Windows Forms Single-File Executable

Question

I am developing a Windows Forms project in Visual Studio 2019. My question is that when compiling the project, multiple files are generated, on which the executable is dependent. Is there a way to compile them all into a single .exe file? NOTE: I don't intend to use setup.exe: I just want a single executable that I can run from any part of my file system.

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Here are the steps to publish a single file Winforms (.NET 7.0) app (Release mode) in VS2022:

Right click on project node -> "Publish..." and press "Show all settings" link

Choose your target runtime, I use Win-x64 in Release mode. Open "File Publish Options" and make sure "Produce single file" option is checked.

Close the "Show all settings" dialog and press publish.

Voila!

Answer 2

I was having the same problem, I was using .Net Framework 4.7.2, and this was the only solution I found:

Just follow these steps:

1. Goto Manage NuGet Packages right clicking on your project.
2. Install Costura.Fody
3. Clean Debug folder inside the bin folder(Delete all files and folder).
4. Run the project.
5. Goto debug folder, then to app.publish folder, you will get a single exe file here