Windows Apps

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This article provides the info you need to get started building desktop apps for Windows or updating existing desktop apps to adopt the latest experiences in Windows 10.

Apr 22, 2019. The wild thing about Windows apps on Chrome OS With Google working to bring Windows software onto Chromebooks, things are about to get seriously weird. MSIX is a modern Windows app package format that provides a universal packaging experience for all Windows apps. MSIX brings together the best aspects of MSI,.appx, App-V and ClickOnce installation technologies and is built to be safe, secure, and reliable. Integrate your desktop app with Windows 10 experiences by using package extensions.

Platforms for desktop apps

There are four main platforms for building desktop apps for Windows PCs. Each platform provides an app model that defines the lifecycle of the app, a complete UI framework and set of UI controls that let you create desktop apps like Word, Excel, and Photoshop, and access to a comprehensive set of managed or native APIs for using Windows features. For an in-depth comparison of these platforms along with additional resources for each platform, see Choose your app platform.

 

Platform	Description	Docs and resources
Universal Windows Platform (UWP)	The leading-edge platform for Windows 10 apps and games. You can build UWP apps that exclusively use UWP controls and APIs, or you can use UWP controls and APIs in desktop apps that are built using one of the other platforms.	Get started API reference Samples
C++/Win32	The platform of choice for native Windows apps that require direct access to Windows and hardware.	Get started API reference Samples
WPF	The established .NET-based platform for graphically-rich managed Windows apps with a XAML UI model. These apps can target .NET Core 3 or the full .NET Framework.	Get started API reference (.NET) Samples
Windows Forms	A .NET-based platform that is designed for managed line-of-business apps with a lightweight UI model. These apps can target .NET Core 3 or the full .NET Framework.	Get started API reference (.NET)

Note

On Windows 10, each these platforms also support using the Windows UI (WinUI) Library to create user interfaces. For more information about WinUI for desktop apps, see this section.

Update existing desktop apps for Windows 10

If you have an existing WPF, Windows Forms, or native Win32 desktop app, Windows 10 and the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) offer many features you can use to deliver a modern experience in your app. Most of these features are available as modular components that you can adopt in your app at your own pace without having to rewrite your app for a different platform.

Here are just a few of the features available to enhance your existing desktop apps:

• Use MSIX to package and deploy your desktop apps. MSIX is a modern Windows app package format that provides a universal packaging experience for all Windows apps. MSIX brings together the best aspects of MSI, .appx, App-V and ClickOnce installation technologies and is built to be safe, secure, and reliable.
• Integrate your desktop app with Windows 10 experiences by using package extensions. For example, point Start tiles to your app, make your app a share target, or send toast notifications from your app.
• Use XAML Islands to host UWP XAML controls in your desktop app. Many of the latest Windows 10 UI features are only available to UWP XAML controls.

For more information, see these articles.

 

Article	Description
Modernize desktop apps	Describes the latest Windows 10 and UWP development features you can use in any desktop app, including WPF, Windows Forms, and C++ Win32 apps.
Tutorial: Modernize a WPF app	Follow step-by-step instructions to modernize an existing WPF line-of-business sample app by adding UWP Ink and calendar controls to the app and packaging it in an MSIX package.

Create new desktop apps

If you are creating a new desktop app for Windows, here are some resources to help get you started.

 

Article	Description
Choose your app platform	Provides an in-depth comparison of the main desktop app platforms and can help you choose the right platform for your needs. This article also provides useful links to docs for each platform.
Visual Studio project templates for Windows apps	Describes the project and item templates that Visual Studio provides to help you build apps for Windows 10 devices by using C# or C++.
Modernize desktop apps	Describes the latest Windows 10 and UWP development features you can use in any desktop app, including WPF, Windows Forms, and C++ Win32 apps.
Features and technologies	Provides an overview of Windows features that are accessible via each of the main desktop app platforms and links to the related docs.

Related documentation and technologies

Resource	Description
.NET Core 3.1	Learn about the latest features of .NET Core 3.1, including enhancements for WPF and Windows Forms apps.
.NET 5	This article details what's included in .NET 5, which is the next release of .NET Core following 3.1.
Desktop guide for WPF and .NET Core	Develop WPF apps that target .NET Core instead of the full .NET Framework.
Azure	Extend the reach of your apps with Azure cloud services.
Visual Studio	Learn how to use Visual Studio to develop apps and services.
MSIX	Package and deploy any Windows app in a modern and universal packaging format.
Windows AI	Use Windows AI to build intelligent solutions for complex problems in your apps.
Windows Containers	Package your applications with their dependencies in fast, fully isolated Windows environments.
Progressive Web Apps	Convert your web apps into Progressive Web Apps that can be distributed and run as UWP apps on Windows 10.
Xamarin	Build cross-platform apps for Windows, Android, iOS, and macOS using .NET code and platform-specific user interfaces.
Docs archive for Windows 8.x and earlier	Access archived documentation about building apps for Windows 8.x and earlier versions.

Lesson 15: Downloading Apps from the Windows Store

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The Windows Store

Windows Apps

The Windows Store is where you'll download new apps for your Windows 8 device, much like the App Store for Apple devices. Most apps are designed to run from the Start screen. In this lesson, you'll learn how to browse the store, downloadandinstallapps, and updateapps when necessary.

You'll need to sign in with your Microsoft account to use the Windows Store. Check out our Microsoft Account tutorial to learn more about creating a Microsoft account.

• To open the Windows Store, locate and select Store on the Start screen.

   

  Opening the Store

Navigating the Store

Apps in the Store are sorted by category, such as Games, Shopping, and SocialNetworking.

To browse categories:

1. To browse categories, locate and select the category heading above each category.
   Navigating to categories in the Store
2. The selected category will appear. Click an app to see the app information page.

    

To search for apps, use the search bar in the top-right corner.

Viewing app information

When you select an app, you'll see more details on the app information page, including the price, userreviews, and requested permissions.

Installing apps

The store features thousands of apps that you can download and install. Many are free or moderately priced, making it easy to find and enjoy new apps. Your downloaded apps will be associated with your Microsoft account, so you'll only have to purchase apps once.

To install an app:

Windows Apps On Chromebook

1. From the Store, locate and select the app you wish to install.

    

   Clicking an app
2. The app informationpage will appear. If the app is free, click the Install button. If the app has a price, click the Buy button and then follow the directions on the screen. You'll be able to add or edit your credit card information if desired.
3. The app will begin downloading and will be installed automatically. A notification will appear when the app has been installed.

    

   An app installation notification
   
4. The installed app will appear on the Start screen.

    

You can try certain apps for a limited time before deciding to purchase them. Just click the Try button (when available) to download a demo of the app.

Downloading a demo of an app

You may find some apps in the store that are designed to work only in the Desktop view. After navigating to the app information page, click Go to publisher's website and then follow the instructions to download and install the app.

To uninstall an app:

1. Locate and right-click the desired app on the Start screen, then select Uninstall.

    

2. A dialog box will appear. Select Uninstall.

    

3. The app will be uninstalled from your computer.

Installing apps to another Windows 8 device

Updating apps

Windows Apps Free

Apps may periodically receive updates, which can help keep them running smoothly and even add features. If updates are available for any of your apps, a link for Updates will appear in the top-right corner of the store.

Download App For Pc Windows 10

To update apps:

1. If any updates are available, locate and select Updates in the top-right corner of the store.

    

   Clicking Updates
2. Any apps with availableupdates will appear. Click the Install button at the bottom of the screen to download and install app updates.

    

3. The updates will be downloadedand installed.

    

   The completed updates

You may also notice available updates from the Start screen if the Store tile is active as a live tile.

Windows Apps Mobile

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