How can I use XAML controls made by C++/WinRT from C# (as WinUI3)?

[vmx17]

How can I consume XAML controls made by C++/WinRT from C# (as WinUI3)?
I think it can in UWP project but can not find out how in Windows App SDK. project.

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• ID: e8a199ae-561b-98b6-8cf0-101aedbfe599
• Version Independent ID: a8091c04-868d-51aa-f4d1-207c5c795235
• Content: XAML custom (templated) controls with C++/WinRT - UWP applications
• Content Source: windows-apps-src/cpp-and-winrt-apis/xaml-cust-ctrl.md
• Product: uwp
• Technology: platform
• GitHub Login: @stevewhims
• Microsoft Alias: stwhi

[stevewhims]

Hi, @vmx17.

For a UWP project I believe you'd create a C++ WRC (see Windows Runtime components with C++/WinRT). You'd implement a subclass of Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Control. And then consume that WRC from a C# app. There was a time in the past when you couldn't use XAML types in a WRC, but I believe you can these days.

Now, for WinUI 3 (and the Windows App SDK), I would begin by investigating whether you can do the same thing. WinUI 3 types are Windows Runtime types (even though they're not UWP types). So I would try creating a C++ WRC, but implement a subclass of Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.Control (instead of Windows.Xxx). I haven't tried that, so I don't know whether it works. And this topic is for UWP apps. But the above is what I'd try first.

If you run into any issues, you could try the following resources:

Here are all of the developer support resources, for completeness.

• Microsoft Q&A is the right place to lobby for a change or a new feature, to make a suggestion, or to ask a product question.
• For community assistance with development questions, there are our forums, and StackOverflow.
• The Windows developer support site explains other support options.
• The Visual Studio developer community is available, and responsive. The former User Voice feature is now there on the Suggest a feature tab, if you want to lobby for a change, a feature, or to make a suggestion.
• For developer issues, or suspected product bugs, there's Microsoft Support; a support engineer will look at the repro and see whether the issue is a Microsoft product bug, or something else. If it's a bug with a Microsoft product then the ticket will be free of charge.

I'll close this issue, since there's nothing to update in the docs, and this feedback channel is for reporting problems with the topic.

I'm sorry I couldn't help further.

Thanks!
-Steve