Introduction to Windows IoT

Welcome to the official documentation for Windows IoT. This section provides a comprehensive overview of the Windows IoT operating system, its capabilities, and how it empowers developers to build innovative connected devices.

Windows IoT is designed for a wide range of applications, from industrial automation and retail point-of-sale systems to smart home devices and digital signage. Leverage the familiar Windows development environment to create robust and scalable IoT solutions.

Key Features

  • Full Windows experience for device management and security.
  • Support for a broad range of hardware architectures.
  • Extensive ecosystem of tools and development languages.
  • Seamless integration with Microsoft Azure IoT services.

Hardware Requirements

Understand the hardware specifications and recommended configurations for developing and deploying Windows IoT solutions. This includes processor architecture, memory, storage, and peripheral support.

We support a variety of Single Board Computers (SBCs) and custom hardware. Refer to our Supported Hardware List for detailed compatibility information.

Installation Guide

Follow step-by-step instructions for installing Windows IoT on your target devices. This includes creating bootable media, performing initial setup, and configuring essential settings.

Example: Installing on Raspberry Pi


# Download the Windows 10 IoT Core image
# Use the Windows Device Portal for deployment
# Follow the on-screen prompts for initial setup

Device Management

Learn how to effectively manage your fleet of Windows IoT devices. This covers remote provisioning, configuration updates, monitoring, and diagnostics.

Connectivity Options

Explore the various connectivity options available for Windows IoT, including Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, cellular, and industrial protocols.

Security Best Practices

Implement robust security measures to protect your IoT devices and data. This section covers secure boot, device identity, data encryption, and access control.

UWP Apps for IoT

Discover how to build Universal Windows Platform (UWP) applications for Windows IoT. Utilize familiar C#, C++, JavaScript, and Visual Basic to create engaging user interfaces and background services.

Integrating with Azure IoT Hub

Seamlessly connect your Windows IoT devices to Azure IoT Hub for cloud-based management, data ingestion, and analytics. Learn about device twins, telemetry, and direct methods.

Quick Start Guide: Azure IoT Hub

Step 1: Create an IoT Hub instance in Azure portal.

Step 2: Register your Windows IoT device with the hub.

Step 3: Use the Azure IoT SDK for Windows to send telemetry.

Explore detailed tutorials and code samples in the Samples section.

Driver Development

For custom hardware integrations, learn about developing and deploying device drivers for Windows IoT. Understand the driver model and available tools.

Performance Tuning

Optimize the performance of your Windows IoT applications and devices. This includes tips for efficient resource utilization and reducing power consumption.

Advanced Networking

Configure and troubleshoot complex network scenarios, including VPNs, firewalls, and specialized communication protocols relevant to industrial environments.

API References

Access detailed documentation for the Windows IoT APIs, providing comprehensive information on classes, methods, and properties for building powerful applications.

SDK Downloads

Download the latest Windows IoT SDKs, development tools, and evaluation versions to get started with your projects.