UWP Development - Microsoft Docs

Introduction to UWP

The Universal Windows Platform (UWP) is a software platform created by Microsoft and available for all Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices. UWP allows developers to create applications that can run on a variety of devices, from desktops and laptops to tablets, Xbox, and HoloLens. These applications are typically distributed through the Microsoft Store.

Key benefits of UWP development include:

Unified Development Experience: Write code once and deploy across a wide range of Windows devices.
Modern UI: Leverage Fluent Design System for beautiful, responsive, and adaptive user interfaces.
Rich APIs: Access powerful APIs for graphics, networking, sensors, device capabilities, and more.
Security: UWP apps run in a sandbox, providing a secure environment.
App Store Distribution: Easy distribution and monetization through the Microsoft Store.

Getting Started with UWP Development

To begin developing UWP applications, you'll need:

Visual Studio: The recommended IDE for UWP development. Install the latest version with the "Universal Windows Platform development" workload.
Windows SDK: Included with Visual Studio, it provides the necessary tools and libraries.
A Windows 10 or Windows 11 device: For testing and running your applications.

Explore our getting started guide to set up your environment and build your first app.

Core Concepts

Understand fundamental UWP concepts:

Designing Your UWP App

UWP emphasizes a consistent and intuitive user experience. Follow the design guidelines to create apps that feel at home on Windows.

Developing with UWP

Choose your preferred language and framework:

C# with XAML: The most common and recommended approach.
C++ with XAML: For performance-critical applications.
JavaScript with HTML: For web developers transitioning to UWP.

Dive into the development documentation to learn about:

Example Snippet (C# XAML)

<Page
    x:Class="MyUwpApp.MainPage"
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
    xmlns:local="using:MyUwpApp"
    xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
    xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
    mc:Ignorable="d"
    Background="{ThemeResource ApplicationPageBackgroundThemeBrush}">

    <Grid>
        <TextBlock Text="Hello, UWP World!" HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center" Style="{ThemeResource SubheaderTextBlockStyle}"/>
    </Grid>
</Page>

Resources and Samples

Explore a wealth of resources to accelerate your development: