react-native-windows
A framework for building native Windows apps (PCs, tablets, Xbox, Mixed Reality) using React and JavaScript.
What is react-native-windows?
React Native for Windows is a framework that allows developers to build native Windows applications using React and JavaScript. It extends the React Native ecosystem to support the Windows platform, enabling apps for PCs, tablets, Xbox, and Mixed Reality devices. The framework solves the problem of creating performant, native Windows apps while leveraging existing web development skills and React components.
JavaScript and React developers who need to build native applications for the Windows ecosystem, including desktop, gaming, and mixed reality devices. Teams looking to extend their React Native mobile apps to Windows or create Windows-only applications with a modern web-based development workflow.
Developers choose React Native for Windows because it provides a true native Windows experience using familiar React paradigms, reducing the learning curve for Windows development. Its integration with the React Native ecosystem allows code sharing across platforms, and the new Fabric architecture offers modern rendering performance with WinAppSDK support.
Overview
A framework for building native Windows apps with React.
Use Cases
Best For
- Extending existing React Native mobile apps to Windows desktops and tablets
- Building native Windows applications using JavaScript and React skills
- Creating apps for Xbox or Mixed Reality devices with a React-based UI
- Developing WinUI 3 or WinAppSDK applications with a React component model
- Teams seeking a 'learn once, write anywhere' approach for Windows and other platforms
- Prototyping or building production Windows apps with interactive samples like React Native Gallery
Not Ideal For
- Projects targeting Windows versions older than 10, as it strictly requires the Windows 10 SDK
- Teams needing deep, low-level access to legacy Win32 APIs or unsupported native controls
- Applications where minimal JavaScript overhead and maximum native performance are critical, favoring pure C++ or C# development
Pros & Cons
Pros
Supports all Windows 10+ devices including PCs, tablets, Xbox, and Mixed Reality, enabling a single codebase for diverse hardware as highlighted in the README.
Builds on the React Native framework, allowing JavaScript and React developers to apply existing skills to native Windows app creation, reducing the learning curve.
The new Fabric architecture targets WinAppSDK with Composition and XAML island support, offering improved performance and flexibility for future-proof apps, per the roadmap.
Provides interactive samples like the React Native Gallery app and extensive documentation, easing onboarding with real-world examples and guides.
Cons
Development environment setup involves specific Windows SDK versions and dependencies, which can be time-consuming and error-prone compared to simpler web frameworks.
The transition to the new Fabric renderer is ongoing, potentially leading to breaking changes or unstable features, as noted in the pinned issue on the roadmap.
While it covers many Windows APIs, some advanced or niche native functionalities may not be fully supported, requiring custom native modules and extra development effort.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Projects
react-native-webCross-platform React UI packages
react-native-macos[deprecated in favor of https://microsoft.github.io/react-native-windows/] React Native for macOS is an experimental fork for writing desktop apps using Cocoa
reactxpLibrary for cross-platform app development.
@areslabs/alita一套把React Native代码转换成微信小程序代码的转换引擎工具。我们不造轮子，不发明新框架，只是提供工具把RN扩展到微信小程序端。
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