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microsoft/react-native-windows

Analysis updated 2026-06-24

17,258C++Audience · developerComplexity · 4/5Setup · hard

TLDR

Microsoft's extension of React Native that builds native Windows apps from JavaScript or TypeScript. Targets PCs, tablets, Xbox, and mixed-reality headsets.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((react-native-windows))
    Inputs
      JavaScript or TypeScript
      React components
      Windows SDK
    Outputs
      Native Windows app
      Xbox build
      WinAppSDK package
    Use Cases
      Ship a Windows app from a React Native project
      Reuse mobile code for desktop
      Build for Xbox or HoloLens
    Tech Stack
      C++
      JavaScript
      TypeScript
      .NET
      WinAppSDK
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Code map

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filefunction / class

What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Ship a Windows desktop build of an existing React Native mobile app

USE CASE 2

Build a Windows app in JavaScript without learning C# or WinUI from scratch

USE CASE 3

Target Xbox or mixed-reality devices with one shared codebase

USE CASE 4

Prototype a Windows app using the React Native Gallery components

What is it built with?

C++JavaScriptTypeScript.NETWinAppSDK

How does it compare?

microsoft/react-native-windowsabseil/abseil-cppmarlinfirmware/marlin
Stars17,25817,25817,395
LanguageC++C++C++
Setup difficultyhardmoderatehard
Complexity4/54/53/5
Audiencedeveloperdeveloperdeveloper

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · hard Time to first run · 1day+

Windows-only build: needs Visual Studio, Windows 10 SDK, and a long native toolchain install.

In plain English

React Native for Windows is a Microsoft-built extension of React Native, Meta's framework for building mobile apps using JavaScript and React, that adds support for building native Windows applications. React Native lets developers write app logic once in JavaScript and have it run on multiple platforms, this project extends that to Windows devices including PCs, tablets, Xbox, and mixed-reality headsets. The idea behind React Native is "learn once, write anywhere": a developer familiar with building web apps using React can apply those same skills to build native apps, without learning a completely separate language or toolset for each platform. With React Native for Windows, you write your app UI and logic in JavaScript (or TypeScript), and the framework bridges that to native Windows components, meaning the app behaves and looks like a proper Windows application, not a web page wrapped in a browser window. The rendering uses Windows' native composition system, and newer architecture targets WinAppSDK Win32 by default. The framework supports the Windows 10 SDK and all Windows devices that run it. It is primarily written in C++ (for the native rendering and bridge layer) and integrates with .NET and UWP (Universal Windows Platform). Microsoft also provides a React Native Gallery app on the Microsoft Store demonstrating available components interactively. You would use this if you are a JavaScript developer who wants to build a Windows desktop app (for PC, Xbox, or mixed reality) while sharing code and skills with an existing React Native mobile project.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Scaffold a new react-native-windows app on Windows 11 and run it on my local machine
Prompt 2
Add Windows support to my existing React Native iOS and Android app with react-native-windows
Prompt 3
Show me how to build and sideload a react-native-windows app on Xbox
Prompt 4
Bridge a native WinAppSDK control into JavaScript using a react-native-windows TurboModule

Frequently asked questions

What is react-native-windows?

Microsoft's extension of React Native that builds native Windows apps from JavaScript or TypeScript. Targets PCs, tablets, Xbox, and mixed-reality headsets.

What language is react-native-windows written in?

Mainly C++. The stack also includes C++, JavaScript, TypeScript.

How hard is react-native-windows to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated hard, with roughly 1day+ to a first successful run.

Who is react-native-windows for?

Mainly developer.

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