MSDN Documentation

This guide helps developers diagnose and resolve common issues encountered while working with the Windows SDK. Topics include installation problems, missing headers, linking errors, and runtime diagnostics.

• Installation fails: Verify that you have administrative privileges and enough disk space.
• Missing header files: Ensure the Include path points to the SDK directory.
• Unresolved external symbols: Check that the Lib path includes the correct version (x86 vs x64).

cl /I"C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.19041.0\um" myapp.c

Use the built‑in diagnostics tools to capture detailed logs:

1. Enable sdkdebug environment variable: set SDK_DEBUG=1
2. Run your build with /verbose to see full command lines.
3. Inspect MSBuild logs for missing SDK references.

set SDK_DEBUG=1
msbuild MyProject.sln /t:Build /v:detailed

• Windows 10 SDK Installer
• Visual Studio Debugger
• SDK Command‑Line Tools

Q: How do I uninstall a previous SDK version?

A: Use Programs & Features in the Control Panel, selecting the SDK entry and choosing Uninstall.

Q: My project still can't find winrt headers.

A: Ensure you have installed the Windows App SDK component and that $(WindowsSdkDir)include\winrt is in your include path.