Build a signed packaged app

This guide will show how to create a signed packaged app using Windows App SDK.

Important

Building your app requires using the msbuild command (dotnet build is not compatible as of WinAppSDK 1.5).

Package signed the app

This guide uses a self-signed certificate.

To package your app:

  • Create a self-signed certificate:

    • Open the solution in Visual Studio 2022
    • Ensure that the active debugging target framework is net8.0-windows10.xxx (Please upvote this Visual Studio issue)
    • Double-click on the Package.appxmanifest file
    • Navigate to the Packaging tab
    • Click the Choose certificate button
    • Click the Create button, then set a publisher common name, then OK. Do not set a password.
    • Close the Choose a Certificate window by clicking OK.
    • Click the Save file button in the Visual Studio toolbar

  • Navigate to the folder of the app's .csproj (Building at the solution level is not supported)

  • Build the app on the command line with the following command:

    msbuild /r /p:TargetFramework=net8.0-windows10.0.19041 /p:Configuration=Release /p:Platform=x64 /p:GenerateAppxPackageOnBuild=true /p:AppxBundle=Never /p:UapAppxPackageBuildMode=Sideloading /p:AppxPackageDir="C:/temp/output/" /p:AppxPackageSigningEnabled=true

To package your app for the Microsoft App Store, the process is similar to creating a self-signed app package with just a minor difference:

  • Instead of linking to a self-signed certificate, associate your project with a Microsoft Store Application by right-clicking on your project in the solution explorer, then the Publish, Associate App with Store... menu item.

  • Build the app on the command line with the following command:

    msbuild /r /p:TargetFramework=net8.0-windows10.0.19041 /p:Configuration=Release /p:Platform=x64 /p:GenerateAppxPackageOnBuild=true /p:AppxBundle=Never /p:UapAppxPackageBuildMode=StoreUpload /p:AppxPackageDir="C:/temp/output/"

In order to build for additional platforms, change the Platform parameter to x86 or arm64 to create additional MSIX files.

Important

Single package msix bundling is not yet supported from msbuild the command line. The individual msix packages can be assembled after creation using Microsoft's makeappx.exe tool installed with the Windows SDK in 'Windows Kits' folder, for example C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\bin\10.0.19041.0\x64\makeappx.exe.

To bundle the individual msix packages, move them all to a common folder, for example, "C:\Temp\Output\MyApp", and run the following command:

  "C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\bin\10.0.19041.0\x64\makeappx.exe" bundle /d "C:\Temp\Output\MyApp" /p "C:\Temp\Output\MyApp.msixbundle"
Tip

The makeappx.exe tool is also available from the environment when opening a Developer Command Prompt for VS 2022

Considerations for solutions with class library projects

If your app references multiple library projects, you will need to split the above build command into two parts, one to restore NuGet packages, and the other one to create the package.

To build your solution:

  • Add the following to your app's csproj:

    <PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(PublishSignedPackage)' == 'true' ">
  <GenerateAppxPackageOnBuild>true</GenerateAppxPackageOnBuild>
  <AppxBundle>Never</AppxBundle>
  <UapAppxPackageBuildMode>Sideloading</UapAppxPackageBuildMode>
  <AppxPackageSigningEnabled>true</AppxPackageSigningEnabled>  
</PropertyGroup>

  • Run this command to restore the NuGet packages:

    msbuild /r /t:Restore /p:Configuration=Release

  • Then run this command:

    msbuild /p:TargetFramework=net8.0-windows10.0.19041 /p:Configuration=Release /p:Platform=x64 /p:PublishSignedPackage=true /p:AppxPackageDir="C:/temp/output/"

    Notice that this command does not contain the /r.

Install the signed Windows app

To install the app:

  • Install the certificate on the machine:
    • In the file explorer, right-click on the .msix file, then Show More Options on Windows 11, then Properties
    • Open the Digital signatures tab
    • Click on your certificate then Details
    • Click the View Certificate button
    • Click the Install Certificate button
    • Select Local Machine then Next
    • Click Place all certificates in the following store then Browse
    • Select Trusted People then OK
    • Click Next, then Finish
    • Close all the opened properties windows.
  • Install the .msix by double-clicking on it

The app will start automatically once installed.