1. Windows apps
  2. Internationalization

Build apps for a global audience

Expand your reach by publishing your app to over 200 markets and 100 languages.

Steps for going global

1
Design for Localization

Design and develop your app to support global markets by taking steps such as:

  • Separate localizable resources, like text and images, from your code.
  • Design the layout of your app to accommodate for text expansion and varying font sizes.
  • Support the input, storage, exchange, and display of text in any language.
  • Call globalization APIs to handle regional formats, such as dates, times, numbers, currency, and sort order.
Learn more
2
Localize your app

Translate your app's content with free automation tools from Microsoft.

You can leverage tools like the Multilingual App Toolkit to streamline your localization workflow within Visual Studio:

  • Install the free Multilingual App Toolkit to get terminology and UI translations from actual Microsoft products, as well as machine translation via Microsoft Translator services.
  • Export your strings to the industry standard XLIFF format to enable 3rd party localization.
Learn more
3
Localize your metadata

Translate your app description, keywords, images to help international customers learn about your app in their native language. You can also reserve additional names for your app to use in different languages (especially for descriptive names like "Bluetooth utility").

Learn more
4
Publish & promote your localized app

Expand your reach by publishing your app to over 200 markets. You'll find a list of the languages supported in the Windows Store, here.

Use localized Store badges to promote your app in the Windows Store.

Learn more

Windows 10 Apps: Designing for Global Customers

Learn how Visual Studio 2015 and the Multilingual App Toolkit can help you localize apps to reach a broader audience.

Helpful resources

Design for localization
  • Internationalization checklist

    Follow these best practices when creating code that supports multiple markets.

  • Sample code

    Check out the UWP globalization and localization samples to see how application resources are used to separate localizable content from app code.

  • Globalization APIs

    Get appropriate regional formats for dates, times, numbers, currency, sort order, and more.

  • Go Global

    Learn more about developing world-ready apps.

Localize your app & metadata
Market intelligence
Get help with localization

These third party providers offer localization services and may be able to assist you in going global:

Note: This list is provided only for informational purposes and is not an endorsement. Microsoft does not make any representation or warranty regarding these vendors or their services, and under no circumstances will Microsoft have any liability for your use of such vendors or services. Any questions, complaints or claims regarding such vendors or their services must be directed to the appropriate vendor.

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