diff --git a/crates/bevy_winit/src/lib.rs b/crates/bevy_winit/src/lib.rs
index f8515dd3c7fb4..784e569b0ccc2 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_winit/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_winit/src/lib.rs
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ pub struct WinitPlugin {
 
 impl Plugin for WinitPlugin {
     fn build(&self, app: &mut App) {
-        let mut event_loop_builder = EventLoopBuilder::<()>::with_user_event();
+        let mut event_loop_builder = EventLoopBuilder::<UserEvent>::with_user_event();
 
         // linux check is needed because x11 might be enabled on other platforms.
         #[cfg(all(target_os = "linux", feature = "x11"))]
@@ -243,6 +243,15 @@ type CreateWindowParams<'w, 's, F = ()> = (
     Res<'w, AccessibilityRequested>,
 );
 
+/// The [`winit::event_loop::EventLoopProxy`] with the specific [`winit::event::Event::UserEvent`] used in the [`winit_runner`].
+///
+/// The `EventLoopProxy` can be used to request a redraw from outside bevy.
+///
+/// Use `NonSend<EventLoopProxy>` to receive this resource.
+pub type EventLoopProxy = winit::event_loop::EventLoopProxy<UserEvent>;
+
+type UserEvent = RequestRedraw;
+
 /// The default [`App::runner`] for the [`WinitPlugin`] plugin.
 ///
 /// Overriding the app's [runner](bevy_app::App::runner) while using `WinitPlugin` will bypass the
@@ -255,7 +264,7 @@ pub fn winit_runner(mut app: App) {
 
     let event_loop = app
         .world
-        .remove_non_send_resource::<EventLoop<()>>()
+        .remove_non_send_resource::<EventLoop<UserEvent>>()
         .unwrap();
 
     app.world
@@ -281,7 +290,7 @@ pub fn winit_runner(mut app: App) {
         SystemState::<CreateWindowParams<Added<Window>>>::from_world(&mut app.world);
     let mut winit_events = Vec::default();
     // set up the event loop
-    let event_handler = move |event, event_loop: &EventLoopWindowTarget<()>| {
+    let event_handler = move |event, event_loop: &EventLoopWindowTarget<UserEvent>| {
         handle_winit_event(
             &mut app,
             &mut app_exit_event_reader,
@@ -318,8 +327,8 @@ fn handle_winit_event(
     focused_windows_state: &mut SystemState<(Res<WinitSettings>, Query<&Window>)>,
     redraw_event_reader: &mut ManualEventReader<RequestRedraw>,
     winit_events: &mut Vec<WinitEvent>,
-    event: Event<()>,
-    event_loop: &EventLoopWindowTarget<()>,
+    event: Event<UserEvent>,
+    event_loop: &EventLoopWindowTarget<UserEvent>,
 ) {
     #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
     let _span = bevy_utils::tracing::info_span!("winit event_handler").entered();
@@ -698,6 +707,9 @@ fn handle_winit_event(
                 event_loop.set_control_flow(ControlFlow::Wait);
             }
         }
+        Event::UserEvent(RequestRedraw) => {
+            runner_state.redraw_requested = true;
+        }
         _ => (),
     }
 
@@ -712,7 +724,7 @@ fn run_app_update_if_should(
     runner_state: &mut WinitAppRunnerState,
     app: &mut App,
     focused_windows_state: &mut SystemState<(Res<WinitSettings>, Query<&Window>)>,
-    event_loop: &EventLoopWindowTarget<()>,
+    event_loop: &EventLoopWindowTarget<UserEvent>,
     create_window: &mut SystemState<CreateWindowParams<Added<Window>>>,
     app_exit_event_reader: &mut ManualEventReader<AppExit>,
     redraw_event_reader: &mut ManualEventReader<RequestRedraw>,
diff --git a/crates/bevy_winit/src/system.rs b/crates/bevy_winit/src/system.rs
index af6d017f26da5..0000c45369d44 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_winit/src/system.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_winit/src/system.rs
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ use crate::{
 /// default values.
 #[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
 pub(crate) fn create_windows<F: QueryFilter + 'static>(
-    event_loop: &EventLoopWindowTarget<()>,
+    event_loop: &EventLoopWindowTarget<crate::UserEvent>,
     (
         mut commands,
         mut created_windows,
diff --git a/crates/bevy_winit/src/winit_config.rs b/crates/bevy_winit/src/winit_config.rs
index 78168309093fb..f2cb424ec5f44 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_winit/src/winit_config.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_winit/src/winit_config.rs
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ impl WinitSettings {
     ///
     /// [`Reactive`](UpdateMode::Reactive) if windows have focus,
     /// [`ReactiveLowPower`](UpdateMode::ReactiveLowPower) otherwise.
+    ///
+    /// Use the [`EventLoopProxy`](crate::EventLoopProxy) to request a redraw from outside bevy.
     pub fn desktop_app() -> Self {
         WinitSettings {
             focused_mode: UpdateMode::Reactive {
@@ -72,6 +74,7 @@ pub enum UpdateMode {
     /// - a redraw has been requested by [`RequestRedraw`](bevy_window::RequestRedraw)
     /// - new [window](`winit::event::WindowEvent`) or [raw input](`winit::event::DeviceEvent`)
     /// events have appeared
+    /// - a redraw has been requested with the [`EventLoopProxy`](crate::EventLoopProxy)
     Reactive {
         /// The approximate time from the start of one update to the next.
         ///
@@ -84,6 +87,7 @@ pub enum UpdateMode {
     /// - `wait` time has elapsed since the previous update
     /// - a redraw has been requested by [`RequestRedraw`](bevy_window::RequestRedraw)
     /// - new [window events](`winit::event::WindowEvent`) have appeared
+    /// - a redraw has been requested with the [`EventLoopProxy`](crate::EventLoopProxy)
     ///
     /// **Note:** Unlike [`Reactive`](`UpdateMode::Reactive`), this mode will ignore events that
     /// don't come from interacting with a window, like [`MouseMotion`](winit::event::DeviceEvent::MouseMotion).
diff --git a/crates/bevy_winit/src/winit_windows.rs b/crates/bevy_winit/src/winit_windows.rs
index 3188ac2714fdf..4375e7c277744 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_winit/src/winit_windows.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_winit/src/winit_windows.rs
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ impl WinitWindows {
     /// Creates a `winit` window and associates it with our entity.
     pub fn create_window(
         &mut self,
-        event_loop: &winit::event_loop::EventLoopWindowTarget<()>,
+        event_loop: &winit::event_loop::EventLoopWindowTarget<crate::UserEvent>,
         entity: Entity,
         window: &Window,
         adapters: &mut AccessKitAdapters,