Get started with UWP device apps
Start here to begin building UWP device apps.
Device manufacturers can create a UWP device app that serves as a companion to their device. UWP device apps have more capabilities than regular UWP apps and can perform privileged operations, such as firmware updates. Also, UWP device apps can start from AutoPlay (on more devices than other apps can), automatically install the first time a device is connected, and extend the printer and camera experiences built into Windows.
Note
Windows Runtime device APIs don't require device metadata. That means your app doesn't need to be a UWP device app to use them. UWP apps can use these APIs to access USB, Human Interface Devices (HID), Bluetooth devices, and more. For more info, see Integrating devices.
If you're looking for info about UWP mobile broadband apps, see Mobile Broadband.
1. Get set up
To develop a UWP device app: you need Microsoft Visual Studio, for developing UWP apps, and the Device Metadata Authoring Wizard, for developing device metadata.
Note
To develop UWP device apps in Windows 10, download Microsoft Visual Studio 2017 and Windows Driver Kit (WDK) 10. Become a Windows Insider to get kits and tools
If you're also developing drivers
If you're developing Windows drivers in addition to UWP device apps, use Microsoft Visual Studio Professional or Microsoft Visual Studio Ultimate to create UWP device apps. These editions include the new Device Metadata Authoring Wizard and are also required by the Windows Driver Kit (WDK) 8.1.
If you're not going to be developing drivers
If you don't need to develop drivers, you can use Microsoft Visual Studio Express 2015 for Windows to create UWP device apps. But this version of Visual Studio installs a version of the SDK that doesn't include the Device Metadata Authoring Wizard. To get the new Device Metadata Authoring Wizard, you must also download the standalone Windows 8.1 SDK.
2. Build some regular UWP apps
A UWP device app is a special kind of UWP app. So, before you develop your first UWP device app, get set up to build some regular UWP apps.
Sign up for a Microsoft Store developer account at Windows Dev Center
3. Learn what makes UWP device apps special
Learn about the special things that you can do with a UWP device app and what it takes to build one.
4. Download samples
You can find device-related samples with the Devices and sensors keyword in the sample gallery. Learn how APIs are used in the context of a full sample. You can tell a UWP device app because it includes a StoreManifest.xml file that associates it with device metadata. Those samples are tagged with the UWP device app keyword.
5. Build your own UWP device app
To begin, see Build a UWP device app step-by-step.