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Windows UI Library 2.4

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WinUI 2.4 is the May 2020 release of the Windows UI Library (WinUI).

The Windows UI Library (WinUI) is hosted on GitHub where we encourage you to file bug reports, feature requests and community code contributions.

WinUI Releases: GitHub release page

WinUI packages can be added to Visual Studio projects through the NuGet package manager. For more information, see Getting Started with the Windows UI Library.

NuGet package download: Microsoft.UI.Xaml

New Features

RadialGradientBrush

A RadialGradientBrush is drawn within an ellipse defined by Center, RadiusX, and RadiusY properties. Colors for the gradient start at the center of the ellipse and end at the radius.

Short video showing the behavior of the Radial gradient brush.
Radial gradient brush

Usage guidelines

API reference

ProgressRing

The ProgressRing control is used for modal interactions where the user is blocked until the ProgressRing disappears. Use this control if an operation requires that most interaction with the app be suspended until the operation is complete.

Short video showing the behavior of the Progress Ring control.
ProgressRing control

Usage guidelines

API reference

TabView updates

The TabView control updates provide you with more control over how to render tabs.

You can set the width of unselected tabs and show just an icon to save screen space:

TabView control tab sizes
TabView control tab sizes

You can also hide the close button on unselected tabs until the user hovers over the tab (in previous versions it was always shown):

TabView control hover to close
TabView control hover to close

Usage guidelines

API reference

Dark theme updates to TextBox family of controls

When dark theme is enabled, the background color of TextBox family controls remains dark by default on text insertion (in previous versions, the background color changes to white during text insertion).

Before After
Short video showing the behavior of the TextBox dark theme before the updates.
TextBox dark theme updates (before)		 Short video showing the behavior of the TextBox dark theme after the updates.
TextBox dark theme updates (after)
Another short movie showing the behavior of the TextBox dark theme before the updates.
TextBox dark theme updates (before)		 Another short movie showing the behavior of the TextBox dark theme after the updates.
TextBox dark theme updates (after)

The following are some of the controls included in the TextBox family of controls:

Hierarchical navigation

The NavigationView control now supports hierarchical navigation and includes Left, Top, and LeftCompact display modes. A hierarchical NavigationView is useful for displaying categories of pages, identifying pages with related child-pages, or using within apps that have hub-style pages linking to many other pages.

Hierarchical NavigationView control
Hierarchical NavigationView control

Usage guidelines

API reference

Samples

Tip

For more info, design guidance, and code examples, see Design and code Windows apps.

The WinUI 3 Gallery and WinUI 2 Gallery apps include interactive examples of most WinUI 3 and WinUI 2 controls, features, and functionality.

If installed already, open them by clicking the following links: WinUI 3 Gallery or WinUI 2 Gallery.

If they are not installed, you can download the WinUI 3 Gallery and the WinUI 2 Gallery from the Microsoft Store.

You can also get the source code for both from GitHub (use the main branch for WinUI 3 and the winui2 branch for WinUI 2).