Port and Optimize Windows Applications for Arm
The Arm AppReady program for Windows helps you move your application from x86 compatibility to native Windows on Arm. It provides technical resources and support to resolve porting and performance issues on Arm-based Windows devices.
Choose Your Starting Point
Better understand your software dependencies and the effort needed to create a native port of your application.
Check Your App's Dependencies
Windows on Arm software ecosystem dashboard
Identify Dependencies Blocking Native Builds
Set up Visual Studio for Windows on Arm
Build and Test Windows on Arm Binaries
Fails → continue with Assess
Optimize Performance Once Running Natively
Runs → go to Optimize
Next Steps
- ASSESS
- BUILD
- Deploy
- Optimize
Identify incompatibilities – audit your codebase before porting.
| Example workflow | Common focus patterns | Optional automation and AI assistance | Outcome |
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1. Review dependencies, plugins, drivers, and SDKs
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A dependency map and a clear list of blockers. |
Get a working Windows on Arm build – compile and run your application natively.
| Example workflow | Tools | Optional automation and AI assistance | Outcome |
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1. Set up your build environment
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For a longer list, see the Windows on Arm Software Dashboard. |
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A running Windows on Arm build and a list of runtime issues. |
Fix blockers and prepare to ship – make the application stable and deployable.
| Example workflow | Common focus patterns | Optional automation and AI assistance | Outcome |
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1. Replace or update unsupported dependencies
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A stable, installable Windows on Arm application. |
Validate and optimize performance – ensure the application performs well on Arm.
| Example workflow | Tools | Success criteria | Outcome |
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1. Profile CPU, memory, and I/O
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→ Visual Studio Profiler |
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A performant, stable Windows on Arm application with validated improvements over emulation. |
Ask an Expert
Need support from Windows on Arm experts?
Complete the contact form and the team will be in touch.
Need Additional Help with App Compatibility on Windows on Arm?
Microsoft App Assure Arm Advisory Service provides direct engineering support to optimize apps for Windows on Arm. Eligible Microsoft customers can engage Microsoft App Assure.
Explore Real Native Performance Journeys
Explore accelerated applications already running natively on Arm, or review case studies to see which of your tools and workflows are Windows on Arm-ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Arm AppReady for Windows program is a developer support initiative designed to help software developers build, port, and optimize applications for Windows on Arm. It brings together practical guidance, tools, code samples, learning resources, and technical best practices in one place to make it easier to deliver high-quality native Arm64 experiences on Windows. Additionally, it gives developers a way to open a support ticket with Arm for additional help.
The program is intended for Windows developers, independent software vendors, open source contributors, and software teams that want to build new apps for Arm-based Windows devices or bring existing applications to Arm64. It is relevant for both developers who are just getting started and for teams looking to improve performance, compatibility, or AI-enabled application experiences.
Any developer interested in building a Windows on Arm application is welcome to visit the AppReady website and leverage the developer tools, example code, case studies, and links, all aimed at helping developers build or port native Windows on Arm applications. If you are stuck or blocked while migrating or porting your application, you can also request help from our Developer Relations engineering team.
The program was created to reduce friction for developers targeting Windows on Arm and to accelerate the availability of native Arm64 applications. As the ecosystem grows, developers need easier access to the right tools, clearer guidance, and practical examples that help them move from interest to execution. In addition, there have been explicit asks from developers and Microsoft for additional resourcing and expertise from Arm to help move developers forward in their Windows on Arm journey.
The program gives developers access to curated self-serve technical content and guidance without requiring sign-in. An additional benefit of the program is the ability for developers to open a support request and get a response from Arm Developer Relations.
One of the aims of this program is to make Windows on Arm developer resources discoverable and readily accessible. There are links to common open source and Microsoft toolchains, libraries, frameworks, and compilers. There is also documentation, learning paths, case studies, and code samples to help developers understand how to use the available resources. We are always adding new content, so please check back frequently.
Yes, we recognize that AI-enabled workflows and agents are becoming more useful and practical all the time. Arm is continuing to refine best practices documentation for their use in porting applications to Windows on Arm. Check back as we continue to learn more and provide additional guidance.
Arm AppReady and Microsoft App Assure are complementary programs designed to help developers successfully bring applications to market on Windows on Arm. Arm brings deep expertise in Arm hardware, processors, architecture, and performance optimization, while Microsoft complements this with expertise in Windows and the broader software ecosystem, including platform integration, developer tools, and operating system support. The Arm AppReady and Microsoft App Assure teams work closely together to help ensure applications are well-tuned to take advantage of the efficiency, scalability, and power characteristics of Arm-based devices.
Native Arm applications have demonstrated better performance and efficiency on Windows. Microsoft’s Prism is an important bridge for many applications. Prism helps ensure compatibility and lowers the barrier to entry by allowing many existing applications to run on Windows on Arm today. However, native Arm64 applications deliver the best performance, responsiveness, battery life, and access to the full capabilities of modern Arm-based systems, including AI acceleration.
Arm believes the Windows on Arm app ecosystem has made significant progress and is in a much stronger place than it was just a few years ago, with both native app availability and overall compatibility continuing to improve across the ecosystem.
AppReady supports Arm’s broader Arm Everywhere strategy by helping strengthen the software layer of the Arm ecosystem. Arm Everywhere is about expanding Arm’s reach across cloud, edge, client, and AI-driven computing, and that only works if developers can easily build and optimize software for Arm-based platforms. AppReady helps make that possible by improving access to tools, guidance, and practical resources for building Windows software.
