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Build desktop Windows apps using the Win32 API

Learn how to build desktop apps for Windows PCs using C++ and the Win32 API.

Get started

Overview

  • Get started with desktop Windows apps that use the Win32 API

Tutorial

  • Get started with Win32 and C++

Download

  • Downloads and tools for Windows development
  • Samples and resources

Develop

Overview

  • Desktop app technologies
  • Modernize your desktop apps

Reference

  • Windows API index (by feature)
  • Programming reference for the Win32 API (by header)

Resources and community

Download

  • Download a virtual machine

Overview

  • Windows Desktop Application Program
  • Compatibility FAQs
  • Windows developer support
  • @WindowsDocs on X (Twitter)
  • One Dev Minute videos

Related docs

Overview

  • Build desktop apps for Windows
  • Windows App SDK
  • C++/WinRT
  • Building an MSIX package from your code
  • .NET documentation
  • Universal Windows Platform documentation
  • Windows previous versions documentation

Related technologies

Overview

  • Windows AI
  • Windows IoT Core
  • Mixed Reality documentation
  • Virtualization documentation
  • Game Dev
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Your Privacy Choices
  • Previous Versions
  • Blog
  • Contribute
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Trademarks
  • © Microsoft 2025