A Complete Guide - .NET MAUI Installing .NET MAUI and Visual Studio Setup

Last Updated: 03 Jul, 2025   
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Explaining in Detail: Installing .NET MAUI and Setting Up Visual Studio

.NET Multi-platform App UI (MAUI) is a comprehensive framework for building native user interface applications for multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows, using C# and XAML. It's part of the broader .NET ecosystem, combining modern .NET capabilities with cross-platform development to create rich, high-performance applications.

System Requirements

Before diving into installation, ensure your system meets the following prerequisites:

  • Windows: Windows 10 version 21H2 or later, or Windows 11.
  • macOS: macOS Big Sur 11 or later (Intel-based Macs), or macOS Monterey 12.3 or later (Apple Silicon-based Macs).
  • Visual Studio: The latest version of Visual Studio 2022 with MAUI workloads.
  • Development Environments:
    • For iOS: Install Xcode 14 from the Mac App Store. macOS is required.
    • For Android: Install Android Studio and set up necessary SDKs.
    • For Desktop (macOS and Windows): No additional installations are required.

Installing .NET MAUI

.NET MAUI requires a specific version of .NET SDK, typically the latest release. This can be installed via the .NET website or through Visual Studio during setup.

  1. Download .NET SDK

  2. Post-Installation Configuration

    • After installing Visual Studio, open it and go to Tools > Get Tools and Features.
    • Verify that the “.NET Multi-platform App UI development” workload is checked. If not, click Modify and add the workload.
    • Additionally, check for any updates that might have become available since the initial installation via Help > Check for Updates.

iOS Development Setup

Developing for iOS requires a Mac with Xcode installed. If you're using an M1 Mac, note that Xcode 13 or newer is needed due to architecture differences between Apple Silicon and Intel chips.

  1. Install Xcode

    • Download and install Xcode from the Mac App Store.
    • Open Xcode once after installation to agree to its license terms.

  2. Pair Visual Studio with Mac

    • In Visual Studio, access the menu by clicking on Visual Studio > Preferences (or Tools > Options).
    • Navigate to Environment > Connections on Windows, or Projects > Remote Build on macOS.
    • Click Add... to pair your Windows Visual Studio instance with the Mac running Xcode. Follow the authentication process, which usually involves entering a code or configuring certificate authorities.
    • Ensure that the Mac is running and connected to the same network as your Windows machine.

  3. Verify Pairing

    • Once paired, verify the connection by checking if Visual Studio successfully syncs with the iOS SDKs and simulators provided by Xcode.
    • You can test this by creating a new .NET MAUI iOS project and attempting to build it.

Android Development Setup

Android development requires setting up a compatible Android SDK and simulator/emulator setup.

  1. Install Android Studio

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Implement .NET MAUI Installing .NET MAUI and Visual Studio Setup

Complete Examples, Step by Step for Beginners: .NET MAUI Installing .NET MAUI and Visual Studio Setup

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure your system meets the requirements for .NET MAUI development:

  • Supported OS: Windows 10 (1903 or later), Windows 11, or macOS Big Sur (11.0 or later).
  • Processor: Intel/AMD with SSE2 support or Apple M1 processor.
  • RAM: 8 GB of RAM (recommended).

Step 1: Install .NET 6 SDK

.NET MAUI is built on top of .NET 6 SDK. You must have the .NET 6 SDK installed on your machine.

  1. Download .NET 6 SDK

Step 2: Install Visual Studio 2022

Visual Studio is the primary IDE for .NET MAUI development.

  1. Download Visual Studio 2022
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Top 10 Interview Questions & Answers on .NET MAUI Installing .NET MAUI and Visual Studio Setup

1. What is .NET MAUI?

Answer: .NET Multi-platform App UI (MAUI) is a framework for building native user-interface applications for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android from a single codebase using C# and XAML. It aims to simplify cross-platform app development by leveraging the .NET ecosystem.

2. Which version of Visual Studio should I use for .NET MAUI development?

Answer: For .NET MAUI development, you need at least Visual Studio 2022 version 17.4 or later with the .NET Multi-platform App UI development workload installed. Make sure your Visual Studio is up-to-date to incorporate all the latest features and performance improvements.

3. How do I install the required workloads for .NET MAUI in Visual Studio?

Answer: To install the necessary workloads for .NET MAUI, open Visual Studio Installer, select "Modify," check the ".NET Multi-platform App UI development" workload, and click "Modify." This will install all dependencies required for MAUI, including .NET 6 SDK or newer.

4. Do I need to install additional SDKs for .NET MAUI besides the .NET SDK?

Answer: Besides having the latest .NET SDK installed, you also need the Android SDK and Apple XCode (for macOS) if you’re targeting those platforms. Visual Studio will guide you through the installation process of these SDKs during the setup or when creating your first MAUI project.

5. What are the system requirements to run .NET MAUI on my machine?

Answer: You need:

  • A Windows 10 (1909) / Windows 11 Pro / Enterprise / Education x64 PC with at least 16 GB RAM for Android and iOS development.
  • Or, a MacOS machine running macOS Monterey (v12) or newer for iOS development.
  • Ensure that you have a supported version of Visual Studio installed as mentioned earlier.

6. Can I develop .NET MAUI apps on Visual Studio Code?

Answer: While Visual Studio provides the best integration and tools for .NET MAUI, you can develop and manage MAUI projects on Visual Studio Code (VS Code). However, it requires manual configuration and lacks some of the built-in capabilities of Visual Studio, such as hot reload, advanced debugging, and automatic platform SDK management. It’s generally recommended to use Visual Studio for smoother development.

7. Should I enable any specific settings in Visual Studio for .NET MAUI?

Answer: Yes, consider enabling the following settings:

  • Navigate to "Tools" > "Options" > "Xamarin" > "Hot Reload" and check "Enable Hot Reload on project start."
  • Enable "Developer Mode" in Windows Settings under Update & Security to allow certain functionalities needed for UWP app development.
  • On MacOS, XCode must be properly configured, and command-line tools must be installed.

8. How do I create a new .NET MAUI project in Visual Studio?

Answer: To create a new .NET MAUI project:

  1. In Visual Studio, go to "File" > "New" > "Project."
  2. Search for ".NET MAUI" in the new project dialog.
  3. Select the appropriate template (e.g., .NET MAUI Blazor App, .NET MAUI App) and click "Next."
  4. Configure your project details (Name, Location, Solution name) and click "Create."

9. What are the NuGet packages necessary for a basic .NET MAUI project?

Answer: A typical .NET MAUI project does not require additional NuGet package installations if you've used the default template as recommended. The template already includes the minimum essential packages like Microsoft.Maui, Microsoft.Maui.Controls, and Microsoft.Maui.Essentials. However, depending on your project's needs, you may add more packages from the NuGet Package Manager.

10. After setting up, how can I test my .NET MAUI application on different platforms?

Answer: You can test your .NET MAUI application on various platforms by configuring your target platform in Visual Studio:

  • Windows: Set the target to .NET MAUI Windows and debug/run.
  • MacOS: Set the target to .NET MAUI macOS and debug/run (you need a Mac with XCode).
  • Android: Connect an Android device, set it as the target, and debug/run. Alternatively, you can use the built-in Android emulator.
  • iOS: Use a Mac with XCode connected to an iOS device, set the target to .NET MAUI iOS, and debug/run. The iOS simulator on a PC is not supported; only XCode can simulate iOS apps on a Mac.

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