Build a Windows on Arm native application with .NET
Introduction
Build a native windows application using .NET 6 framework for Windows on Arm
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About this Learning Path

Skill level:  Introductory
Reading time:  20 min
Last updated:  11 Aug 2026
Skill level:
  Introductory
Reading time:
  20 min
Last updated:
  11 Aug 2026
Author:Pareena Verma, Arm
Arm IP:Cortex-A
Tags: Migration to Arm Windows dotnet Visual Studio
Author:
  • Pareena Verma, Arm
Arm IP:
Cortex-A
Tags:
Migration to Arm Windows dotnet Visual Studio

Who is this for?

This is an introductory topic for software developers doing native development on Windows on Arm computers.

What will you learn?

Upon completion of this Learning Path, you will be able to:

  • Build and run a .NET 6 Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) application on a Windows on Arm machine

Prerequisites

Before starting, you will need the following:

  • A Windows on Arm computer such as the Lenovo Thinkpad X13s running Windows 11 or a Windows on Arm virtual machine .

Summary

AI-assisted

This summary was drafted with an approved AI-assisted workflow and reviewed by Arm contributors before publication. Human technical review remains part of the process so the final page reflects engineering rigor, accuracy, and Arm editorial standards.

Close
?
You’ll build and run a native .NET 6 WPF application on Windows on Arm. First, you’ll configure Visual Studio 2022 with the .NET desktop development workload, create a project that targets .NET 6, and launch it on a device or virtual machine. Then, you’ll validate the target framework in project settings.

Frequently asked questions

AI-assisted

These FAQs were drafted with an approved AI-assisted workflow and reviewed by Arm contributors before publication. Human technical review remains part of the process so the final page reflects engineering rigor, accuracy, and Arm editorial standards.

Close
?
Where do I enable the .NET desktop development workload?
Open the Windows Start menu, launch Visual Studio Installer, and select Modify. On the Workloads tab, select .NET desktop development and apply the changes.
Which version of Visual Studio should I use?
Use Visual Studio 2022 or higher. Make sure the .NET desktop development workload is installed before creating the project.
Can I complete this on a virtual machine instead of physical hardware?
Yes. You can use a Windows on Arm virtual machine.
How do I confirm the project targets .NET 6?
Open the project properties in Visual Studio and check Target Framework. It should list .NET 6.
What result should I expect after building and running the WPF app?
The solution builds successfully and the WPF application launches on your Windows on Arm system. You should see the app start without build errors.
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