Under Windows 7 and with WDDM 1.1 drivers, DWM only writes the program's buffer to the video RAM, even if it is a graphics device interface (GDI) program. By comparison, the stacking window manager in Windows XP and earlier (and also Windows Vista and Windows 7 with Windows Aero disabled) comprises a single display buffer to which all programs write.ĭWM works in different ways depending on the operating system (Windows 7 or Windows Vista) and on the version of the graphics drivers it uses ( WDDM 1.0 or 1.1). The Desktop Window Manager is a compositing window manager, meaning that each program has a buffer that it writes data to DWM then composites each program's buffer into a final image.

It is also included with Windows Server 2008, but requires the 'Desktop Experience' feature and compatible graphics drivers to be installed.

It was originally created to enable portions of the new ' Windows Aero' user experience, which allowed for effects such as transparency, 3D window switching and more. ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)ĭesktop Window Manager ( DWM, previously Desktop Compositing Engine or DCE) is the compositing window manager in Microsoft Windows since Windows Vista that enables the use of hardware acceleration to render the graphical user interface of Windows. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.

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