Get the tools you need to build apps for Windows, including Windows Mixed Reality apps. There is no separate SDK for Windows Mixed Reality development; you'll use Visual Studio with the Windows 10 SDK (version 1511 or later). Don't have a mixed reality device? You can install the HoloLens emulator to build 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 the Unity game engine as an easy way to get started creating mixed reality apps.
Select the Universal Windows Platform development workload
Select the Game Development with Unity workload
You may deselect the Unity Editor optional component since you'll be installing a newer version of Unity from the instructions below.
Visual Studio 2015 Update 3:
If you choose a custom install, ensure that Tools (1.4) and Windows 10 SDK (10.0.10586) is enabled under Universal Windows App Development Tools node.
All editions of Visual Studio 2015 Update 3 and Visual Studio 2017 are supported (including Community).
Note: The HoloLens Visual Studio project templates are currently only supported on Visual Studio 2015 Update 3 and are not compatible with Visual Studio 2017.
The emulator allows you to run apps on Windows Holographic in a virtual machine without a HoloLens. Build 10.0.14393.0 includes the latest updates to Windows Holographic on HoloLens. If you have already installed a previous build of the emulator, this build will install side-by-side. This package also includes holographic DirectX project templates for Visual Studio.
Notes:
Your system must support Hyper-V for the Emulator installation to succeed. Please reference the System Requirements section below for the details.
If you are using Visual Studio 2017 and do not have Visual Studio 2015 installed, you must update the registry to work around a prerequisite check
Add or locate this key: HKLM\SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\Analog
Add a REG_SZ value in that key with name: “OverrideHoloLensSDKPrerequisites”, and value: “TRUE”
If you are on an x64 version of Windows, also add or locate this key: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Analog
Add a REG_SZ value in that key with name: “OverrideHoloLensSDKPrerequisites”, and value: “TRUE”
Last known release: 6.1 issued November 16th, 2016 Vuforia enables you to create holographic apps that can recognize specific things in the environment and attach experiences to them. Review the getting started guide to learn how easy it is to extend the capabilities of your holographic apps with the Vuforia Engine. You can get a free development license at developer.vuforia.com.
Install Visual Studio 2017 and the Windows 10 Creators Update SDK
Select the Universal Windows Platform development workload
If developing with Unity, select the Game Development with Unity workload
You may deselect the Unity Editor optional component since you'll be installing a newer version of Unity.
All editions of Visual Studio 2017 are supported (including Community).
Unity Mixed Reality Technical Preview
Install Unity 5.6 Mixed Reality Technical Preview and Windows Store .NET Scripting Backend
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The public builds of Unity do not yet include support for building mixed reality apps on Windows desktop. Until public builds are available, you'll need to acquire a private build of the Mixed Reality Technical Preview (MRTP) directly from Unity.
Download the Mixed Reality Technical Preview (MRTP) from the location Unity sent you
Run the UnityDownloadAssistant
Make sure to select the Windows Store .NET Scripting Backend (you may install the docs as well).
The Windows 10 SDK works best on the Windows 10 operating system. This SDK is also supported on Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2008 R2. Note that not all tools are supported on older operating systems. Visual Studio 2015 also has hardware requirements.
HoloLens Emulator
The HoloLens emulator is based on Hyper-V and uses RemoteFx for hardware accelerated graphics. To use the emulator, make sure your PC meets these hardware requirements:
64-bit Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education (The Home edition does not support Hyper-V or the HoloLens emulator)
64-bit CPU
CPU with 4 cores (or multiple CPU's with a total of 4 cores)
GPU (The emulator might work with an unsupported GPU, but will be significantly slower)
DirectX 11.0 or later
WDDM 1.2 driver or later
If your system meets the above requirements, please ensure that the "Hyper-V" feature has been enabled on your system through Control Panel -> Programs -> Programs and Features -> Turn Windows Features on or off -> ensure that "Hyper-V" is selected for the Emulator installation to be successful.
Immersive headset development (minimum)
Processor
Notebook: Intel Mobile Core i5 7th generation CPU, Dual-Core with Hyper Threading
Desktop: Intel Desktop i5 6th generation CPU, Dual-Core with Hyper Threading OR AMD FX4350 4.2Ghz Quad-Core equivalent
Headset connectors: 1x available graphics display port for headset (HDMI 1.4 or DisplayPort 1.2 for 60Hz headsets, HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2 for 90Hz headsets)
Resolution: SVGA (800x600) or greater
Bit depth: 32 bits of color per pixel
Memory: 8 GB of RAM or greater
Storage: >10 GB additional free space
Connectivity:
1x available USB port for headset (USB 3.0 Type-A) Note: USB must supply a minimum of 900mA
Bluetooth 4.0 (for accessory connectivity)
Immersive headset development (recommended)
The following specs are recommended for development at this time. There are currently known issues with some hardware configurations, particularly with notebooks that have hybrid graphics.
Headset connectors: 1x available graphics display port for headset (HDMI 1.4 or DisplayPort 1.2 for 60Hz headsets, HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2 for 90Hz headsets)
Resolution: SVGA (800x600) or greater
Bit depth: 32 bits of color per pixel
Memory: 16 GB of RAM or greater
Storage: >10 GB additional free space
Connectivity:
1x available USB port for headset (USB 3.0 Type-A) Note: USB must supply a minimum of 900mA
Bluetooth 4.0 (for accessory connectivity)
Troubleshooting
You may see an error while installing the emulator that you need "Visual Studio 2015 Update 1 and UWP tools version 1.2". There are three possible causes of this error:
You do not have Visual Studio 2015 Update 1 or later. Follow the instructions above to install the latest version, Visual Studio 2015 Update 3. If you're using Visual Studio 2017, please note the workaround in the 'Installation Checklist' section.
You have Visual Studio 2015 Update 1 or later, but you do not have the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) tools installed. This is an optional feature for Visual Studio. You can add this feature by modifying your Visual Studio installation in Programs and Features.
You have Visual Studio 2017, but do not have Visual Studio 2015. To work around this issue, follow the instructions above to set a registry key to skip the pre-requisite check. Once installed, the emulator is compatible with Visual Studio 2017.
You may also see an error installing the emulator on a non-PRO/Enterprise/Education SKU of Windows or if you do not have Hyper-V feature enabled.
Please read the 'System Requirements' section above for a complete set of requirements
Please also ensure that Hyper-V feature has been enabled on your system.
