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WinForms and WPF apps use Microsoft.NET.Sdk

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Windows Forms and Windows Presentation Framework (WPF) apps now use the .NET SDK (Microsoft.NET.Sdk) instead of the .NET Core WinForms and WPF SDK (Microsoft.NET.Sdk.WindowsDesktop).

Change description

In previous .NET Core versions, WinForms and WPF apps used a separate project SDK (Microsoft.NET.Sdk.WindowsDesktop). Starting in .NET 5, the WinForms and WPF SDK has been unified with the .NET SDK (Microsoft.NET.Sdk). In addition, new target framework monikers (TFM) replace netcoreapp and netstandard in .NET 5. The following example shows the changes you'd need to make for a WPF project file when retargeting to .NET 5 or later.

In previous .NET Core versions:

<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk.WindowsDesktop">

  <PropertyGroup>
    <OutputType>WinExe</OutputType>
    <TargetFramework>netcoreapp3.1</TargetFramework>
    <UseWPF>true</UseWPF>
  </PropertyGroup>

</Project>

In .NET 5 and later versions:

<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">

  <PropertyGroup>
    <OutputType>WinExe</OutputType>
    <TargetFramework>net5.0-windows</TargetFramework>
    <UseWPF>true</UseWPF>
  </PropertyGroup>

</Project>

Version introduced

.NET SDK 5.0.100

In your WPF or Windows Forms project file:

  • Update the Sdk attribute to Microsoft.NET.Sdk.
  • Update the TargetFramework property to net5.0-windows.

Affected APIs

None.