In short: it's a free C and C++ compiler for Microsoft Windows.
GCC (GNU Compiler Collection) is a free and open source compiler for C and C++ (and other languages like Objective-C, Fortran, D).
MinGW-w64 is a free and open source C library for targetting Windows 32-bit and 64-bit platforms.
The combination of these results in a free C/C++ compiler for Windows.
Even though GCC and MinGW-w64 can be used on other platforms (e.g. Linux) to generate Windows executables, the WinLibs project only focusses on building versions that run natively on Windows.
Also some additional tools are added, including:
- GDB - the GNU Project debugger
- GNU Binutils - a collection of binary tools
- GNU Make - a tool which controls the generation of executables and other non-source files
- Yasm - The Yasm Modular Assembler Project
- NASM - The Netwide Assembler
- JWasm - A free MASM-compatible assembler
- LLVM/Clang/LLD/LLDB - The LLVM Compiler Infrastructure
This is a standalone build, which means this download offers a complete compiler environment for Windows.
In the future WinLibs plans to also release binary packages of many open source libraries and applications built with this compiler.
Publisher’s description
What is WinLibs (POSIX threads, UCRT runtime)?
WinLibs (POSIX threads, UCRT runtime) is a languages & sdk program for Windows from Brecht Sanders.
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 64-bit and 32-bit as Portable. It runs without installation (portable).
Updates and version history
The current version is 16.2.0-14.0.0-r3, released on October 18, 2026. 19 versions are listed since October 5, 2024, each with links to its own installer files. That is about 9.3 releases a year. The last update is less than a month old.
Popularity and file types
The source code on GitHub (brechtsanders/winlibs_mingw) has 1,368 stars. Similar programs include Go Programming Language, LLVM and CMake.
Project description on GitHub: “winlibs standalone build of GCC compiler and MinGW-w64”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Portable: runs without installation
- Frequent updates (about 9.3 a year)
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
In short: WinLibs (POSIX threads, UCRT runtime) is a languages & sdk tool for 64-bit and 32-bit PCs. It is actively maintained.
Is WinLibs (POSIX threads, UCRT runtime) safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
3C69305081E4A647144339A936244FCF7D3D9E558319E1AD7BE2CD2886D4B6A1· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 19 versions ›19 versions over 2 years · about 9.3 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16.2.0-14.0.0-r3Latest | October 18, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIP32-bit ZIP |
| 16.2.0-14.0.0-r2 | September 29, 2026 | — | 32-bit ZIP64-bit ZIP |
| 16.2.0-14.0.0-r1 | August 9, 2026 | — | 32-bit ZIP64-bit ZIP |
| 16.1.0-14.0.0-r4 | July 30, 2026 | — | 32-bit ZIP64-bit ZIP |
| 16.1.0-14.0.0-r3 | June 10, 2026 | — | 32-bit ZIP64-bit ZIP |
| 16.1.0-14.0.0-r2 | May 16, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIP32-bit ZIP |
| 16.1.0-14.0.0-r1 | May 2, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIP32-bit ZIP |
| 15.2.0-14.0.0-r7 | March 30, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIP32-bit ZIP |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id BrechtSanders.WinLibs.POSIX.UCRT -eProgram files (.exe): c++.exe, cmake.exe, g++.exe, gcc.exe, gdb.exe, gfortran.exe, jwasm.exe, ld.exe, nasm.exe, yasm.exe
Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- Brecht Sanders
- Category
- Languages & SDKs
- Licence
- Multiple licenses
- Source code
- github.com/brechtsanders/winlibs_mingw
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit, 32-bit
- Installer
- Portable
- Version
- 16.2.0-14.0.0-r3
- Released
- October 18, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- December 11, 2024
- Versions listed
- 19
- Updates / year
- 9.3
- GitHub stars
- 1,368
- GitHub forks
- 61
- Website
- winlibs.com
- winget ID
- BrechtSanders.WinLibs.POSIX.UCRT
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is WinLibs (POSIX threads, UCRT runtime) safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install WinLibs (POSIX threads, UCRT runtime) with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Does WinLibs (POSIX threads, UCRT runtime) run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit and 32-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of WinLibs (POSIX threads, UCRT runtime)?
The versions page lists all 19 versions with links to their official installer files, back to October 5, 2024.
Can I use WinLibs (POSIX threads, UCRT runtime) without administrator rights?
Yes, it is portable: unpack and run it.
What are alternatives to WinLibs (POSIX threads, UCRT runtime)?
Go Programming Language, LLVM, CMake, Deno and Ccache. The alternatives page compares them.
