diff --git a/.pipelines/UpdateVersions.ps1 b/.pipelines/UpdateVersions.ps1
index 1c66db5459..ef79056acb 100644
--- a/.pipelines/UpdateVersions.ps1
+++ b/.pipelines/UpdateVersions.ps1
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 Param(
   # Using the default value of 1.7 for winAppSdkVersionNumber and useExperimentalVersion as false
   [Parameter(Mandatory=$False,Position=1)]
-  [string]$winAppSdkVersionNumber = "1.7",
+  [string]$winAppSdkVersionNumber = "1.8",
 
   # When the pipeline calls the PS1 file, the passed parameters are converted to string type
   [Parameter(Mandatory=$False,Position=2)]
diff --git a/.pipelines/v2/templates/steps-update-winappsdk-and-restore-nuget.yml b/.pipelines/v2/templates/steps-update-winappsdk-and-restore-nuget.yml
index 31c4279218..566c8045c4 100644
--- a/.pipelines/v2/templates/steps-update-winappsdk-and-restore-nuget.yml
+++ b/.pipelines/v2/templates/steps-update-winappsdk-and-restore-nuget.yml
@@ -35,3 +35,4 @@ steps:
     projects: '$(build.sourcesdirectory)\**\*.slnx'
     feedsToUse: 'config'
     nugetConfigPath: '$(build.sourcesdirectory)\nuget.config'
+    workingDirectory: '$(build.sourcesdirectory)'