| title | description | author | ms.author | ms.date | ms.topic | ms.localizationpriority | keywords |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Install the tools |
Start here with the most current versions of Unity, Visual Studio, and tools recommended for HoloLens and VR development. |
thetuvix |
alexturn |
05/11/2021 |
article |
high |
up-to-date, tools, get started, basics, unity, visual studio, toolkit, mixed reality headset, windows mixed reality headset, virtual reality headset, installation, Windows, HoloLens, emulator, unreal, openxr |
Get the tools you need to build applications for Microsoft HoloLens and Windows Mixed Reality immersive (VR) headsets. There is no separate SDK for Windows Mixed Reality development; you'll use Visual Studio with the Windows 10 SDK.
Don't have a mixed reality device? You can install the HoloLens emulator to test some functionality of mixed reality apps without a HoloLens. You can also use the Windows Mixed Reality simulator to test your mixed reality apps for immersive headsets.
We recommend installing either the Unity or Unreal game engine as the easiest way to get started creating mixed reality apps. However, you can also build against DirectX if you'd like to use a custom engine.
If you're using Unity, you can use Mixed Reality Toolkit for Unity's input simulation to test various types of input interactions such as hand-tracking and eye-tracking input. For Unreal projects, use the UX Tools plugin to test common input interactions and user experience features.
Tip
Bookmark this page and check it regularly to keep up-to-date on the most recent version of each tool recommended for mixed reality development.
| Tool | Notes |
|---|---|
 Windows 10 (Manual install link) Install the most recent version of Windows 10 so your PC's operating system matches the platform for which you're building mixed reality applications. |
Installing Windows 10 You can install the most recent version of Windows 10 via Windows Update in Settings or by creating installation media, using the link in the left column. See current release notes for information about the newest mixed reality features available with each release of Windows 10. Enable developer mode on your PC at Settings > Update & Security > For developers. Note for enterprise and corporate-managed PCs If your PC is managed by an your organization's IT department, you might need to contact them in order to update. 'N' versions of Windows Windows Mixed Reality immersive (VR) headsets are not supported on 'N' versions of Windows. |
 Visual Studio 2019 (16.8 or higher) (Install link) Fully-featured integrated development environment (IDE) for Windows and more. You'll use Visual Studio to write code, debug, test, and deploy. |
Installing Visual Studio 2019 Be sure you install the following workloads: ● Desktop development with C++ ● Universal Windows Platform (UWP) development Within the UWP workload, be sure to check the following optional component if you'll be developing for HoloLens: ● USB Device Connectivity Note about USB Connectivity You need to check the box IP over USB during installation, which isn't checked by default. This is required to communicate with a HoloLens over USB. Note about Unity Unless you're intentionally trying to install a newer (non-LTS) version of Unity, we recommend not installing the Unity workload as part of Visual Studio installation, and instead install the Unity 2019 LTS stream. Known issues There are some known issues with debugging mixed reality apps in Visual Studio 2019 version 16.0. Please ensure that you update to Visual Studio 2019 version 16.8 or higher. |
Windows 10 SDK (10.0.18362.0) (Manual install link) Provides the latest headers, libraries, metadata, and tools for building Windows 10 apps on HoloLens 2. |
To build HoloLens 2 apps, you must install the Windows SDK, build 18362 or later. If you are only developing applications for desktop Windows Mixed Reality headsets or HoloLens (1st gen), you can use the Windows SDK installed by Visual Studio 2017. |
 HoloLens 2 Emulator (Windows Holographic, version 21H1 May 2021 Update) (Install link: 10.0.20346.1002) HoloLens (1st gen) Emulator (Install link: 10.0.17763.134) The emulator lets you run applications on a HoloLens virtual machine image without a physical HoloLens. |
See Using the HoloLens emulator for more information on getting started with the emulator. Your system must support Hyper-V for the emulator installation to succeed. Reference the System Requirements section below for details. Note on HoloLens (1st gen) Emulator Visual Studio 2017 is required to successfully complete the installation. If you're installing the HoloLens (1st gen) emulator with Visual Studio 2019 you need to deselect the VS templates and install them from the Visual Studio Marketplace. |
Now that you have your Windows 10, Visual Studio, and Windows 10 SDK ready to go, let's install and setup the engine of your choice.
If you still need to choose an engine, see the Introduction to Mixed Reality development.