diff --git a/.github/workflows/samples-integration-test.yml b/.github/workflows/samples-integration-test.yml
index ebac905e7..9d45d3fd0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/samples-integration-test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/samples-integration-test.yml
@@ -235,6 +235,74 @@ jobs:
             exit 1
           }
 
+  # ── C++ Samples (Windows only — SDK is Windows-only) ───────────────
+  cpp-samples:
+    runs-on: windows-latest
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          clean: true
+
+      - name: Setup MSVC developer environment
+        uses: ilammy/msvc-dev-cmd@v1
+        with:
+          arch: x64
+
+      - name: Export VCPKG_ROOT (use runner's preinstalled vcpkg)
+        shell: pwsh
+        run: |
+          if (-not $env:VCPKG_INSTALLATION_ROOT) {
+            Write-Error "VCPKG_INSTALLATION_ROOT is not set on this runner."
+            exit 1
+          }
+          "VCPKG_ROOT=$env:VCPKG_INSTALLATION_ROOT" | Out-File -FilePath $env:GITHUB_ENV -Append -Encoding utf8
+          Write-Host "VCPKG_ROOT -> $env:VCPKG_INSTALLATION_ROOT"
+
+      - name: Verify build tools
+        shell: pwsh
+        run: |
+          Write-Host "cmake:  $((Get-Command cmake).Source)"
+          cmake --version | Select-Object -First 1
+          Write-Host "ninja:  $((Get-Command ninja).Source)"
+          ninja --version
+          Write-Host "cl.exe: $((Get-Command cl.exe).Source)"
+          Write-Host "nuget:  $((Get-Command nuget -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue).Source)"
+
+      - name: Build C++ samples
+        shell: pwsh
+        run: |
+          $failed = @()
+          $samples = Get-ChildItem samples/cpp/*/CMakeLists.txt -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+          foreach ($sample in $samples) {
+            $dir = $sample.Directory
+            $name = $dir.Name
+            Write-Host "`n=== Building: $name ==="
+            Push-Location $dir.FullName
+            try {
+              cmake --preset x64-debug 2>&1
+              if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) {
+                Write-Host "CONFIGURE FAILED: $name"
+                $failed += $name
+                continue
+              }
+              cmake --build --preset x64-debug 2>&1
+              if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) {
+                Write-Host "BUILD FAILED: $name"
+                $failed += $name
+              } else {
+                Write-Host "BUILD PASSED: $name"
+              }
+            } finally {
+              Pop-Location
+            }
+          }
+          if ($failed.Count -gt 0) {
+            Write-Error "Failed builds: $($failed -join ', ')"
+            exit 1
+          }
+
   # ── Rust Samples ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   rust-samples:
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.platform }}-latest
diff --git a/samples/README.md b/samples/README.md
index ebd1afb8c..6e4cd1be7 100644
--- a/samples/README.md
+++ b/samples/README.md
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ Explore complete working examples that demonstrate how to use Foundry Local —
 | Language | Samples | Description |
 |----------|---------|-------------|
 | [**C#**](cs/) | 13 | .NET SDK samples including native chat, embeddings, audio transcription, tool calling, model management, web server, tutorials, and WinML EP verification. Uses WinML on Windows for hardware acceleration. |
+| [**C++**](cpp/) | 3 | Native C++17 SDK samples: SDK quickstart, live audio transcription, and a Responses API vision sample. |
 | [**JavaScript**](js/) | 15 | Node.js SDK samples including native chat, embeddings, audio transcription, Electron desktop app, Copilot SDK integration, LangChain, tool calling, web server, tutorials, and WinML EP verification. |
 | [**Python**](python/) | 14 | Python samples using the OpenAI-compatible API, including chat, embeddings, audio transcription, LangChain integration, tool calling, web server, Responses API, tutorials, and WinML EP verification. |
 | [**Rust**](rust/) | 11 | Rust SDK samples including native chat, embeddings, audio transcription, tool calling, web server, tutorials, and WinML EP verification. |
-| [**C++**](cpp/) | 1 | C++ sample for live audio transcription. |
diff --git a/samples/cpp/sdk-quickstart/CMakeLists.txt b/samples/cpp/sdk-quickstart/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ce364b917
--- /dev/null
+++ b/samples/cpp/sdk-quickstart/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.20)
+project(sdk-quickstart LANGUAGES CXX)
+
+set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 17)
+set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD_REQUIRED ON)
+
+# Match the SDK's vcpkg triplet
+set(VCPKG_TARGET_TRIPLET "x64-windows-static-md" CACHE STRING "")
+
+# Try find_package first (prebuilt SDK zip), fall back to add_subdirectory (repo)
+find_package(FoundryLocal QUIET)
+if(NOT FoundryLocal_FOUND)
+    message(STATUS "Prebuilt FoundryLocal not found — building SDK from source")
+    set(FOUNDRY_SDK_DIR "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/../../../sdk/cpp")
+    set(BUILD_TESTING OFF CACHE BOOL "" FORCE)
+    add_subdirectory(${FOUNDRY_SDK_DIR} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/CppSdk)
+    set(FL_SDK_TARGET CppSdk)
+else()
+    message(STATUS "Using prebuilt FoundryLocal SDK")
+    set(FL_SDK_TARGET FoundryLocal::FoundryLocal)
+endif()
+
+add_executable(CppSdkSample main.cpp)
+
+target_link_libraries(CppSdkSample PRIVATE ${FL_SDK_TARGET})
+
+# Copy Foundry Local + ONNX Runtime DLLs next to the executable (Windows only).
+# The fl_copy_runtime_dlls helper from sdk/cpp/CMakeLists.txt expands FL_*_DLL_DIR
+# in the caller's scope; re-derive them here so the post-build commands have real paths.
+if(WIN32 AND COMMAND fl_copy_runtime_dlls)
+    set(FL_NATIVE_DEPS_DIR "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/CppSdk/_native_deps")
+    set(FL_CORE_DLL_DIR    "${FL_NATIVE_DEPS_DIR}/Microsoft.AI.Foundry.Local.Core.${FL_CORE_VERSION}/runtimes/win-x64/native")
+    set(FL_ORT_DLL_DIR     "${FL_NATIVE_DEPS_DIR}/Microsoft.ML.OnnxRuntime.Foundry.${FL_ORT_VERSION}/runtimes/win-x64/native")
+    set(FL_ORTGENAI_DLL_DIR "${FL_NATIVE_DEPS_DIR}/Microsoft.ML.OnnxRuntimeGenAI.Foundry.${FL_ORTGENAI_VERSION}/runtimes/win-x64/native")
+    fl_copy_runtime_dlls(CppSdkSample)
+endif()
diff --git a/sdk/cpp/sample/web-server-responses-vision/CMakePresets.json b/samples/cpp/sdk-quickstart/CMakePresets.json
similarity index 90%
rename from sdk/cpp/sample/web-server-responses-vision/CMakePresets.json
rename to samples/cpp/sdk-quickstart/CMakePresets.json
index 1ec183fe2..deadd17ac 100644
--- a/sdk/cpp/sample/web-server-responses-vision/CMakePresets.json
+++ b/samples/cpp/sdk-quickstart/CMakePresets.json
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
         "CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER": "cl.exe",
         "CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE": "Debug",
         "VCPKG_TARGET_TRIPLET": "x64-windows-static-md",
-        "VCPKG_OVERLAY_TRIPLETS": "${sourceDir}/../../triplets"
+        "VCPKG_OVERLAY_TRIPLETS": "${sourceDir}/../../../sdk/cpp/triplets"
       },
       "condition": {
         "type": "equals",
diff --git a/sdk/cpp/sample/main.cpp b/samples/cpp/sdk-quickstart/main.cpp
similarity index 100%
rename from sdk/cpp/sample/main.cpp
rename to samples/cpp/sdk-quickstart/main.cpp
diff --git a/sdk/cpp/sample/web-server-responses-vision/vcpkg-configuration.json b/samples/cpp/sdk-quickstart/vcpkg-configuration.json
similarity index 100%
rename from sdk/cpp/sample/web-server-responses-vision/vcpkg-configuration.json
rename to samples/cpp/sdk-quickstart/vcpkg-configuration.json
diff --git a/samples/cpp/sdk-quickstart/vcpkg.json b/samples/cpp/sdk-quickstart/vcpkg.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d668bb4d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/samples/cpp/sdk-quickstart/vcpkg.json
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "name": "sdk-quickstart",
+  "version-string": "0.1.0",
+  "dependencies": [
+    "nlohmann-json",
+    "ms-gsl"
+  ]
+}
diff --git a/sdk/cpp/sample/web-server-responses-vision/CMakeLists.txt b/samples/cpp/web-server-responses-vision/CMakeLists.txt
similarity index 52%
rename from sdk/cpp/sample/web-server-responses-vision/CMakeLists.txt
rename to samples/cpp/web-server-responses-vision/CMakeLists.txt
index b6dbcbd04..1120255bd 100644
--- a/sdk/cpp/sample/web-server-responses-vision/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/samples/cpp/web-server-responses-vision/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ set(VCPKG_TARGET_TRIPLET "x64-windows-static-md" CACHE STRING "")
 find_package(FoundryLocal QUIET)
 if(NOT FoundryLocal_FOUND)
     message(STATUS "Prebuilt FoundryLocal not found — building SDK from source")
-    set(FOUNDRY_SDK_DIR "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/../..")
+    set(FOUNDRY_SDK_DIR "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/../../../sdk/cpp")
     set(BUILD_TESTING OFF CACHE BOOL "" FORCE)
     add_subdirectory(${FOUNDRY_SDK_DIR} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/CppSdk)
     set(FL_SDK_TARGET CppSdk)
@@ -29,5 +29,13 @@ target_link_libraries(web-server-responses-vision PRIVATE
     CURL::libcurl
 )
 
-# Copy runtime DLLs next to the executable
-fl_copy_runtime_dlls(web-server-responses-vision)
+# Copy runtime DLLs next to the executable.
+# fl_copy_runtime_dlls expands FL_*_DLL_DIR in the caller's scope, so re-derive
+# them here (the SDK sets them as non-CACHE vars, invisible to sub-projects).
+if(WIN32 AND COMMAND fl_copy_runtime_dlls)
+    set(FL_NATIVE_DEPS_DIR "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/CppSdk/_native_deps")
+    set(FL_CORE_DLL_DIR    "${FL_NATIVE_DEPS_DIR}/Microsoft.AI.Foundry.Local.Core.${FL_CORE_VERSION}/runtimes/win-x64/native")
+    set(FL_ORT_DLL_DIR     "${FL_NATIVE_DEPS_DIR}/Microsoft.ML.OnnxRuntime.Foundry.${FL_ORT_VERSION}/runtimes/win-x64/native")
+    set(FL_ORTGENAI_DLL_DIR "${FL_NATIVE_DEPS_DIR}/Microsoft.ML.OnnxRuntimeGenAI.Foundry.${FL_ORTGENAI_VERSION}/runtimes/win-x64/native")
+    fl_copy_runtime_dlls(web-server-responses-vision)
+endif()
diff --git a/samples/cpp/web-server-responses-vision/CMakePresets.json b/samples/cpp/web-server-responses-vision/CMakePresets.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..deadd17ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/samples/cpp/web-server-responses-vision/CMakePresets.json
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+{
+  "version": 6,
+  "configurePresets": [
+    {
+      "name": "x64-debug",
+      "displayName": "MSVC x64 Debug",
+      "inherits": [],
+      "generator": "Ninja",
+      "binaryDir": "${sourceDir}/out/build/${presetName}",
+      "toolchainFile": "$env{VCPKG_ROOT}/scripts/buildsystems/vcpkg.cmake",
+      "cacheVariables": {
+        "CMAKE_C_COMPILER": "cl.exe",
+        "CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER": "cl.exe",
+        "CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE": "Debug",
+        "VCPKG_TARGET_TRIPLET": "x64-windows-static-md",
+        "VCPKG_OVERLAY_TRIPLETS": "${sourceDir}/../../../sdk/cpp/triplets"
+      },
+      "condition": {
+        "type": "equals",
+        "lhs": "${hostSystemName}",
+        "rhs": "Windows"
+      }
+    }
+  ],
+  "buildPresets": [
+    {
+      "name": "x64-debug",
+      "configurePreset": "x64-debug"
+    }
+  ]
+}
diff --git a/sdk/cpp/sample/web-server-responses-vision/README.md b/samples/cpp/web-server-responses-vision/README.md
similarity index 98%
rename from sdk/cpp/sample/web-server-responses-vision/README.md
rename to samples/cpp/web-server-responses-vision/README.md
index cf9f343d8..0ba01f5fb 100644
--- a/sdk/cpp/sample/web-server-responses-vision/README.md
+++ b/samples/cpp/web-server-responses-vision/README.md
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ The sample downloads the specified model the first time it runs (skips if alread
 Open an **x64 Native Tools Command Prompt for VS 2022** (or run `vcvars64.bat`), then navigate to the sample directory:
 
 ```bash
-cd sdk/cpp/sample/web-server-responses-vision
+cd samples/cpp/web-server-responses-vision
 ```
 
 ### Configure (CMake + vcpkg)
diff --git a/sdk/cpp/sample/web-server-responses-vision/main.cpp b/samples/cpp/web-server-responses-vision/main.cpp
similarity index 100%
rename from sdk/cpp/sample/web-server-responses-vision/main.cpp
rename to samples/cpp/web-server-responses-vision/main.cpp
diff --git a/sdk/cpp/sample/web-server-responses-vision/stb_impl.cpp b/samples/cpp/web-server-responses-vision/stb_impl.cpp
similarity index 100%
rename from sdk/cpp/sample/web-server-responses-vision/stb_impl.cpp
rename to samples/cpp/web-server-responses-vision/stb_impl.cpp
diff --git a/sdk/cpp/sample/web-server-responses-vision/test_image.jpg b/samples/cpp/web-server-responses-vision/test_image.jpg
similarity index 100%
rename from sdk/cpp/sample/web-server-responses-vision/test_image.jpg
rename to samples/cpp/web-server-responses-vision/test_image.jpg
diff --git a/samples/cpp/web-server-responses-vision/vcpkg-configuration.json b/samples/cpp/web-server-responses-vision/vcpkg-configuration.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a5253fb7a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/samples/cpp/web-server-responses-vision/vcpkg-configuration.json
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+{
+  "default-registry": {
+    "kind": "builtin",
+    "baseline": "a9f0cd0345fb29cd227d802f1fd1917c28f8e5a3"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/sdk/cpp/sample/web-server-responses-vision/vcpkg.json b/samples/cpp/web-server-responses-vision/vcpkg.json
similarity index 100%
rename from sdk/cpp/sample/web-server-responses-vision/vcpkg.json
rename to samples/cpp/web-server-responses-vision/vcpkg.json
diff --git a/sdk/cpp/CMakeLists.txt b/sdk/cpp/CMakeLists.txt
index 6b7977a42..bddc82fdf 100644
--- a/sdk/cpp/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/sdk/cpp/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -137,41 +137,6 @@ endfunction()
 
 endif() # WIN32
 
-# -----------------------------
-# Sample executable
-# -----------------------------
-add_executable(CppSdkSample
-  sample/main.cpp
-)
-
-target_link_libraries(CppSdkSample PRIVATE CppSdk)
-
-# Copy DLLs for the SDK sample
-fl_copy_runtime_dlls(CppSdkSample)
-
-# -----------------------------
-# Vision sample (Responses API) — built if present
-# -----------------------------
-set(VISION_SAMPLE_DIR "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/sample/web-server-responses-vision")
-
-if(EXISTS "${VISION_SAMPLE_DIR}/main.cpp")
-  find_package(CURL QUIET)
-  if(CURL_FOUND)
-    add_executable(WebServerResponsesVision
-      ${VISION_SAMPLE_DIR}/main.cpp
-      ${VISION_SAMPLE_DIR}/stb_impl.cpp
-    )
-
-    target_link_libraries(WebServerResponsesVision PRIVATE CppSdk CURL::libcurl)
-    fl_copy_runtime_dlls(WebServerResponsesVision)
-    message(STATUS "Vision sample: enabled")
-  else()
-    message(STATUS "Vision sample: disabled (curl not found — add 'curl' to vcpkg.json)")
-  endif()
-else()
-  message(STATUS "Vision sample: not found")
-endif()
-
 # -----------------------------
 # Unit tests
 # -----------------------------
@@ -239,10 +204,6 @@ if (BUILD_TESTING)
   )
 endif()
 
-# Make Visual Studio start/debug this target by default
-set_property(DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}
-  PROPERTY VS_STARTUP_PROJECT CppSdkSample)
-
 # -----------------------------
 # Install — produces the redistributable SDK zip layout:
 #   lib/CppSdk.lib
@@ -269,7 +230,8 @@ endif()
 # Install CMake config file
 install(FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake/FoundryLocalConfig.cmake DESTINATION cmake)
 
-# Install vision sample into the zip
+# Install vision sample into the zip (sample lives under samples/cpp/)
+set(VISION_SAMPLE_DIR "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/../../samples/cpp/web-server-responses-vision")
 if(EXISTS "${VISION_SAMPLE_DIR}/main.cpp")
   install(DIRECTORY "${VISION_SAMPLE_DIR}/"
     DESTINATION sample/web-server-responses-vision
diff --git a/sdk/cpp/README.md b/sdk/cpp/README.md
index 8d96083de..bf5b85dc2 100644
--- a/sdk/cpp/README.md
+++ b/sdk/cpp/README.md
@@ -122,26 +122,18 @@ int main() {
 
 ### Vision Sample (Responses API)
 
-A complete vision sample is included at `sample/web-server-responses-vision/`. It demonstrates image understanding using the Responses API with streaming via cURL.
+A complete vision sample lives at [`samples/cpp/web-server-responses-vision/`](../../samples/cpp/web-server-responses-vision/). It demonstrates image understanding using the Responses API with streaming via cURL.
 
-Build and run from the SDK root:
+Build and run from the sample directory:
 
 ```bash
-cmake --preset x64-debug
-cmake --build --preset x64-debug --target WebServerResponsesVision
-.\out\build\x64-debug\WebServerResponsesVision.exe qwen3.5-0.8b
-```
-
-Or build standalone from the sample directory:
-
-```bash
-cd sample/web-server-responses-vision
+cd samples/cpp/web-server-responses-vision
 cmake --preset x64-debug
 cmake --build --preset x64-debug
 .\out\build\x64-debug\web-server-responses-vision.exe qwen3.5-0.8b
 ```
 
-See [sample/web-server-responses-vision/README.md](sample/web-server-responses-vision/README.md) for full details.
+See [samples/cpp/web-server-responses-vision/README.md](../../samples/cpp/web-server-responses-vision/README.md) for full details.
 
 ## Usage
 
@@ -483,16 +475,15 @@ sdk/cpp/
 │       ├── audio_client.h    # Audio transcription client
 │       └── tool_types.h      # Tool calling types
 ├── src/                      # Private implementation
-├── sample/
-│   ├── main.cpp              # Sample application
-│   └── web-server-responses-vision/  # Vision sample (Responses API)
-├── test/                     # Unit & E2E tests (GTest)
+├── test/                      # Unit & E2E tests (GTest)
 ├── CMakeLists.txt
 ├── CMakePresets.json
-├── vcpkg.json                # vcpkg dependencies
+├── vcpkg.json                 # vcpkg dependencies
 └── vcpkg-configuration.json
 ```
 
+> Samples live under the repo's [`samples/cpp/`](../../samples/cpp/) directory — see [`sdk-quickstart`](../../samples/cpp/sdk-quickstart/) and [`web-server-responses-vision`](../../samples/cpp/web-server-responses-vision/).
+
 ## Troubleshooting
 
 | Error | Cause | Fix |