## Summary
- Publish scheduled `main` builds as GitHub prereleases while keeping
manual `main` runs as preview validation builds.
- Add an opt-in Settings switch for prerelease update checks; stable
updates remain the default.
- Use one MSI-safe version across bundles, MSI packages, binaries,
symbols, and package manifests.
- Prevent preview releases from triggering Microsoft Store, WinGet, or
public-symbol publication.
- Label preview builds explicitly in Settings, update notifications, and
What's New.
## Build intent
| Source | Trigger | Intent |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `main` | Scheduled | Publish a preview release |
| `main` | Manual | Validate a preview build without publishing |
| `stable` | Manual | Produce a stable release |
| Other branches | Any supported trigger | Produce a private validation
build |
## MSI-safe release versioning
Windows Installer compares only `major.minor.build` and ignores the
fourth version component. Preview and stable release builds therefore
use:
```text
major.minor.YDDDB.0
```
- `Y`: zero-based number of calendar years since `ReleaseTrainEpoch`.
- `DDD`: three-position calendar day of year.
- `B`: daily release sequence `1-9`.
- The fourth component is always `0`.
With `ReleaseTrainVersion=0.100` and `ReleaseTrainEpoch=2026-01-01`:
```text
0.100.2111.0 = July 30, 2026, release build 1
0.100.3659.0 = December 31, 2026, release build 9
0.100.10011.0 = January 1, 2027, release build 1
```
The allocator formats `DDD` as exactly three digits before converting
the MSI component to its numeric representation. Leading zeros may not
be displayed because Windows version components are numeric; decoding
remains positional:
```text
B = component % 10
DDD = (component / 10) % 1000
Y = component / 10000
```
`ReleaseTrainVersion` and `ReleaseTrainEpoch` are checked in under
`src/Version.props`. The epoch remains January 1 of the active epoch
year and advances on the first release-train minor change in a new year.
## Daily release counter
Azure DevOps persists the daily sequence server-side using a counter
keyed as `release-YYYYMMDD`.
- `main` and `stable` share the same daily counter.
- Other branches do not evaluate or consume the release counter.
- Failed or canceled `main`/`stable` runs may leave gaps.
- The build fails when the daily sequence exceeds `9`.
- The counter date and encoded `YDDD` date both use
`pipeline.startTime`.
Private branches retain independent `0.0.<extended-day><NN>.0`
validation versions.
## Update behavior
- Stable users continue to query GitHub's stable latest-release path.
- Users who explicitly enable preview updates can select newer GitHub
prereleases.
- Preview releases and notifications are labeled as PowerToys Preview.
- What's New separates preview entries from stable release history and
hides previews by default.
## Validation
- 17 Pester tests cover `main`, `stable`, private branches, year
rollover, epoch reset, monotonicity, override validation, sequence
limits, and date alignment.
- Version propagation verified `0.100.2111.0` in `Version.props` and all
affected AppX/MSIX manifests.
- Azure DevOps pipeline dry-runs succeeded for both `refs/heads/main`
and `refs/heads/stable`.
- The affected native version project builds successfully.
- PR CI is green for x64, ARM64, Command Palette SDK, dependency review,
telemetry detection, and CLA.
## Remaining end-to-end checks
- Install two locally or officially produced installers with consecutive
MSI-visible `YDDDB` versions and verify the upgrade preserves binaries,
package registrations, hardlinks, and shell integrations.
- On the first natural post-merge `main` or `stable` run, verify the
production counter value and resolved version in the release logs.
## Local GPO verification
Validated locally with the signed `v0.100.2171` build from Azure DevOps
build
[153961073](https://microsoft.visualstudio.com/Dart/_build/results?buildId=153961073).
These checks cover the administrative-template integration and Settings
behavior.
### Policy enabled: preview updates are disabled
With `PreviewUpdatesDisabled=1`, **Include prerelease updates** is
forced off and locked, and Settings displays the
managed-by-your-organization notice.
### Policy removed: the user preference is preserved
After removing `PreviewUpdatesDisabled` and restarting PowerToys, the
previously selected preview-update preference is restored and editable.
The policy suppresses the preference without overwriting it.
### Group Policy Editor
After importing the updated ADMX/ADML templates, **Disable preview build
updates** appears under **Microsoft PowerToys > Installer and Updates**.
The policy dialog documents that **Enabled** blocks preview updates,
while **Disabled** or **Not Configured** leaves the choice available to
the user.
---------
Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
Copilot-Session: ad8b7909-0472-4464-bdee-deaeca726f94
Copilot-Session: 8e04a72e-3b0f-4ac4-8156-d04ea9b8bb85
<!-- Enter a brief description/summary of your PR here. What does it
fix/what does it change/how was it tested (even manually, if necessary)?
-->
## Summary of the Pull Request
This pull request adds telemetry tracking for user interactions with the
application's tray icon. Specifically, it introduces new methods for
logging `left-click`, `right-click`, and `double-click` events, and
integrates these telemetry calls into the tray icon event handling
logic.
<!-- Please review the items on the PR checklist before submitting-->
## PR Checklist
- [ ] Closes: #xxx
<!-- - [ ] Closes: #yyy (add separate lines for additional resolved
issues) -->
- [x] **Communication:** I've discussed this with core contributors
already. If the work hasn't been agreed, this work might be rejected
- [x] **Tests:** Added/updated and all pass
- [ ] **Localization:** All end-user-facing strings can be localized
- [ ] **Dev docs:** Added/updated
- [ ] **New binaries:** Added on the required places
- [ ] [JSON for
signing](https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/blob/main/.pipelines/ESRPSigning_core.json)
for new binaries
- [ ] [WXS for
installer](https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/blob/main/installer/PowerToysSetup/Product.wxs)
for new binaries and localization folder
- [ ] [YML for CI
pipeline](https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/blob/main/.pipelines/ci/templates/build-powertoys-steps.yml)
for new test projects
- [ ] [YML for signed
pipeline](https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/blob/main/.pipelines/release.yml)
- [ ] **Documentation updated:** If checked, please file a pull request
on [our docs
repo](https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/windows-uwp/tree/docs/hub/powertoys)
and link it here: #xxx
<!-- Provide a more detailed description of the PR, other things fixed,
or any additional comments/features here -->
## Detailed Description of the Pull Request / Additional comments
<!-- Describe how you validated the behavior. Add automated tests
wherever possible, but list manual validation steps taken as well -->
## Validation Steps Performed
* Data diagnostics opt-in
* [c++] Drop DROP_PII flag
* Bump telemtry package to 2.0.2
* Drop DropPii from custom actions
* Cleanup
* Do not start manually C# EtwTrace. FZ engine exit event.
* ImageResizer, PowerRename, FileLocksmith prev handlers
* Revert C# handlers exe logging
* Revert "Revert C# handlers exe logging"
This reverts commit 4c75a3953b.
* Do not recreate EtwTrace
* consume package
* xaml formatting
* Fix deps.json audit
* Update telem package paths
* Address PR comments
* Fix AdvancedPaste close on PT close
* Override etl file name for explorer loaded dlls
Start/stop tracer when needed for explorer loaded dlls to prevent explorer overload
* Fix setting desc
* Fix missing events
* Add infobar to restart when enable data viewing
* Flush on timer every 30s
* [Settings] Update View Data diagnostic description text
[New+] Add tracer
* Show Restart info bar for both enable/disable data viewer
* Fix newplus
* Fix stuck on restart and terminate AdvPaste exe on destroy()
* [Installer] Add tracer
* Address PR comment
* Add missing tracers
* Exclude etw dir from BugReport
* Fix bad merge
* [Hosts] Proper exit on initial dialog
* [OOBE] Make Data diagnostic setting visible without scroll
* [OOBE] Add hiperlynk to open general settings
* Disable data view on disabling data diagnostics
* Don't disable View data button
* Fix disabling data viewing
* Add missing dot
* Revert formatting
* Don't trace event on exit
change 'PowertoyModuleDeleter' to not call 'module->disable();' before 'module->destroy();' so the module can distinguish between being turned off and PowerToys exiting.
Code formatting.
* uppercase for event name
* Trace on/off event for ShortcutGuide module
* Trace the 'hide' event only if the guide was visible
'on_hide()' is invoked when the module is turned off, in that case don't trace the hide event.
* Remove spaces in data field names
Remove 'ShowGuide' event since it's not providing any useful data.
* Include build number in version number
