerful experiences on Windows. Thanks to Pavan Davuluri for the great insights at #MSIgnite. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e2Du3-7P
-
Say hello to agent connectors 👋 At #MSIgnite, Pavan Davuluri took the stage to announce the public preview of agent connectors, which are essentially MCP servers built by app developers and made available in the Windows on-device registry. These are agent-aware tools that agents can connect to acquire new and unique skills and complete tasks for users. This includes built-in agent connectors from Windows, as well as local and remote connectors from our developer community. More info: https://lnkd.in/e2Du3-7P
-
What's new for the Windows platform at Microsoft Ignite? 🖥️ Aditya Ramnathkar and Alyanna Castillo took the stage during #MSIgnite to detail how Windows is empowering developers and organizations to build AI experiences and agents at scale by evolving into an operating system with secure OS-level integration with a native agent infrastructure. Learn more: https://msft.it/6043trJQS
-
We’re evolving Windows to give developers the premier platform to build the next generation of software experiences that empower people and organizations at scale 🚀 Over the past year, we’ve listened closely to developers and actively engaged with the broader community to identify opportunities to make Windows a secure platform for the future of AI and agents. The result: exciting new updates we are announcing during #MSIgnite. This includes: 🔹 Public preview of native support for Model Context Protocol (MCP) on Windows: A standardized framework for AI agents to connect with apps and tools to automate routine scenarios and perform tasks for users securely with user consent. 🔹 Public preview of Windows On-Device Registry (ODR): A secure, manageable repository of agent connectors, which are essentially MCP servers. 🔹 Public preview of built-in agent connectors for File Explorer & System Settings: Agents can use the File Explorer connector to manage, organize and retrieve local files with user consent. With System Settings connector, agents will be able to adjust Windows system settings like changing from light mode to dark mode or troubleshooting issues, while keeping the user in full control. 🔹Private preview of Agent workspace: A contained, policy-controlled, and auditable environment where agents can interact with software and complete tasks for users in a parallel and separate desktop, without disrupting users’ primary session. 🔹Agent ID: A unique ID distinct from the user ID that makes it possible to audit every action taken by the agent. The agent ID also helps IT distinguish agent interactions from user actions. 🔹 Secure policies and controls: Secure by default policies for developers building agents and agent connectors and security controls for end-users using agents – keeping their data secure. 🔹 Enterprise manageability controls: Enterprise manageability controls for IT admins to configure policies for their enterprise employees to adopt and use agents through typical policy configuration channels for Configuration Service Provider (CSP) policies and Group Policies (GP) starting with Intune in public preview. 🔹 Public preview of new AI APIs in Microsoft Foundry on Windows: Developers can use new APIs powered by Windows on-device models to add AI-powered video enhancement (VSR) and image generation (SDXL) features to their apps. These updates lay the foundation for a new generation of experiences, providing developers and enterprises with enhanced protection, transparency, and governance – introducing platform-level security guardrails to help organizations begin adopting agent-powered workflows. Read more about all of the updates: https://lnkd.in/e2Du3-7P
-
-
It's officially #MSIgnite week 🎉 Still figuring out your schedule? Here is a handy list of all the Windows Developer sessions you won't want to miss. This is your chance to dive deep into building AI-powered experiences on Windows and more! Build your schedule 👉 https://lnkd.in/eHjMU2wh
-
Enterprises are looking for AI that drives results, not buzz. Don’t miss BRK334 at #MSIgnite where we'll explore how organizations are driving measurable business value with Windows AI Foundry and MCP on Windows. Join Mik C. and Diana Kattan to see real-world examples from app developers, consulting firms, and enterprises building intelligent solutions that accelerate workflows and transform operations. You'll walk away with actionable insights to apply AI innovation in your own enterprise! Add to your schedule 👉 https://lnkd.in/e4Hk9UWv
-