Windows SDK (formerly known as Microsoft Windows SDK, Microsoft Win32 SDK, and Platform SDK) is a software development kit (SDK) from Microsoft that contains documentation, header files, libraries, compilers, samples and assorted tools required to develop apps for Microsoft Windows.
In 2006, several other SDKs for .NET Framework, Microsoft Tablet PCs, and the Windows Media platform were merged into Microsoft Windows SDK serving the developers of .NET Framework 3 through .NET Framework 4.5. The .NET Framework SDK, however, split off in 2013.
History The first incarnations of the package were Microsoft Windows SDK (with the "Microsoft" prefix) for Windows 3.1x and Microsoft Win32 SDK for Windows NT 3.1, released in 1992 and 1993, respectively.
Platform SDK was released in 1999. It contains compilers, tools, documentations, header files, libraries and samples needed for software development on IA-32, x64 and IA-64 CPU architectures.
Starting with Windows Vista, Platform SDK, as well as the SDKs for Windows PowerShell, .NET Framework, Microsoft Tablet PC, and the Windows Media platform were replaced by a unified Microsoft Windows SDK. The SDK for DirectX was merged much later in 2012, with the release of Windows 8. The Windows Media Center SDK for Windows Vista also shipped separately. The SDK for .NET Framework split off in 2013.
In 2013, the package dropped the "Microsoft" prefix and was released as Windows SDK.
Features Windows SDK includes documentation, header files, libraries, compilers, samples and assorted tools required for: Desktop app development with Windows API Desktop app development with .NET Framework and managed code (only between 2006–2013) UWP app development using Windows Runtime and Universal Windows Platform Web app development using ASP.NET, HTML, CSS and JavaScript Language-related topics (such as syntax and conventions) for PowerShell, C++, C#, Visual Basic, and F#. Originally, the documentation included JavaScript, CSS and HTML topics, but they have been removed in favor of MDN Web Docs.
With the inception of Microsoft Learn, the documentations in the SDK were made available under the MIT License or occasionally permissive Creative Commons licenses. For example, in the case of Windows PowerShell 5.1, the documentation's license is Creative Commons Attribution 4.0, while the code license is MIT License.
Windows SDK allows the user to specify the components to be installed and where to install them. It integrates with Visual Studio, so that multiple copies of the components that both have are not installed; however, there are compatibility caveats if either of the two is not from the same era. Information shown can be filtered by content, such as showing only new Windows Vista content, only .NET Framework content, or showing content for a specific language or technology.
Windows SDK is available free of charge. Early versions are available on the Microsoft Download Center but later versions were moved to MSDN in 2012, and now available on MSDN's successor, Microsoft Learn. For a time, the SDK could be ordered on CDs and later DVDs.Microsoft Software Development Kits CD Order
A developer might need to use an older SDK. For example, the Windows Server 2003 Platform SDK released in February 2003 was the last SDK to provide full support of Visual Studio 6.0.
Release details
+ Release detailsWindows and Windows Phone SDK archiveNameVersion numberBuild numberRelease dateDownloadNotesMicrosoft Windows Software Development Kit3.11992Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit3.11Microsoft Win32 Software Development Kit3.1Microsoft Win32 Software Development Kit3.53.50.612.11994-04Microsoft Win32 Software Development Kit3.511995-06Microsoft Win32 Software Development Kit4.04.0.1381.11996-11Microsoft Win32 Software Development Kitv5.05.0.1636.11998-06Included in Visual Studio 6Microsoft Platform SDK October 1998 PDC1999-04MSDN subscription CD-ROM disc.
Also known as Windows NT 5.0 Beta 2 PDC Release EditionMicrosoft Platform SDK April 1999v5.05.0.2031.51999-04MSDN subscription CD-ROM disc.
Last Platform SDK to officially install on Windows 95Microsoft Platform SDK July 1999v5.05.0.2072.131999-07MSDN subscription CD-ROM disc.
Also known as Microsoft Platform SDK for Windows 2000 RC1Microsoft Platform SDK September 1999v5.05.0.2128.81999-09, MSDN subscription CD-ROM disc.
Also known as Microsoft Platform SDK for Windows 2000 RC2.
Includes Alpha to AXP64 cross toolset.
Last Platform SDK to fully support Visual C++ 5.0Microsoft Platform SDK January 2000v5.02000-01MSDN subscription CD-ROM disc.Microsoft Platform SDK April 2000v5.05.0.2195.322000-04MSDN subscription CD-ROM disc.Microsoft Platform SDK July 2000v5.05.0.2201.02000-07MSDN subscription CD-ROM disc.Microsoft Platform SDK November 2000v5.05.0.2296.52000-11MSDN subscription CD-ROM disc.
Also known as Microsoft Platform SDK for Whistler Beta 1.
Includes preliminary tools for Itanium.Microsoft Platform SDK February 20012001-02MSDN subscription CD-ROM disc.
Also known as Microsoft Platform SDK for Whistler Beta 2.Microsoft Platform SDK June 2001v5.15.1.2505.02001-06MSDN subscription CD-ROM disc.
Last Platform SDK to officially develop for Windows 95. (Does not officially install on Windows 95)Microsoft Platform SDK August 2001v5.15.1.2601.02001-08, MSDN subscription CD-ROM disc.
Last Platform SDK to unofficially develop for Windows 95. (Does not officially install on Windows 95)Microsoft Platform SDK November 2001v5.25.2.3590.22001-11Microsoft Platform SDK May 2002v5.25.2.3639.12002-05Microsoft Platform SDK July 2002v5.25.2.3663.02002-07Microsoft Platform SDK August 2002v5.25.2.3672.12002-08Microsoft Platform SDK November 2002v5.25.2.3718.12002-11Microsoft Platform SDK February 2003v5.25.2.3790.02003-02Last version with VC6 supportWindows® Server 2003 SP1 Platform SDK Web Install, Microsoft Download Center "The last SDK that will work with VC 6.0 is the February 2003 Edition, you can order a CD on the fulfillment site." and latest version with Windows 95 and Windows 98 support..NET Framework SDK Version 1.11.1.4322.5732003-03-29Included in Visual Studio 2003. Does not include the Platform SDK.Microsoft Platform SDK for Windows XP SP25.1.2600.21802004-08Introduced strsafe.hWindows Server 2003 SP1 Platform SDKv5.25.2.3790.1830.152005-05-02Windows Server 2003 R2 Platform SDKv5.25.2.3790.2075.512006-03-14Last Platform SDK to develop for Windows 2000. Also suggested by MS to work with VS6 with no guarantee as it has not been tested with specific requirements..NET Framework 2.0 Software Development Kit2.0.50727.422006-11-29Included in Visual Studio 2005 Professional. Does not include the Platform SDK.Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit for Windows Vista and .NET Framework 3.0 Runtime Componentsv6.06.0.6000.163842006-10-30 The C++ compilers in this SDK release support the /analyze key.Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit Update for Windows Vistav6.16.1.6000.16384.102007-03-22First unified .NET and Platform SDK. Does not support Visual Studio .NET 2003 and Microsoft Visual C++ Toolkit 2003(No standalone package)v6.0a6.1.6723.12007-11-19Included in Visual Studio 2008Microsoft Windows SDK Blog: New samples in Win 7 SDK: Direct2D and DirectWriteWindows SDK for Windows Server 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5v6.16.0.6001.18000.3672008-02-05Microsoft Windows SDK for Windows 7 and .NET Framework 3.5 SP1v7.06.1.7600.163852009-07-24, (No standalone package)v7.0a6.1.7600.163852010-04-12 Included in Visual Studio 2010 and encompasses .NET Framework 4 development. Does not work for Visual Studio 2010 Express. The last version to include offline documentation.Microsoft Windows SDK for Windows 7 and .NET Framework 4v7.17.1.7600.0.305142010-05-19Microsoft Windows SDK for Windows 7 and .NET Framework 4 iso imageMicrosoft Windows SDK for Windows 7 and .NET Framework 4 web installer, It is the latest version that officially supports Windows XP target. .NET Framework 4 needed. Higher sub-version from .NET Framework is not recognised by installation. Building the samples with nmake.exe is not supported, most of the NMAKE macros are removed. (No standalone package)v7.1A7.1.51106Included in Visual Studio 2012 Update 1 (or later). Introduces the "v110_xp" platform toolset.Microsoft Windows SDK for Windows 8 and .NET Framework 4.5v8.06.2.9200.163842012-11-15Windows SDK for Windows 8 – Windows Dev Center. Msdn.microsoft.com. Retrieved on 2014-02-16.Encompasses SDKs for .NET Framework 4.5, Windows Store apps, and DirectX, (No standalone package)v8.0A8.0.50727Included in Visual Studio 2012.Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) for Windows 8.1v8.18.100.25984.02013-10-17Encompasses SDKs for Windows 8.1, .NET Framework 4.5.1, Windows Store apps and DirectX. (No standalone package)v8.1A8.1.51636Included in Visual Studio 2013. Includes the "v120_xp" platform toolset.Windows Standalone SDK for Windows 10v1010.0.10240.02015-07-29Also included in Visual Studio 2015Building Apps for Windows 10 with Visual Studio 2015Windows Standalone SDK for Windows 10, Version 1511Windows 10 SDK Release Notesv1010.0.10586.2122015-11-30Also included in Visual Studio 2015 Update 1 & 2Visual Studio 2015 Update 1 Release NotesWindows Standalone SDK for Windows 10, Version 1607v1010.0.14393.7952016-08-02Also included in Visual Studio 2015 Update 3Windows Standalone SDK for Windows 10 Creators Update, Version 1703v1010.0.15063.02017-04-05Included in Visual Studio 2017 ver.15.1Windows 10 SDK for Fall Creators Update, version 1709v1010.0.16299.152017-10-10Included in Visual Studio 2017 ver.15.4Windows 10 SDK for April 2018 Update, version 1803v1010.0.17134.02018-05-08Included in Visual Studio 2017 ver.15.7Windows 10 SDK for October 2018 Update, version 1809v1010.0.17763.02018-10-02Included in Visual Studio 2017 ver.15.8Windows 10 SDK for Windows 10, version 1903v1010.0.18362.02019-05-21Included in Visual Studio 2019Windows 10 SDK for Windows 10, version 2004v1010.0.19041.02020-05-12Windows 10 SDK for Windows 10, version 2004v1010.0.19041.6852020-12-16Servicing updateWindows 10 SDK for Windows 10, version 21H1v1010.0.20348.02021-05-25Windows 10 SDK for Windows 11v1010.0.22000.1942021-10-04Windows SDK for Windows 11v1010.0.22621.7552022-10-25Released as part of Windows 11, version 22H2. Includes servicing update 10.0.22000.755 on October 25, 2022, Includes ARM64 support for the Visual Studio 17.4 releaseWindows SDK for Windows 11v1010.0.22621.17782023-05-24Released as part of Windows 11, version 22H2 Build 10.0.22621.1778.Windows SDK for Windows 11v1010.0.26100.02024-05-22Initial release of the 10.0.26100 series, to correspond with the Windows 11, version 24H2 preview.Windows SDK for Windows 11v1010.0.28000.02026-03-31Initial release of the 10.0.28000 series.
+ Removed featuresVersionRemoved featureWindows SDK for Windows 7 and .NET Framework 3.5 SP1Release Notes, Windows SDK for Windows 7 and .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 capicom.dll (CAPICOM is deprecated) iacom.dll ialoader.dll msistuff.exe perflibmig.exe permcalc.exe secutil.exe windowssideshowvirtualdevice.exe (replaced by DeviceSimulatorforWindowsSideShow.msi) wpfperf.msi (now included in the Windows Performance Toolkit suite) xamlpad.exe (XAMLPad)Windows SDK for Windows 7 and .NET Framework 4Release Notes, Microsoft Windows SDK for Windows 7 and .NET Framework 4 UISpy.exe (Replaced by newer tools) Wpt_arch.msi Managed code samples (Moved to Code Gallery) DExplore document viewer (Can be separately installed)Windows SDK for Windows 8 Command-line build environment, including: Windows SDK Platform Toolset Visual C++ Compilers and C Runtime (CRT) Windows SDK Configuration Tool Tools and reference assemblies for versions of the .NET Framework earlier than 4.5 Apatch.exe Bind.exe Checkv4.exe Consume.exe DeviceSimulatorForWindowsSideShow.msi Err.exe FDBrowser.exe FXCopSetup.exe Guidgen.exe Make-Shell.exe MDbg.exe Mpatch.exe MSIZap.exe PTConform.exe ReBase.exe