How tos (XAML)

[ This article is for Windows 8.x and Windows Phone 8.x developers writing Windows Runtime apps. If you’re developing for Windows 10, see the latest documentation ]

Learn how to create Windows Runtime apps using C#, C++, or Visual Basic.

Not using C#, C++ or Visual Basic?

App features, start to finish

Our new start-to-finish series helps you add features to your app to engage your customers and to create the kind of experiences that draws people in and delight them. Here are previews of what you can expect from the series:

• Flat navigation, start to finish: Start with a basic app with flat navigation, app bar, app state, settings, and help.
• Hierarchical navigation, start to finish: Start with a basic app with hierarchical navigation, app bar, app state, settings, and help.
• App UI, start to finish: Everything you need to design and create a great UI.
• App state basics: Save and restore app data and the state at any time, on any device.
• File handling, start to finish: Create, read and write files, add file pickers, and access Microsoft OneDrive files.
• User interaction, start to finish: Be sure your app gracefully handles all forms of user input: touch, keyboard, mouse, and trackpad.
• Media playback, start to finish: Add audio and video playback features to your app.
• Geofencing, start to finish: Define geographical areas send notifications to users when they enter or exit that area.

Start developing a Windows Runtime app:

1. Create a UI

   Learn how to create a user interface for your app.

2. Define app resources

   Learn how to define your app's resources to improve maintainability and localization.

3. Respond to user interaction

   Learn how to handle user interactions from touch, pen/stylus, mouse, and keyboard devices.

4. Work with data and files

   Learn how to bind data, read, write, and save to files, as well as how to manipulate XML data.

5. Connect to networks and web services

   Learn how to create connected apps. A connected, or network-aware app, can use the network for a variety of purposes including RSS feeds, games, and to interact with nearby devices.

6. Manage user info

   Learn how to use roaming credentials, how to authenticate users with Live Services, how to set up single sign-on, and how to manage user contacts and appointments.

7. Launch and resume apps

   Learn how to launch, suspend, and resume your app while keeping app data safe and fresh.

8. Add multimedia

   Learn how to capture multimedia, play audio and video, process image files, share or stream media, and transcode multimedia.

9. Integrate devices, printers, and sensors

   Learn how to support devices like printers, cameras, sensors, removable storage, and more. You can also learn how to choose the right motion and orientation sensor for your game, how to use a light sensor to adjust screen brightness, and how to detect a user's geographic location.

10. Add trials and in-app purchases

    Learn how to use free apps, trials (both time-based and feature-based), paid apps, and in-app purchases so your customers can try your app for free and choose what works for them.

11. Globalize your app

    Learn how to localize/globalize your app.

12. Make your app accessible

    Learn how to create apps that are accessible to the widest possible audience, including people who have impairments or disabilities.

13. Package apps

    Learn how to use Visual Studio to access the Windows Store and Windows Phone Store, and package your app for distribution.

14. Debug and test apps

    Learn how to use the testing and debugging tools in Visual Studio.

Related topics

Detailed UX guidelines for Windows Runtime apps: Learn how to develop your apps so that if follows best practices for a great user experience.

Samples: Look up or download sample code to help you use the Windows Runtime APIs.

Create Windows Runtime Components: Learn about creating components (essentially DLLs) in C++, C#, or Visual Basic.