Windows App SDK Documentation

Welcome to the official documentation for the Windows App SDK. This unified set of APIs and tools is designed to help you build modern Windows applications that run on Windows 10, version 1903 (Build 18362) and later.

The Windows App SDK provides:

  • WinUI 3: The latest native UI platform for Windows applications.
  • Windows App Runtime (C++): A modern runtime that delivers Windows app platform capabilities to your apps.
  • Project Reunion APIs: Features such as automatic updates, background task management, and access to Windows features.

Key Concepts

Understanding the core concepts of the Windows App SDK will help you build robust and scalable applications.

WinUI 3

WinUI 3 is the evolution of the Windows UI framework. It's a native UI platform for Windows applications, enabling you to build visually appealing and performant user interfaces using XAML and C++ or C#.

Windows App Runtime

The Windows App Runtime provides essential platform features and services, such as:

  • Lifecycle Management: Simplified app lifecycle handling.
  • Dynamic Dependencies: A mechanism to manage dependencies for your app.
  • Updates: Built-in support for app updates.

Getting Started

Ready to start building? Follow our step-by-step guides to set up your development environment and create your first Windows App SDK application.

Start with the Getting Started Guide.

Explore the API Reference

Dive deep into the Windows App SDK's extensive API surface. You can find detailed information on classes, methods, properties, and events.

View the full API Reference.

Latest Updates

Stay up-to-date with the latest features, bug fixes, and improvements in the Windows App SDK. Check out the "What's New" section for release notes and details.

See what's new.

Example: Using a WinUI 3 Control

Here's a simple example demonstrating how to use a Button control in a WinUI 3 application:

<!-- In your XAML file -->
<Grid>
    <Button Content="Click Me" Click="MyButton_Click" />
</Grid>

// In your C# code-behind
private void MyButton_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
    // Handle button click event
    System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine("Button clicked!");
}