Develop applications with Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) on Windows on Arm
Introduction
Create an application using Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF)
Run the application and compare execution times
Next Steps

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About this Learning Path

Skill level:  Introductory
Reading time:  30 min
Last updated:  11 Aug 2026
Skill level:
  Introductory
Reading time:
  30 min
Last updated:
  11 Aug 2026
Author:Dawid Borycki
Arm IP:Cortex-A
Tags: Migration to Arm Windows Windows Presentation Foundation csharp dotnet Visual Studio
Author:
  • Dawid Borycki
Arm IP:
Cortex-A
Tags:
Migration to Arm Windows Windows Presentation Foundation csharp dotnet Visual Studio

Who is this for?

This learning path is for developers who want to learn how to create desktop applications and leverage performance improvements on Arm64.

What will you learn?

After completing this Learning Path, you'll be able to perform the following tasks:

  • Create and build a Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) application
  • Measure code execution performance uplift on Arm64

Prerequisites

Before starting, you'll need the following prerequisites:

  • A Windows on Arm computer such as the Lenovo Thinkpad X13s running Windows 11 or a Windows on Arm virtual machine .
  • Visual Studio 2022 with .NET desktop development installed.

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.

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You’ll create a Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) desktop application and build it for multiple architectures on Windows on Arm. First, you’ll use Configuration Manager to add an ARM64 target alongside x86_64. Then, you’ll build and run each configuration. You’ll compare computation times and learn how WPF uses XAML to separate the UI from business logic.

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.

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How do I add an ARM64 target to my WPF project?
Open the Any CPU drop-down on the Visual Studio toolbar, choose Configuration Manager, then select New under Active Solution Platform. In the New Solution Platform dialog, select ARM64 and select OK.
How do I switch between ARM64 and x86_64 builds when running the app?
Use the Solution Platform drop-down on the toolbar to select the desired target. Rebuild and launch the application after switching the platform.
How do I confirm the build is targeting ARM64 before I run it?
Check that Active Solution Platform shows ARM64 in Configuration Manager or on the toolbar. Build the project with that platform selected before starting the app.
What should I measure to compare execution times across platforms?
Run the same app scenario under each platform and record the computation times the app reports. Use the same inputs and steps for each run to make the comparison consistent.
Do I need to change any project properties besides the Solution Platform?
No additional property changes are listed. Select the platform in Configuration Manager and run the application to compare times.
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