How it works
Windows runs on PCs from many manufacturers, mostly with Intel and AMD chips and increasingly with ARM chips (Windows on Arm), which run most older x64 apps through emulation. Native apps are written in C#, C++ or other languages with frameworks such as WinUI 3, WPF and WinForms, or with cross-platform tools such as Electron, Tauri and Flutter. WebView2, Microsoft Edge's engine for showing web content inside apps, comes with Windows 11.
Apps reach users as downloadable installers, which should be code-signed or SmartScreen warns people away, through the Microsoft Store, where registration is free for individuals and companies, or through winget, the built-in command-line package manager. Windows 10 reached end of support in October 2025. WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) lets developers run Linux tools inside Windows.
Windows pricing
Paid
Usually included in the price of a new PC. Retail Home and Pro licences are sold separately, and eligible Windows 10 PCs can upgrade to Windows 11 for free.
Windows pricing page (opens in a new tab)Approximate, checked September 2026.What the other tools cost
Windows vs the alternatives
Related terms
More in Desktop apps
Operating systems