Guide to Installing MAUI Workloads

MAUI workloads workload identity management non-human identity
Lalit Choda
Lalit Choda

Founder & CEO @ Non-Human Identity Mgmt Group

 
November 12, 2025 6 min read

TL;DR

This guide covers the process of installing MAUI workloads, essential for .NET developers aiming to build cross-platform applications. It includes step-by-step instructions, command-line examples, and considerations for managing workload versions and dependencies. The article also touches on the importance of securing these workloads within a non-human identity management framework.

Understanding MAUI Workloads and Non-Human Identities

So, you're getting into MAUI workloads? It's kinda like picking the right tools from a big toolbox, you know? Let's get this going.

.NET MAUI is Microsoft's way to build apps that work everywhere. (.NET Multi-platform App UI (.NET MAUI) | .NET) MAUI lets you make apps for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows, all from one place. Pretty sweet, right? Microsoft Learn has a good rundown if you need a refresher.

  • MAUI workloads are basically just sets of tools and libraries you need for different platforms.
  • Think of it like this: the maui-android workload gives you all the stuff to build Android apps, and maui-ios is for iOS.
  • Using MAUI makes building apps way easier, saving you time and headaches. Like, a shop could use MAUI to make one app that works for all their customers' phones.

Now, let's chat about Non-Human Identities, or nhis. These guys are the quiet workers that keep automation humming along.

  • NHIs are digital identities for things that aren't people, like build servers, automated testing tools, or even just scripts.
  • Keeping these nhis secure is a really big deal, especially since they often have access to important stuff.
  • Imagine a build server that automatically pushes out new versions of your MAUI app; it needs access, but you don't want just anyone getting those keys.
  • If you don't manage them right, a broken nhi could spill sensitive info or mess up services. It's something all ceos and cios gotta be thinking about.

Alright, next up, we'll actually install these MAUI workloads, so stick around.

Prerequisites for Installing MAUI Workloads

Ready to get your hands dirty? Before we jump into MAUI, there's a few things you gotta have set up, kinda like making sure you got gas before a road trip.

  • First up, you need the .NET SDK installed. This is like the engine that makes everything run. Gotta have the right version, or things might get... weird.
  • Next, you'll want Visual Studio 2022 (or newer, if you're feeling fancy). The dotnet cli is super helpful too.
  • Oh, and if you're planning on building for Android or iOS? You'll need their SDKs too.

With these, you should be good to go. Next, we'll get into the actual installing of those workloads.

Step-by-Step

Ready to get those MAUI workloads installed? It's not as bad as it sounds, I promise! Let's break it down, step-by-step.

First up, the dotnet CLI. If you're cool with command lines, this is gonna be your thing.

  • Open your command prompt or terminal. you know, powershell, cmd, terminal.app, whatever you kids are using these days!
  • Type dotnet workload install maui and hit enter. This command gets you the basic MAUI workload.
  • Want to target specific platforms? Use commands like dotnet workload install maui-android or dotnet workload install maui-ios. Super helpful for getting only what you need, and not cluttering up your system.
  • Run into errors? Don't freak out! Usually, it's a missing dependency or a permission issue. Check the error message, and google is your friend, I'm sure.

Not a command-line person? No worries, Visual Studio has you covered.

  • When installing Visual Studio, make sure you enable MAUI support. It's usually under the "Mobile Development with .NET" workload; ensure you include it!
  • Already got Visual Studio installed? No sweat. You can change the installation to add MAUI workloads. Just open up the Visual Studio Installer.
  • To double-check everything's installed right, create a new MAUI project. If it loads without errors, you're golden!

Now that we've got the MAUI workloads installed, let's think about securing your Non-Human Identities. That’s where NHIMG comes in; more on that next.

Verifying the Installation

Alright, so you installed the MAUI workloads... but how do you really know if it worked? Don't worry, we've all been there, staring blankly at the screen wondering if we missed something.

First things first, let's make sure the workloads are actually there. Pop open your command prompt or terminal again.

  • Run dotnet workload list. This command shows you all the installed workloads, like maui, maui-android, and maui-ios. If you see them listed, that's a good sign! If not, double check those install commands from earlier.
  • If you're using an older version of the .NET SDK, you might need to update to the latest version to see the workloads listed correctly. Older SDKs sometimes have trouble showing all the available workloads.
  • Alternatively, you can use Visual Studio to check too. Go to Tools > Options > .NET MAUI and confirm that the MAUI SDK path is set up right.

Now, let's kick the tires and see if this thing actually runs!

  • Create a new MAUI project in Visual Studio. If everything's installed correctly, you shouldn't see any errors when you create the project.
  • Try building the project. If it builds without a hitch, congrats! You've successfully installed the MAUI workloads.
  • If you still run into issues, try repairing the workloads by running dotnet workload repair.

Checking your installation is super important for a smooth development experience, and it stops headaches later on. What's next? Let's talk about updating those workloads to keep them fresh and secure.

Managing Workload Versions and Dependencies

Ever wonder if your MAUI workloads are up-to-date? Keeping them current isn't just about getting the newest features; it's a big part of your security, especially for Non-Human Identities.

Updating MAUI workloads is pretty simple. It's like updating your phone apps – you want the latest stuff, right?

  • Use the command dotnet workload update to grab the latest versions. This makes sure you're getting the most recent features and security patches.
  • Workload manifests are files that tell the system what assets and versions to install for each workload. The dotnet workload update command also downloads advertising manifests, which are needed to know if an update is available.

Time to clean house? Uninstalling workloads you don't need anymore keeps your system tidy and cuts down on potential security risks.

  • Use dotnet workload uninstall <workload_id> to remove specific workloads. For example, if you're not building for iOS anymore, get rid of maui-ios.
  • Cleaning up unused workloads can free up disk space and simplify your development setup. It's kinda like spring cleaning for your dev tools.

Keeping your workloads managed is crucial. Next up, we'll dive into securing those Non-Human Identities tied to your MAUI projects.

Securing MAUI Workloads in a Non-Human Identity Framework

Securing MAUI workloads with Non-Human Identities? It's like putting a high-tech lock on your digital tools, and it's super important you know.

Here's some best practices to keep in mind:

  • Least Privilege: Give nhis only the access they absolutely need, and nothing more. Think of it like a bank teller; they only need access to certain drawers, not the whole vault, right?
  • Secure Storage: Store credentials and secrets safely, like using a password manager but for machines.
  • Monitoring and Auditing: Keep a close eye on what your nhis are doing. are they accessing sensitive data? are they doing it at odd hours? gotta watch out!
  • Regular Rotation: Change nhi credentials often. It's like changing the locks on your house; keeps things fresh and secure.

Integrating with IAM systems helps automate this. Using IAM to manage nhi permissions for MAUI workloads, implementing multi-factor authentication and automating nhi provisioning and deprovisioning.

Lalit Choda
Lalit Choda

Founder & CEO @ Non-Human Identity Mgmt Group

 

NHI Evangelist : with 25+ years of experience, Lalit Choda is a pioneering figure in Non-Human Identity (NHI) Risk Management and the Founder & CEO of NHI Mgmt Group. His expertise in identity security, risk mitigation, and strategic consulting has helped global financial institutions to build resilient and scalable systems.

Related Articles

Non Human Identity

Best Practices for Operating Systems in Modern Development

Explore best practices for securing operating systems in modern development environments, focusing on non-human identity management, access control, and automation.

By AbdelRahman Magdy November 21, 2025 11 min read
Read full article
server optimization

Server Setup Guide: Best Practices for Storage and Optimization

Optimize your server setup with our guide on storage solutions and performance tweaks. Learn best practices for NHI management, hardware tuning, and database optimization.

By AbdelRahman Magdy November 19, 2025 6 min read
Read full article
Non Human Identity

Building Guest Operating Systems on Real-Time Platforms

Explore building guest operating systems on real-time platforms with a focus on non-human identity (NHI) security, workload identity, and machine identity management.

By AbdelRahman Magdy November 17, 2025 14 min read
Read full article
SOC reports

Understanding SOC Reports and Their Importance

Learn about SOC reports, their types, and why they are crucial for securing non-human identities (NHIs), machine identities, and workloads. Understand how to interpret SOC reports for better security and compliance.

By AbdelRahman Magdy November 14, 2025 12 min read
Read full article