[Regression][Windows]Fix Exception thrown on .NET 10 Windows when calling Permissions.CheckStatusAsync<Permissions.Microphone>()

.github/copilot-instructions.md

@@ -200,20 +200,6 @@ git commit -m "Fix: Description of the change"
 - `.github/instructions/android.instructions.md` - Android handler implementation
 - `.github/instructions/xaml-unittests.instructions.md` - XAML unit test guidelines
 
-### Opening PRs
-
-All PRs are required to have this at the top of the description:
-
-```
-<!-- Please let the below note in for people that find this PR -->
-> [!NOTE]
-> Are you waiting for the changes in this PR to be merged?
-> It would be very helpful if you could [test the resulting artifacts](https://github.com/dotnet/maui/wiki/Testing-PR-Builds) from this PR and let us know in a comment if this change resolves your issue. Thank you!
-```
-
-Always put that at the top, without the block quotes. Without it, users will NOT be able to try the PR and your work will have been in vain!
-
-
 
 ## Custom Agents and Skills
 

.github/skills/pr-finalize/SKILL.md

@@ -127,16 +127,10 @@ Examples:
 ## Description Requirements
 
 PR description should:
-1. Start with the required NOTE block (so users can test PR artifacts)
-2. Include the base sections from `.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md` ("Description of Change" and "Issues Fixed"). The skill adds additional structured fields (Root cause, Fix, Key insight, etc.) as recommended enhancements for better agent context.
-3. Match the actual implementation
+1. Include the base sections from `.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md` ("Description of Change" and "Issues Fixed"). The skill adds additional structured fields (Root cause, Fix, Key insight, etc.) as recommended enhancements for better agent context.
+2. Match the actual implementation
 
 ```markdown
-<!-- Please let the below note in for people that find this PR -->
-> [!NOTE]
-> Are you waiting for the changes in this PR to be merged?
-> It would be very helpful if you could [test the resulting artifacts](https://github.com/dotnet/maui/wiki/Testing-PR-Builds) from this PR and let us know in a comment if this change resolves your issue. Thank you!
-
 ### Description of Change
 [Must match actual implementation]
 
@@ -229,11 +223,6 @@ Example: "Before: Safe area applied by default (opt-out). After: Only views impl
 Use structured template only when existing description is inadequate:
 
 ```markdown
-<!-- Please let the below note in for people that find this PR -->
-> [!NOTE]
-> Are you waiting for the changes in this PR to be merged?
-> It would be very helpful if you could [test the resulting artifacts](https://github.com/dotnet/maui/wiki/Testing-PR-Builds) from this PR and let us know in a comment if this change resolves your issue. Thank you!
-
 ### Root Cause
 
 [Why the bug occurred - be specific about the code path]

.github/skills/pr-finalize/references/complete-example.md

@@ -9,10 +9,6 @@ This example shows a PR description optimized for future agent success.
 
 ## Description
 ```markdown
-> [!NOTE]
-> Are you waiting for the changes in this PR to be merged?
-> It would be very helpful if you could [test the resulting artifacts](https://github.com/dotnet/maui/wiki/Testing-PR-Builds) from this PR and let us know in a comment if this change resolves your issue. Thank you!
-
 ### Root Cause
 
 In `MauiView.GetAdjustedSafeAreaInsets()` on iOS, views that don't implement `ISafeAreaView` or `ISafeAreaView2` (such as `ContentPresenter`, `Border`) were falling through to return `baseSafeArea`. This applied full device safe area insets to views that never opted into safe area handling, causing double-padding when used inside ControlTemplates.

eng/pipelines/common/ui-tests-steps.yml

@@ -186,6 +186,8 @@ steps:
 - task: PublishBuildArtifacts@1
   condition: always()
   displayName: publish artifacts
+  inputs:
+    artifactName: drop-$(System.StageName)-$(System.JobName)-$(System.JobAttempt)
 
 # Enable Notification Center re-enabled only for catalyst
 - ${{ if eq(parameters.platform, 'catalyst')}}:

eng/pipelines/common/ui-tests.yml

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ parameters:
     - 'Cells,CheckBox,ContextActions,CustomRenderers,DatePicker,Dispatcher,DisplayAlert,DisplayPrompt,DragAndDrop'
     - 'CollectionView'
     - 'Entry'
-    - 'Editor,Effects,FlyoutPage,Focus,Fonts,Frame,Gestures,GraphicsView'
+    - 'Editor,Effects,Essentials,FlyoutPage,Focus,Fonts,Frame,Gestures,GraphicsView'
     - 'Image,ImageButton,IndicatorView,InputTransparent,IsEnabled,IsVisible'
     - 'Label'
     - 'Layout'

src/Controls/tests/TestCases.HostApp/Issues/Issue32989.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+using System;
+using Microsoft.Maui.Controls;
+using Microsoft.Maui.Essentials;
+
+namespace Maui.Controls.Sample.Issues;
+
+[Issue(IssueTracker.Github, 32989, "Exception thrown on .NET 10 Windows when calling Permissions.CheckStatusAsync<Permissions.Microphone>()", PlatformAffected.UWP)]
+public class Issue32989 : ContentPage
+{
+    Label statusLabel;
+
+    public Issue32989()
+    {
+        var titleLabel = new Label
+        {
+            Text = "Test microphone permission in unpackaged apps",
+            FontSize = 18,
+            HorizontalOptions = LayoutOptions.Center
+        };
+
+        var checkPermissionButton = new Button
+        {
+            Text = "Check Microphone Permission",
+            AutomationId = "CheckPermissionButton"
+        };
+        checkPermissionButton.Clicked += OnCheckPermissionClicked;
+
+        statusLabel = new Label
+        {
+            Text = "Status: Not checked",
+            FontSize = 16,
+            HorizontalOptions = LayoutOptions.Center,
+            AutomationId = "StatusLabel"
+        };
+
+        Content = new StackLayout
+        {
+            Padding = 20,
+            Spacing = 20,
+            Children = { titleLabel, checkPermissionButton, statusLabel }
+        };
+    }
+
+    async void OnCheckPermissionClicked(object sender, EventArgs e)
+    {
+        statusLabel.Text = "Checking...";
+        var status = await Permissions.CheckStatusAsync<Permissions.Microphone>();
+        statusLabel.Text = "Test Passed";
+    }
+}

src/Controls/tests/TestCases.Shared.Tests/Tests/Issues/Issue32989.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#if WINDOWS         //This is a Windows-specific issue
+using NUnit.Framework;
+using UITest.Appium;
+using UITest.Core;
+
+namespace Microsoft.Maui.TestCases.Tests.Issues;
+public class Issue32989 : _IssuesUITest
+{
+    public override string Issue => "Exception thrown on .NET 10 Windows when calling Permissions.CheckStatusAsync<Permissions.Microphone>()";
+
+    public Issue32989(TestDevice device) : base(device) { }
+
+    [Test]
+    [Category(UITestCategories.Essentials)]
+    public void MicrophonePermissionCheckDoesNotCrash()
+    {
+        App.WaitForElement("CheckPermissionButton");
+        App.Tap("CheckPermissionButton");
+        // Verify that the status was updated (permission check completed)
+        var statusText = App.FindElement("StatusLabel").GetText();
+        Assert.That(statusText, Is.EqualTo("Test Passed"));
+    }
+}
+#endif

src/Controls/tests/TestCases.Shared.Tests/UITestCategories.cs

@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ internal static class UITestCategories
 		public const string GraphicsView = "GraphicsView";
 		public const string Fonts = "Fonts";
 		public const string SafeAreaEdges = "SafeAreaEdges";
+		public const string Essentials = "Essentials";
 		public const string Material3 = "Material3";
 	}
 }

src/Essentials/src/Permissions/Permissions.windows.cs

@@ -180,7 +180,12 @@ public partial class Microphone : BasePlatformPermission
 			/// <inheritdoc/>
 			public override Task<PermissionStatus> CheckStatusAsync()
 			{
-				EnsureDeclared();
+				// For packaged apps, ensure manifest declaration is present
+				if (AppInfoUtils.IsPackagedApp)
+				{
+					EnsureDeclared();
+				}
+
 				return Task.FromResult(CheckStatus() switch
 				{
 					DeviceAccessStatus.Allowed => PermissionStatus.Granted,
@@ -193,13 +198,22 @@ public override Task<PermissionStatus> CheckStatusAsync()
 			/// <inheritdoc/>
 			public override async Task<PermissionStatus> RequestAsync()
 			{
-				EnsureDeclared();
-
-				// If already explicitly allowed, return that
+				// Check status first - if already allowed, return early
 				var status = CheckStatus();
 				if (status == DeviceAccessStatus.Allowed)
 					return PermissionStatus.Granted;
 
+				// For packaged apps, ensure manifest declaration is present
+				if (AppInfoUtils.IsPackagedApp)
+				{
+					EnsureDeclared();
+				}
+
+				return await TryRequestPermissionAsync();
+			}
+
+			async Task<PermissionStatus> TryRequestPermissionAsync()
+			{
 				try
 				{
 					var settings = new MediaCaptureInitializationSettings