Winhance v25.05.22 adds digital code signing to both the application and installer, clearer toggle states (green check for enabled, red X for disabled), an HPET toggle for gaming performance, new File Explorer and UAC controls, and fixes to the installation process. You can update by downloading the latest installer from winhance.net or the GitHub release page.
Applies to: Winhance v25.05.22 on Windows 10 x64 (22H2) and Windows 11 (23H2, 24H2, 25H2) | Last updated: April 17, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Winhance.exe and Winhance.Installer.exe are now digitally signed — Windows SmartScreen and antivirus software show “Verified Publisher” instead of “Unknown Publisher,” which reduces false positives during install.
- Toggle states now show green check for enabled and red X for disabled — the most requested UI change, applied consistently across every toggle in the Optimize and Customize views.
- New optimization toggles include HPET (High Precision Event Timer), desktop wallpaper compression, Location and Security notifications, and a 4-option UAC combobox matching the Windows UAC control panel exactly.
- Installation bugs fixed — Start Menu shortcuts now appear after install, custom install directories are honored, OneNote uninstall works on Windows 11, and Xbox integration no longer triggers popups.
Quick Steps to Update to Winhance v25.05.22
- Close any running instance of Winhance.
- Download the latest installer from winhance.net or the GitHub releases page.
- Run Winhance.Installer.exe — Windows will now show “Verified Publisher: Open Source Developer, Marco du Plessis.”
- Launch Winhance from the Start Menu shortcut and review the new toggle states.
- (Optional) Import an older Winhance config — note that toggles added in this release are skipped on import and need to be set manually.
Digital Code Signing for Winhance and the Installer
Both Winhance.exe and Winhance.Installer.exe are now digitally signed with a code signing certificate. When you run the application or the installer, Windows SmartScreen shows “Verified Publisher” followed by “Open Source Developer” and my name, instead of “Unknown Publisher.”
This matters because unsigned executables get flagged more aggressively by Windows Defender and third-party antivirus products. Signing reduces false positives, speeds up install on systems where SmartScreen would otherwise block the run, and gives a verifiable identity trail for anyone checking the file’s publisher. This is something I had wanted to implement since the project launched, and this release is when it finally landed.
User Interface Improvements
Clearer Toggle States (Green Check / Red X)
The most requested change from the community was a clearer indication of toggle state. Every toggle in Winhance now shows:
- Enabled: green fill with a white checkmark on the knob
- Disabled: red fill with a white X on the knob
This applies uniformly across the Optimize and Customize views, so you can scan an entire section at a glance and see exactly which tweaks are on. The redundant “Selection Indicators” in the OptimizeView subview headers have been removed for a cleaner layout.
New “More” Navigation Menu
A new “More” button at the bottom of the main window opens a context menu that consolidates the utilities that used to live in various corners of the UI:
- Current version number with a built-in update checker
- About Winhance
- Open Winhance logs folder
- Open Winhance scripts folder (for app removal scripts)
- Close Winhance
Mouse wheel scrolling speed has also been increased across all views, which makes long toggle lists easier to navigate.
New Optimization Toggles
HPET (High Precision Event Timer)
A toggle to disable HPET has been added to the Gaming & Performance section. Some users report higher and more consistent FPS in games with HPET disabled, though the effect varies by CPU, motherboard, and game. Test it on your specific system — if frame pacing gets worse, toggle it back on.
Desktop Wallpaper Compression
Windows compresses desktop wallpapers by default, which reduces quality on high-resolution screens. A new toggle in the Explorer section disables this behavior so the wallpaper displays at its original quality.
Notification and UAC Controls
New toggles for Location Notifications and Windows Security Notifications give you finer control over system notification noise. The UAC slider has been replaced with a combobox that exposes all four Windows UAC levels:
- Always Notify
- Notify Me When Apps Try to Make Changes to the Computer (default)
- Notify Me When Apps Try to Make Changes (Don’t Dim Desktop)
- Never Notify
These match the Windows UAC control panel exactly, so behavior is predictable.
New Customization Toggles
Taskbar and File Explorer
“Always show all system tray icons” removes the hidden icon menu on Windows 10 (Windows 11’s system tray works differently, so this toggle is Windows 10 only). File Explorer gets three new toggles that mirror the Folder Options dialog:
- Show hidden files, folders, and drives
- Hide or show protected operating system files
- Toggle lock screen visibility
External Software Additions
The External Software section picks up 19 new applications based on community requests:
- KeepassXC, BCUninstaller, Bulk Rename Utility, Unlocker, Text-Grab, Input Leap
- PotPlayer, Volume2, Crystal Disk Info, Wise Registry Cleaner, AutoHotKey, TailScale, StreamLabs OBS, Ventoy, Explorer Patcher
- Customization: Windhawk, Lively Wallpaper, Rainmeter, and Sucrose Wallpaper Engine
A few requested apps could not be added because they aren’t available through WinGet or the Microsoft Store — those will come back as soon as a usable install source appears.
Installation and Install-Process Fixes
- Start Menu shortcuts now appear after install — previously missing on some systems
- The installer now honors custom install directories instead of forcing the default path
- OneNote uninstall on Windows 11 works correctly
- Xbox integration no longer triggers unwanted popups during app removal
- Apps are no longer falsely reported as installed immediately after WinGet finishes
- A Cancel button was added for in-progress app installations
- Internet connection verification now runs before and during app installs, so the process fails early instead of mid-download
- Compatibility verified with Windows 10 IoT LTSC 21H2 and Windows 11 IoT LTSC 24H2
Under the hood, the WinGet install process now pulls the latest version and dependencies directly from the winget-cli GitHub repo, progress reporting for both WinGet and per-app installs is more accurate, and the app install/removal dialog now uses a dedicated 4-column layout for readability.
Known Limitations in v25.05.22
- New toggles and items don’t yet have a visual “new” badge — planned for a future release.
- New toggles are skipped when importing older Winhance config files. Robust handling is in progress.
- Winhance still can’t complete a clean install inside Windows Sandbox. This is a known Windows Sandbox limitation affecting .NET applications, not a Winhance-specific bug.
Where to Download and What’s Next
You can download Winhance v25.05.22 from the official site at winhance.net, or grab the installer directly from the GitHub releases page. If you’re new to Winhance, start with the full Winhance guide which walks through Optimize, Customize, and Software views.
If you want to take Windows optimization even further, UnattendedWinstall applies similar debloat and optimization tweaks during the Windows installation itself, so you start clean instead of cleaning up after the fact.
Feature requests and bug reports go on the GitHub issues page. If Winhance saves you time, you can support development on Ko-Fi or through the donate button inside the app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Winhance v25.05.22 work on both Windows 10 and Windows 11?
Yes. Winhance supports Windows 10 x64 22H2 and every mainstream Windows 11 release (23H2, 24H2, 25H2). It has also been verified to run on Windows 10 IoT LTSC 21H2 and Windows 11 IoT LTSC 24H2.
Will my existing Winhance config file import into v25.05.22?
Yes, existing configs still load. However, any toggle or option added in this release is skipped during import and needs to be set manually in the UI — robust migration handling is on the roadmap.
Why does Winhance fail to install inside Windows Sandbox?
Windows Sandbox has a known limitation that affects .NET-based applications, which is what Winhance is built on. There is no workaround on the Winhance side — the fix has to come from Microsoft’s Sandbox team.
Does the HPET toggle actually improve FPS?
It depends on your CPU, chipset, and specific game. Some users see higher and more consistent frame pacing with HPET disabled, others see no difference or worse pacing. Test with a benchmark you trust — if the result is worse, toggle it back on. No optimization setting is universally better.
How do I report a bug or request a new feature?
Open an issue on the Winhance GitHub issues page. I actively monitor submissions and incorporate community feedback into the next release.
i appreciate your hard work making this great software, but lots of people want this as a portable version
Hey there and thanks! But it is available as a portable version already, you download and run the installer and select the portable option. It’s done this way because it also provides the option to install the .NET 9 prerequisite.