Windows Developer Support

Whether you're just getting started or you're a professional developer troubleshooting a tricky issue, you're not alone. Connect with the Windows developer community, access expert resources, and find solutions to help you build great apps.

Quick guide

Use this table to find the right resource for your scenario:

Getting started

New to Windows app development? These resources help you go from zero to a running app:

• Get started with the Windows App SDK - Set up your development environment and create your first app
• WinUI 3 Gallery - Explore WinUI 3 controls, design patterns, and code samples in an interactive app
• Windows App SDK samples - Browse working code examples covering common scenarios
• Create a WinUI project from the command line - Use dotnet new templates to scaffold a WinUI app without Visual Studio

Developer tools

These tools help you build, package, and ship Windows apps from any editor or framework:

• Windows App Development CLI (winapp CLI) (open-source, preview) - Package, sign, and manage Windows apps from the command line. Works with WinUI, WPF, Electron, Rust, Flutter, and more. Read the announcement blog post.
• WinApp VS Code extension (preview) - Run, debug, and package Windows apps directly in VS Code.
• WinUI agent plugin for GitHub Copilot and Claude Code (open-source, preview) - AI-assisted scaffolding, building, and iteration for WinUI apps.
• AI Dev Gallery (open-source) - Interactive samples for on-device AI on Windows, including Windows AI APIs.

Documentation and reference

Official documentation, API references, and release notes for experienced developers:

• Windows App SDK documentation - Comprehensive SDK docs covering APIs, deployment, and packaging
• Windows App SDK API reference - WinRT API reference for the Windows App SDK
• Windows App SDK stable channel release notes - What's new, fixed, and changed in each release
• WinUI 3 controls and patterns - Design guidance and XAML control reference
• Package identity overview - Understand packaged, packaged with external location, and unpackaged deployment options

Community support

Connect with other Windows developers to ask questions, share knowledge, and get help:

• Windows App Development Discord - Real-time chat with other Windows developers
• Microsoft Q&A - Ask technical questions and get answers from Microsoft experts and the community
• Windows App SDK repository - Connect with other developers and the Windows App SDK team
• WinUI 3 GitHub repository - Get help and share feedback about WinUI
• Stack Overflow - Browse thousands of answered questions tagged with Windows App SDK

Stay connected

Follow the latest news, updates, and tips from the Windows developer team.

Social media

Blogs and videos

• Windows Developer Blog - Official announcements and deep dives
• #ifdef Windows Blog - Hands-on tutorials and tool announcements
• Windows Developer YouTube - Video tutorials and conference sessions
• Microsoft Developer YouTube - Broader Microsoft developer content
• .NET YouTube - .NET tutorials and updates

Partner Center and Store support

If you're publishing apps to the Microsoft Store or need help with Partner Center accounts, submissions, or certification:

Store publishers

• Partner Center dashboard - Manage your apps and submissions
• Partner Center support (Copilot) - Get help with Partner Center accounts and Store submissions (requires Partner Center account)
• Report app certification issues - Contact the certification team about specific app failures

Enterprise support

For organizations with support contracts:

• Create a support incident - (requires Microsoft support contract)

Application compatibility

If your app isn't working correctly on Windows or you need help modernizing an existing application:

• App Assure - Free Microsoft engineering support to help your apps work on Windows 10, Windows 11, and Microsoft Edge