diff --git a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/README.md b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/README.md
index 0a1c4bba5a..ccc60caa33 100644
--- a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/README.md
+++ b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/README.md
@@ -66,9 +66,19 @@ Reactor apps are packaged (single-project MSIX) and reference the
 preview NuGet package. They require .NET 10 or later. Like the WinUI templates,
 they reference `Microsoft.Windows.SDK.BuildTools.WinApp` so `dotnet run` launches
 the app with full MSIX package identity. Pin a specific Reactor package version
-at scaffold time with `--reactor-version`, or the Windows App SDK version with
-`--wasdk-version`. `reactor-singlefile` is the one exception to the project
-layout: see [Quickstart a single-file Reactor app](#quickstart-a-single-file-reactor-app).
+at scaffold time with `--reactor-version`. `reactor-singlefile` is the one
+exception to the project layout: see
+[Quickstart a single-file Reactor app](#quickstart-a-single-file-reactor-app).
+
+The Reactor templates don't reference the `Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK` metapackage.
+`Microsoft.UI.Reactor` brings in only the Windows App SDK packages it needs
+(`Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK.WinUI` and `Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK.Runtime`)
+transitively. This keeps the AI and ML components (for example
+`onnxruntime.dll` and `DirectML.dll`) out of the app, including trimmed and
+Native AOT publishes. To use another Windows App SDK component, add its package
+yourself, or reference the full `Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK` metapackage. The
+version you pick must match the `Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK.Runtime` version that
+Reactor brings in.
 
 ### Item Templates
 
diff --git a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/Test-DotnetNewTemplates.ps1 b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/Test-DotnetNewTemplates.ps1
index d27437622f..1e449bbf6c 100644
--- a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/Test-DotnetNewTemplates.ps1
+++ b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/Test-DotnetNewTemplates.ps1
@@ -360,7 +360,10 @@ function Test-WinUiProjectTemplate {
 
     $projectName = '{0}_{1}_{2}' -f $TemplateShortName, $Platform, ([Guid]::NewGuid().ToString('N').Substring(0, 8))
     $projectPath = Join-Path -Path $WorkingRoot -ChildPath $projectName
-    New-ProjectFromTemplate -TemplateShortName $TemplateShortName -ProjectName $projectName -OutputPath $projectPath -WorkingDirectory $WorkingRoot -WindowsAppSdkVersion $script:windowsAppSdkVersion
+    # Reactor templates have no --wasdk-version option: Windows App SDK comes
+    # transitively from Microsoft.UI.Reactor (WinUI + Runtime), not the metapackage.
+    $wasdkVersion = if ($TemplateShortName -like 'reactor*') { $null } else { $script:windowsAppSdkVersion }
+    New-ProjectFromTemplate -TemplateShortName $TemplateShortName -ProjectName $projectName -OutputPath $projectPath -WorkingDirectory $WorkingRoot -WindowsAppSdkVersion $wasdkVersion
     Add-Result -Template $TemplateShortName -Platform $Platform -Step 'create' -Status 'Succeeded' -Path $projectPath
 
     # A file-based app template scaffolds a single <name>.cs whose #: directives replace the .csproj.
diff --git a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-blank-app/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-blank-app/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json
index 14bee23ae2..50bbe39922 100644
--- a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-blank-app/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json
+++ b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-blank-app/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json
@@ -11,11 +11,6 @@
       "shortName": "rv",
       "description": "Pin to a specific Microsoft.UI.Reactor NuGet version."
     },
-    "windowsAppSdkVersion": {
-      "longName": "wasdk-version",
-      "shortName": "wasdkv",
-      "description": "Pin to a specific Windows App SDK NuGet version."
-    },
     "skipRestore": {
       "longName": "no-restore",
       "shortName": ""
diff --git a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-blank-app/.template.config/ide.host.json b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-blank-app/.template.config/ide.host.json
index b82567c7a7..f06910379a 100644
--- a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-blank-app/.template.config/ide.host.json
+++ b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-blank-app/.template.config/ide.host.json
@@ -21,13 +21,6 @@
         "text": "Microsoft.UI.Reactor version"
       },
       "isVisible": "true"
-    },
-    {
-      "id": "windowsAppSdkVersion",
-      "name": {
-        "text": "Windows App SDK version"
-      },
-      "isVisible": "true"
     }
   ]
 }
diff --git a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-blank-app/.template.config/template.json b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-blank-app/.template.config/template.json
index a3962f67e0..f1d433d1dc 100644
--- a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-blank-app/.template.config/template.json
+++ b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-blank-app/.template.config/template.json
@@ -50,17 +50,10 @@
     "reactorVersion": {
       "type": "parameter",
       "datatype": "text",
-      "defaultValue": "0.1.0-preview.16",
+      "defaultValue": "0.1.0-preview.17",
       "replaces": "$ReactorVersion$",
       "description": "Microsoft.UI.Reactor (and Microsoft.UI.Reactor.Devtools) NuGet version to reference."
     },
-    "windowsAppSdkVersion": {
-      "type": "parameter",
-      "datatype": "text",
-      "defaultValue": "*",
-      "replaces": "$WindowsAppSdkVersion$",
-      "description": "Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK NuGet version. Requires 2.2.0 or later; use * for the latest stable."
-    },
     "windowsSdkBuildToolsVersion": {
       "type": "parameter",
       "datatype": "text",
diff --git a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-mvu-app/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-mvu-app/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json
index 14bee23ae2..50bbe39922 100644
--- a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-mvu-app/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json
+++ b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-mvu-app/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json
@@ -11,11 +11,6 @@
       "shortName": "rv",
       "description": "Pin to a specific Microsoft.UI.Reactor NuGet version."
     },
-    "windowsAppSdkVersion": {
-      "longName": "wasdk-version",
-      "shortName": "wasdkv",
-      "description": "Pin to a specific Windows App SDK NuGet version."
-    },
     "skipRestore": {
       "longName": "no-restore",
       "shortName": ""
diff --git a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-mvu-app/.template.config/ide.host.json b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-mvu-app/.template.config/ide.host.json
index b82567c7a7..f06910379a 100644
--- a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-mvu-app/.template.config/ide.host.json
+++ b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-mvu-app/.template.config/ide.host.json
@@ -21,13 +21,6 @@
         "text": "Microsoft.UI.Reactor version"
       },
       "isVisible": "true"
-    },
-    {
-      "id": "windowsAppSdkVersion",
-      "name": {
-        "text": "Windows App SDK version"
-      },
-      "isVisible": "true"
     }
   ]
 }
diff --git a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-mvu-app/.template.config/template.json b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-mvu-app/.template.config/template.json
index a5523cb911..c52bc7b179 100644
--- a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-mvu-app/.template.config/template.json
+++ b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-mvu-app/.template.config/template.json
@@ -50,17 +50,10 @@
     "reactorVersion": {
       "type": "parameter",
       "datatype": "text",
-      "defaultValue": "0.1.0-preview.16",
+      "defaultValue": "0.1.0-preview.17",
       "replaces": "$ReactorVersion$",
       "description": "Microsoft.UI.Reactor (and Microsoft.UI.Reactor.Devtools) NuGet version to reference."
     },
-    "windowsAppSdkVersion": {
-      "type": "parameter",
-      "datatype": "text",
-      "defaultValue": "*",
-      "replaces": "$WindowsAppSdkVersion$",
-      "description": "Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK NuGet version. Requires 2.2.0 or later; use * for the latest stable."
-    },
     "windowsSdkBuildToolsVersion": {
       "type": "parameter",
       "datatype": "text",
diff --git a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-navigation-app/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-navigation-app/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json
index 14bee23ae2..50bbe39922 100644
--- a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-navigation-app/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json
+++ b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-navigation-app/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json
@@ -11,11 +11,6 @@
       "shortName": "rv",
       "description": "Pin to a specific Microsoft.UI.Reactor NuGet version."
     },
-    "windowsAppSdkVersion": {
-      "longName": "wasdk-version",
-      "shortName": "wasdkv",
-      "description": "Pin to a specific Windows App SDK NuGet version."
-    },
     "skipRestore": {
       "longName": "no-restore",
       "shortName": ""
diff --git a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-navigation-app/.template.config/ide.host.json b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-navigation-app/.template.config/ide.host.json
index b82567c7a7..f06910379a 100644
--- a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-navigation-app/.template.config/ide.host.json
+++ b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-navigation-app/.template.config/ide.host.json
@@ -21,13 +21,6 @@
         "text": "Microsoft.UI.Reactor version"
       },
       "isVisible": "true"
-    },
-    {
-      "id": "windowsAppSdkVersion",
-      "name": {
-        "text": "Windows App SDK version"
-      },
-      "isVisible": "true"
     }
   ]
 }
diff --git a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-navigation-app/.template.config/template.json b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-navigation-app/.template.config/template.json
index ac9a031c14..7c1ca78dc3 100644
--- a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-navigation-app/.template.config/template.json
+++ b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-navigation-app/.template.config/template.json
@@ -50,17 +50,10 @@
     "reactorVersion": {
       "type": "parameter",
       "datatype": "text",
-      "defaultValue": "0.1.0-preview.16",
+      "defaultValue": "0.1.0-preview.17",
       "replaces": "$ReactorVersion$",
       "description": "Microsoft.UI.Reactor (and Microsoft.UI.Reactor.Devtools) NuGet version to reference."
     },
-    "windowsAppSdkVersion": {
-      "type": "parameter",
-      "datatype": "text",
-      "defaultValue": "*",
-      "replaces": "$WindowsAppSdkVersion$",
-      "description": "Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK NuGet version. Requires 2.2.0 or later; use * for the latest stable."
-    },
     "windowsSdkBuildToolsVersion": {
       "type": "parameter",
       "datatype": "text",
diff --git a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-singlefile-app/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-singlefile-app/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json
index d143d64a6e..854e3bb31c 100644
--- a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-singlefile-app/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json
+++ b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-singlefile-app/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json
@@ -11,11 +11,6 @@
       "shortName": "rv",
       "description": "Pin to a specific Microsoft.UI.Reactor NuGet version."
     },
-    "windowsAppSdkVersion": {
-      "longName": "wasdk-version",
-      "shortName": "wasdkv",
-      "description": "Pin to a specific Windows App SDK NuGet version."
-    },
     "skipRestore": {
       "longName": "no-restore",
       "shortName": ""
diff --git a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-singlefile-app/.template.config/template.json b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-singlefile-app/.template.config/template.json
index 7ca0a1a6ee..9f2e9aab5d 100644
--- a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-singlefile-app/.template.config/template.json
+++ b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-singlefile-app/.template.config/template.json
@@ -44,17 +44,10 @@
     "reactorVersion": {
       "type": "parameter",
       "datatype": "text",
-      "defaultValue": "0.1.0-preview.16",
+      "defaultValue": "0.1.0-preview.17",
       "replaces": "$ReactorVersion$",
       "description": "Microsoft.UI.Reactor NuGet version to reference."
     },
-    "windowsAppSdkVersion": {
-      "type": "parameter",
-      "datatype": "text",
-      "defaultValue": "*",
-      "replaces": "$WindowsAppSdkVersion$",
-      "description": "Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK NuGet version. Requires 2.2.0 or later; use * for the latest stable."
-    },
     "windowsSdkBuildToolsWinAppVersion": {
       "type": "parameter",
       "datatype": "text",
diff --git a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-tabview-app/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-tabview-app/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json
index 14bee23ae2..50bbe39922 100644
--- a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-tabview-app/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json
+++ b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-tabview-app/.template.config/dotnetcli.host.json
@@ -11,11 +11,6 @@
       "shortName": "rv",
       "description": "Pin to a specific Microsoft.UI.Reactor NuGet version."
     },
-    "windowsAppSdkVersion": {
-      "longName": "wasdk-version",
-      "shortName": "wasdkv",
-      "description": "Pin to a specific Windows App SDK NuGet version."
-    },
     "skipRestore": {
       "longName": "no-restore",
       "shortName": ""
diff --git a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-tabview-app/.template.config/ide.host.json b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-tabview-app/.template.config/ide.host.json
index b82567c7a7..f06910379a 100644
--- a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-tabview-app/.template.config/ide.host.json
+++ b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-tabview-app/.template.config/ide.host.json
@@ -21,13 +21,6 @@
         "text": "Microsoft.UI.Reactor version"
       },
       "isVisible": "true"
-    },
-    {
-      "id": "windowsAppSdkVersion",
-      "name": {
-        "text": "Windows App SDK version"
-      },
-      "isVisible": "true"
     }
   ]
 }
diff --git a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-tabview-app/.template.config/template.json b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-tabview-app/.template.config/template.json
index 423f744f53..9fc0ee5f64 100644
--- a/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-tabview-app/.template.config/template.json
+++ b/dev/Templates/Dotnet/templates/reactor-tabview-app/.template.config/template.json
@@ -50,17 +50,10 @@
     "reactorVersion": {
       "type": "parameter",
       "datatype": "text",
-      "defaultValue": "0.1.0-preview.16",
+      "defaultValue": "0.1.0-preview.17",
       "replaces": "$ReactorVersion$",
       "description": "Microsoft.UI.Reactor (and Microsoft.UI.Reactor.Devtools) NuGet version to reference."
     },
-    "windowsAppSdkVersion": {
-      "type": "parameter",
-      "datatype": "text",
-      "defaultValue": "*",
-      "replaces": "$WindowsAppSdkVersion$",
-      "description": "Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK NuGet version. Requires 2.2.0 or later; use * for the latest stable."
-    },
     "windowsSdkBuildToolsVersion": {
       "type": "parameter",
       "datatype": "text",
diff --git a/dev/Templates/Source/ProjectTemplates/Desktop/CSharp/ReactorBlankApp/ProjectTemplate.csproj b/dev/Templates/Source/ProjectTemplates/Desktop/CSharp/ReactorBlankApp/ProjectTemplate.csproj
index 39f6a4a0c9..c18cebe3b7 100644
--- a/dev/Templates/Source/ProjectTemplates/Desktop/CSharp/ReactorBlankApp/ProjectTemplate.csproj
+++ b/dev/Templates/Source/ProjectTemplates/Desktop/CSharp/ReactorBlankApp/ProjectTemplate.csproj
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@
 
   <ItemGroup>
     <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Windows.SDK.BuildTools" Version="$WindowsSdkBuildToolsVersion$" />
-    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK" Version="$WindowsAppSdkVersion$" />
     <!--
       Microsoft.Windows.SDK.BuildTools.WinApp adds first-class support for
       `dotnet run` on packaged apps: it hooks the .NET CLI Run target to
diff --git a/dev/Templates/Source/ProjectTemplates/Desktop/CSharp/ReactorMvuApp/ProjectTemplate.csproj b/dev/Templates/Source/ProjectTemplates/Desktop/CSharp/ReactorMvuApp/ProjectTemplate.csproj
index 39f6a4a0c9..c18cebe3b7 100644
--- a/dev/Templates/Source/ProjectTemplates/Desktop/CSharp/ReactorMvuApp/ProjectTemplate.csproj
+++ b/dev/Templates/Source/ProjectTemplates/Desktop/CSharp/ReactorMvuApp/ProjectTemplate.csproj
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@
 
   <ItemGroup>
     <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Windows.SDK.BuildTools" Version="$WindowsSdkBuildToolsVersion$" />
-    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK" Version="$WindowsAppSdkVersion$" />
     <!--
       Microsoft.Windows.SDK.BuildTools.WinApp adds first-class support for
       `dotnet run` on packaged apps: it hooks the .NET CLI Run target to
diff --git a/dev/Templates/Source/ProjectTemplates/Desktop/CSharp/ReactorNavigationApp/ProjectTemplate.csproj b/dev/Templates/Source/ProjectTemplates/Desktop/CSharp/ReactorNavigationApp/ProjectTemplate.csproj
index 39f6a4a0c9..c18cebe3b7 100644
--- a/dev/Templates/Source/ProjectTemplates/Desktop/CSharp/ReactorNavigationApp/ProjectTemplate.csproj
+++ b/dev/Templates/Source/ProjectTemplates/Desktop/CSharp/ReactorNavigationApp/ProjectTemplate.csproj
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@
 
   <ItemGroup>
     <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Windows.SDK.BuildTools" Version="$WindowsSdkBuildToolsVersion$" />
-    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK" Version="$WindowsAppSdkVersion$" />
     <!--
       Microsoft.Windows.SDK.BuildTools.WinApp adds first-class support for
       `dotnet run` on packaged apps: it hooks the .NET CLI Run target to
diff --git a/dev/Templates/Source/ProjectTemplates/Desktop/CSharp/ReactorSingleFileApp/ProjectTemplate.cs b/dev/Templates/Source/ProjectTemplates/Desktop/CSharp/ReactorSingleFileApp/ProjectTemplate.cs
index e3d6c48cb1..955f1b32ec 100644
--- a/dev/Templates/Source/ProjectTemplates/Desktop/CSharp/ReactorSingleFileApp/ProjectTemplate.cs
+++ b/dev/Templates/Source/ProjectTemplates/Desktop/CSharp/ReactorSingleFileApp/ProjectTemplate.cs
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 #:package Microsoft.UI.Reactor@$ReactorVersion$
-#:package Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK@$WindowsAppSdkVersion$
 #:package Microsoft.Windows.SDK.BuildTools.WinApp@$WindowsSdkBuildToolsWinAppVersion$
 #:property OutputType=WinExe
 #:property TargetFramework=$DotNetVersion$-windows10.0.26100.0
diff --git a/dev/Templates/Source/ProjectTemplates/Desktop/CSharp/ReactorTabViewApp/ProjectTemplate.csproj b/dev/Templates/Source/ProjectTemplates/Desktop/CSharp/ReactorTabViewApp/ProjectTemplate.csproj
index 39f6a4a0c9..c18cebe3b7 100644
--- a/dev/Templates/Source/ProjectTemplates/Desktop/CSharp/ReactorTabViewApp/ProjectTemplate.csproj
+++ b/dev/Templates/Source/ProjectTemplates/Desktop/CSharp/ReactorTabViewApp/ProjectTemplate.csproj
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@
 
   <ItemGroup>
     <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Windows.SDK.BuildTools" Version="$WindowsSdkBuildToolsVersion$" />
-    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK" Version="$WindowsAppSdkVersion$" />
     <!--
       Microsoft.Windows.SDK.BuildTools.WinApp adds first-class support for
       `dotnet run` on packaged apps: it hooks the .NET CLI Run target to