Modernize or port a Windows app with GitHub Copilot

If you have an existing Windows app — a UWP project, a WPF or WinForms desktop app, or a cross-platform Electron or Flutter app — GitHub Copilot can significantly speed up the process of updating it for modern Windows. This article shows the key scenarios and the tools that make them practical.

Before you start

Make sure you have the key tools configured:

• GitHub Copilot with the WinUI 3 development plugin — handles API migration guidance and generates correct modern code
• Microsoft Learn MCP Server — gives Copilot access to current Windows App SDK documentation
• winapp CLI — adds package identity and Windows packaging to any framework

If you haven't set these up yet, start with Set up GitHub Copilot for Windows development.

Migrate a UWP app to WinUI 3

WinUI 3 is the modern successor to UWP's UI layer. The APIs are similar but not identical — namespaces have moved, some controls have changed, and the app model is different. The WinUI 3 migration guide skill makes this tractable.

Run the migration guide

In Copilot Chat, run the migration guide skill:

/winui3-development:winui3-migration-guide

This produces a structured migration plan tailored to your project, including:

• A checklist of project file and manifest changes
• A table of API namespace mappings (e.g. Windows.UI.Xaml → Microsoft.UI.Xaml)
• Common control substitutions and before/after code samples
• Packaging and deployment differences

Migrate a file

Open a UWP source file and ask Copilot to migrate it:

"Migrate this file from UWP to WinUI 3. Replace all deprecated UWP APIs with their WinUI 3 equivalents. Flag anything that needs manual review."

The WinUI 3 plugin's custom instructions guide Copilot to make correct substitutions. Common ones include:

What Copilot can and can't do automatically

Copilot handles most namespace remapping and straightforward API substitutions well. There are areas that need human review:

• App model changes — UWP lifecycle events (Suspending, Resuming) don't map directly to WinUI 3; Copilot can suggest alternatives but you'll need to verify behavior
• XAML resource dictionaries — theme resources and custom styles may need manual adjustment
• Background tasks — the packaging model is different; use winapp CLI to set up the new manifest entries

Modernize a WPF or WinForms app

WPF and WinForms apps can adopt Windows App SDK features without a full rewrite. Copilot + the Learn MCP Server makes it easy to find and integrate specific features.

Add push notifications

"I have a WPF app targeting .NET 8. Show me how to add Windows push notifications using the Windows App SDK. The app is not currently packaged."

With the Learn MCP Server, Copilot fetches the current Windows App SDK notification documentation and generates integration code. It will also note that notifications require package identity — and suggest using winapp CLI to add it:

winapp init
winapp create-debug-identity --publisher "CN=MyApp"

Modernize the app's look and feel

"My WPF app looks dated. Make it look modern with a dark mode option and a navigation sidebar like modern Windows apps use."

Add a file picker using Windows App SDK

"Replace my WPF OpenFileDialog usage with the Windows App SDK StorageFilePicker for a better modern Windows experience."

Add Windows notifications

"Add a notification that tells the user when a background task completes."

Copilot will recognize this requires Windows package identity and suggest using winapp CLI to add MSIX packaging — explaining what it is and why it's needed. Once packaging is set up, it will provide the Windows notification code.

Ask Copilot to walk you through it:

"I want my app to show a Windows toast notification. Explain what I need to set up first."

Add Windows features to a cross-platform app

Electron, Flutter, React Native, and Rust apps can all become first-class Windows citizens with winapp CLI. Copilot helps you adapt your code for Windows APIs once you have package identity.

Electron

npm install @microsoft/winappcli --save-dev
npx winapp init
npx winapp node create-addon --feature notifications

Once the addon is scaffolded, ask Copilot to integrate it:

"I've scaffolded a Windows notifications addon for my Electron app using winapp CLI. Show me how to send a notification from the main process when a download completes."

For a complete walkthrough, see the Electron setup guide.

Flutter

winapp init

"I have a Flutter app for Windows. Show me how to use the Windows App SDK to add a system tray icon with a context menu."

See the Flutter guide for Windows-specific setup.

WPF / .NET

"I have a WPF app. Walk me through using winapp CLI to add MSIX packaging and then add an on-device AI feature using the Windows AI APIs."

See the .NET guide.

What gets unlocked by package identity

Many powerful Windows features require package identity — which winapp CLI can add to any framework. Once you have it, Copilot can help you use:

Next steps

• Agentic AI tools for Windows development — full details on the WinUI 3 plugin and Learn MCP Server
• Windows App Development CLI (winapp CLI) — full reference for adding Windows features to any framework
• Windows App SDK documentation
• Windows AI APIs — on-device AI features available once you have package identity