The accidental release of the app was part of the company’s “bug bash” event which was held earlier this week. During this event, engineers ask Windows 11 testers to offer feedback about fixing any remaining bugs before the company rolls out a major update.
Microsoft is expected to roll out its next major Windows 11 update in September. This update will include native support for RAR and 7-Zip files.
According to a report by The Verge, Twitter user XenoPanther was the first to discover the StagingTool. The app was then removed by Microsoft hours later. The report claims that the internal tool is now being widely shared by the Windows community.
How the StagingTool app works
The company usually tests hidden or experimental Windows 11 features in the public builds of the operating system. However, some Windows enthusiasts also rely on third-party tools to access secret features that Microsoft hasn’t rolled out for testers. The StagingTool app is also very similar to the third-party ViveTool app. Windows enthusiasts have been using this third-party app for years to access hidden Windows 11 features.
StagingTool is a command line app that allows users to toggle feature IDs that enable certain unreleased parts of Windows 11. This app is particularly useful in situations where Microsoft uses A/B testing for features. In such tests, only a small subset of Windows Insiders get access to a feature before Microsoft rolls it out more widely to testers.
Whenever Microsoft releases a new build, Windows enthusiasts keep a lookout for testing the new features. There are hidden flags in the operating system which enable the latest features. This allows the Windows community to see what OS additions Microsoft is experimenting with even before the company has even announced them.
The StagingTool leak makes the process of enabling secret features even easier and more “official”. The app makes it possible as it is an internal tool that engineers use to test unreleased features.