Install the Windows debugger

WinDbg is a debugger that can be used to analyze crash dumps, debug live user-mode and kernel-mode code, and examine CPU registers and memory.

WinDbg logo.

This latest version features a more modern user experience with an updated interface, fully-fledged scripting capabilities, an extensible debugging data model, built-in Time Travel Debugging (TTD) support, and many additional features.

For more information, see WinDbg Overview.

Note

Formerly released as WinDbg Preview in the Microsoft Store, this version leverages the same underlying engine as WinDbg (classic) and supports all the same commands, extensions, and workflows.

Install WinDbg directly

Download the WinDbg installer file below, then open the file and follow the prompts.

Install WinDbg with Microsoft Store

Download from Microsoft Store button

Install WinDbg with Windows Package Manager

To install WinDbg using the Windows Package Manager, run the following from the command line / PowerShell:

winget install Microsoft.WinDbg

Notes

Requirements

  • Supported Operating Systems:
    • Windows 11 (all versions)
    • Windows 10 Anniversary Update (version 1607) or newer
  • Processor architectures:
    • x64 and ARM64

Updating WinDbg

When installed directly or with Microsoft Store, WinDbg will periodically check for new versions in the background and auto-update if necessary.

When installed with Windows Package Manager, run this command to update WinDbg:

winget upgrade Microsoft.WinDbg

Troubleshooting

If you encounter difficulties installing or keeping WinDbg updated, see Troubleshoot installation issues with the App Installer file.

If you find any bugs or have a feature request, you can follow the feedback button in the ribbon to go to the GitHub page where you can file a new issue.

Getting started with WinDbg

To get started with WinDbg, see Getting Started with Windows Debugging.

To get started with debugging kernel-mode drivers, see Debug Universal Drivers - Step by Step Lab (Echo Kernel-Mode). This is a step-by-step lab that shows how to use WinDbg to debug Echo, a sample driver that uses the Kernel-Mode Driver Framework (KMDF).

To debug older versions of Windows, use WinDbg (classic) available with Debugging Tools for Windows.