Windows SDK Documentation

Welcome to the Windows SDK

The Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) provides the headers, libraries, and tools necessary to develop applications for Windows operating system. This documentation will guide you through understanding, installing, and utilizing the SDK's vast capabilities.

Whether you're developing for desktop, mobile, or the cloud, the Windows SDK is your gateway to creating powerful and engaging experiences on the Windows platform.

Getting Started

Begin your journey with the Windows SDK by familiarizing yourself with the core concepts and setting up your development environment. We recommend starting with:

Understanding the Key Features of the latest SDK release.
Following the Installation Guide to set up the SDK.
Exploring beginner-friendly Guides & Tutorials.

Key Features

The Windows SDK empowers developers with a rich set of tools and APIs, including:

Modern UI Frameworks: Support for XAML-based UI development with WinUI and UWP.
Native Development: Access to the Win32 API and C++ libraries for high-performance applications.
Cross-Platform APIs: Integration with .NET Framework and ‎.NET Core for diverse application types.
Graphics and Gaming: Comprehensive support for DirectX, Direct2D, and Direct3D.
Runtime Components: Tools for building and consuming Windows Runtime (WinRT) components.
Developer Tools: Powerful compilers, debuggers, and profiling tools integrated with Visual Studio.

Installation

This section covers everything you need to know about installing and managing the Windows SDK.

System Requirements

Ensure your system meets the following minimum requirements before installation:

Windows 10 version 1809 or later.
Visual Studio 2019 or later (recommended).
Sufficient disk space for installation and components.

Download Options

You can download the Windows SDK through various channels:

Visual Studio Installer: The easiest way to install the SDK is by selecting it as a workload during Visual Studio installation or modification.
Direct Download: Download standalone SDK installers from the Microsoft Download Center.

Installation Guide

Detailed step-by-step instructions for installing the Windows SDK are available in our comprehensive installation guide.

Guides & Tutorials

Dive deeper into specific development areas with our collection of guides and tutorials.

C#/.NET Development

Learn to build Windows applications using C# and the .NET platform.

Explore C# Guides

C++ Development

Master native Windows development with C++ and the Win32 API.

Explore C++ Guides

WinRT Development

Understand how to create and use Windows Runtime components.

Explore WinRT Guides

UWP App Development

Build Universal Windows Platform applications for all Windows devices.

Explore UWP Guides

Desktop App Development

Develop traditional Win32 and WPF desktop applications.

Explore Desktop Guides

API Reference

Detailed documentation for all Windows APIs available through the SDK.

Core APIs

Graphics & Multimedia

‎.NET Framework

System Services

Developer Tools

The Windows SDK includes a suite of powerful tools to enhance your development workflow.

Visual Studio Integration: Seamless integration with Visual Studio for a unified development experience.
Compilers: Latest versions of MSVC compilers for C/C++.
Debuggers: Advanced debugging tools for diagnosing issues.
SDK Managers: Tools to manage and select different SDK versions.
Profiling Tools: Analyze application performance and identify bottlenecks.

Sample Projects

Explore a wide variety of sample projects demonstrating SDK features and best practices. You can find these samples on GitHub or within your Visual Studio installation.

Release Notes

Stay up-to-date with the latest features, bug fixes, and changes in each Windows SDK release. View the release notes for detailed information.