---
description: Get started with the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) and app development for Windows.
title: Get started with the Universal Windows Platform (UWP)
ms.date: 09/26/2023
ms.topic: get-started
keywords: get started, windows 10, uwp, xaml, c#
ms.localizationpriority: medium
---

# Universal Windows Platform (UWP) - Get Started

>[!NOTE]
> The [preferred approach for writing Windows apps](/windows/apps/get-started/) is to use the Windows App SDK and [WinUI](/windows/apps/get-started/start-here). Another option is [WPF](/dotnet/desktop/wpf/getting-started).

Build apps that work across different Windows devices.

<br/>

:::row:::
    :::column:::
        <img src="/media/illustrations/biztalk-developer-documentation-1.svg" alt="Overview illustration" />
        <h3>Learn about UWP</h3>
        <p>The Universal Windows Platform let you build apps that work and look great across all Windows device types, or update existing apps with new features.</p>
        <br>
        <a href="/windows/uwp/get-started/universal-application-platform-guide">What's a UWP app?</a><br/>
        <a href="/windows/uwp/design/">Design and UI</a><br/>
    :::column-end:::
    :::column:::
        <img src="/media/illustrations/biztalk-host-integration-install-configure.svg" alt="Setup illustration" />
        <h3>Get set up</h3>
        <p>Visual Studio Community and the Windows SDK give you everything you need to build great apps – and they're free.</p>
        <br>
        <a href="/windows/apps/get-started/get-set-up">Download the tools and SDK</a><br/>
    :::column-end:::
    :::column:::
        <img src="/media/illustrations/team-services-dev-ops-test.svg" alt="Code illustration" />
        <h3>Start coding</h3>
        <p>Learn how to create a UWP app.</p>
        <br>
        <a href="/windows/uwp/get-started/create-uwp-apps">Start coding</a><br/>
        <a href="/uwp/">API Reference</a><br/>
    :::column-end:::
:::row-end:::

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:::row:::
    :::column:::
        <img src="/media/illustrations/biztalk-get-started-get-started.svg" alt="Tutorials illustration" />
        <h3>Tutorials</h3>
        <p>Looking for a guided learning experience? These tutorials will help.</p>
        <br>
        <a href="/windows/apps/design/basics/navigate-between-two-pages">Navigate between two pages</a><br/>
        <a href="/windows/uwp/data-binding/xaml-basics-data-binding">Data binding</a><br/>
        <a href="/windows/apps/design/layout/grid-tutorial">Use layout panels</a><br/>
    :::column-end:::
    :::column:::
        <img src="/media/illustrations/biztalk-get-started-scenarios.svg" alt="Samples illustration" />
        <h3>Samples</h3>
        <p>Get firsthand experience with the UWP platform, and see APIs in action.</p>
        <br>
        <a href="/windows/uwp/get-started/get-uwp-app-samples">Using Windows app samples</a><br/>
        <a href="//github.com/Microsoft/Windows-appsample-customers-orders-database">Customer Orders Database</a><br/>
        <a href="//github.com/Microsoft/Windows-appsample-remote-system-sessions">Quiz Game (Project Rome)</a><br/>
        <a href="//developer.microsoft.com/windows/samples">Windows code samples portal</a><br/>
    :::column-end:::
    :::column:::
        <img src="/media/illustrations/ms365enterprise-partner-news-2.svg" alt="What's new illustration" />
        <h3>New to development?</h3>
        <p>Learn about the different options for developing Windows apps.</p>
        <br>
        <a href="/windows/apps/get-started/">Selecting a development technology</a><br/>
        <a href="/training/browse/?products=windows&resource_type=module">Windows on Microsoft Learn training</a><br/>
       
    :::column-end:::
:::row-end:::

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