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Windows SDK

The Windows SDK (10.0.28000) for Windows 11 contains the latest platform headers, libraries, WinRT metadata, and build tools required to develop Windows applications. It supports both UWP and Win32 development and can target Windows 11, version 26H1, in addition to previous Windows releases. By using this SDK, developers gain access to the full set of Windows APIs and capabilities needed to build native and performant applications.

Additionally, the Windows App SDK builds on top of the Windows SDK by offering a consistent set of modern Windows APIs for desktop apps, allowing developers to adopt new capabilities without depending on a specific Windows version.

Download Windows SDK

To see what's new, check out the release notes.

Release channels

The Windows SDK is available in the following channels:

Release channel	Description	Includes experimental APIs
Stable	Default SDK release intended for production use. Includes all current stable APIs and a limited set of experimental APIs.	✅
Preview	Preview SDK built on Windows Insider Preview releases. Provides access to newer and upcoming APIs, including experimental ones.	✅

Support and servicing

SDK Version	Status	EOS Date	Notes
28000+	Supported
26100+	Supported
22621	Out of support	2025-11-12	Aligned with 22621 Enterprise OS EOS
22000	Out of support
20348	Out of support		Patched version shipped
19041	Out of support	2025-10-14
18362 and before	Out of support

System requirements

The Windows SDK has the following minimum system requirements:

Supported operating systems

Windows 11, version 21h2 or higher: Home, Pro, Education, and Enterprise (LTSC is not supported for UWP)
Windows 10, version 1507 or higher: Home, Pro, Education, and Enterprise (LTSB/LTSC and S mode are not supported for UWP)
Windows Server 2022, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2012 R2 (Command line only)
Windows 8.1
Windows 7 SP1

(Not all tools are supported on earlier operating systems)

Hardware requirements

1.6 GHz or faster processor
1 GB of RAM
4 GB of available hard disk space

Additional SDK requirements

Installation on Windows 8.1 and earlier operating systems requires an Update for Universal C Runtime in Windows. To install through Windows Update, make sure you install the latest recommended updates and patches from Microsoft Update before you install the Windows SDK.

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The source for this content can be found on GitHub, where you can also create and review issues and pull requests. For more information, see our contributor guide.

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Last updated on 2026-03-31