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Develop Windows apps overview

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This section covers the APIs, features, and platform capabilities for building Windows desktop apps. You can build new apps with WinUI 3, modernize existing desktop apps, or integrate on-device AI capabilities like language models, text recognition, and image processing.

Features come from the Windows App SDK, the Windows SDK, and .NET. For release notes and what's new, see Windows App SDK release channels.


Get started with developing your Windows app

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Features
Explore the building blocks for creating rich Windows experiences.

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Use features with other UI frameworks
Learn how to use Windows platform features outside of WinUI.

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Package and deploy
Package your app with MSIX and deploy it to users.

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API reference
Look up detailed API docs for every namespace and feature.

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Tools and samples
Tools, samples, and AI-powered resources to help you build apps faster.

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What's new
See the latest features and updates in the Windows App SDK.