Quick start: Set up your environment and create a WinUI project

This quick start guide walks you through setting up your WinUI and Windows App SDK development environment and creating your first app. To develop WinUI apps, you need:

• Visual Studio 2026 with the required workloads for WinUI and Windows App SDK
• Developer Mode enabled on your device

Set up your development environment

WinGet Configuration

Open Windows Terminal and run the following command in PowerShell to automatically set up your environment using a WinGet Configuration file. This will:

• Install Visual Studio 2026 with the required workloads
• Enable Developer Mode

winget configure -f https://aka.ms/winui-config

Tip

To review the config file and learn more, see its [README](https://github.com/microsoft/winget-dsc/blob/main/samples/Configuration%20files/Learn%20tutorials/WinUI/README.md] on GitHub.

Manual installation

Enable Developer Mode

Windows includes a Developer Mode that adjusts security settings to let you run and test apps you're building. Enable Developer Mode before building, deploying, and testing your app with Visual Studio.

To enable Developer Mode:

• Open Windows Settings and navigate to the System > Advanced page.
• Toggle the Developer Mode switch to On and confirm your choice in the confirmation dialog.

Install Visual Studio and the required WinUI and Windows App SDK workloads

Download and install the latest Visual Studio using the link below. For details, see Install Visual Studio.

Download Visual Studio

Required workloads and components

In the Visual Studio Installer, select the following workloads on the Workloads tab. If Visual Studio is already installed, open the installer and select Modify to add them.

• For C# app development using the Windows App SDK, select WinUI application development.

• For C++ app development, select the C++ WinUI app development tools under the WinUI application development node in the Installation details pane (This will also select any additional required components.)

Note

In Visual Studio 17.10 - 17.12, this workload is called Windows application development.

Create and launch your first WinUI app

1. Open Visual Studio and select Create a new project.

2. Search for WinUI, select the WinUI Blank App (Packaged) C# project template, and select Next.

   

3. Enter a project name and select Create.

   

4. Press Start (F5) to build and run your app.

   

   Your app builds, deploys, and launches in debug mode:

   

   You've built and launched your first WinUI app! 🎉

Next steps

Build your first WinUI app
Ready to go further? Follow the step-by-step tutorial to build a full WinUI app.

WinUI Gallery
Explore interactive examples of WinUI controls, features, and functionality.

Samples and resources
Browse code samples, starter projects, and tools to accelerate your development.