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OutputType set to WinExe for WPF and WinForms apps

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OutputType is automatically set to WinExe for Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) and Windows Forms apps. When OutputType is set to WinExe, a console window doesn't open when the app is executed.

Change description

In previous versions of the .NET SDK, the value that's specified for OutputType in the project file is used. For example:

<PropertyGroup>
  <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
</PropertyGroup>

Starting in the 5.0.100 version of the .NET SDK, when OutputType is set to Exe, it is automatically changed to WinExe for WPF and Windows Forms apps that target any framework version, including .NET Framework.

<PropertyGroup>
  <OutputType>WinExe</OutputType>
</PropertyGroup>

If OutputType is not specified in the project file, it defaults to Library and that value doesn't change.

Reason for change

It's assumed that most users don't want a console window to open when a WPF or Windows Forms app is executed. In addition, now that these application types use the .NET SDK instead of the Windows Desktop SDK, the correct default will be set. Further, when support for targeting iOS and Android is added, it will be easier to multi-target between multiple platforms if they all use the same output type.

Version introduced

.NET SDK 5.0.100

No action is required in your part. However, if you want to revert to the old behavior, set the DisableWinExeOutputInference property to true in your project file.

<DisableWinExeOutputInference>true</DisableWinExeOutputInference>

Affected APIs

Not detectable via API analysis.