I need to create an internal app for windows phone 8. Due to complex preconditions, I don’t like the official “Company app distribution for Windows Phone” way. I’d like to be able to run my app on arbitrary windows phone devices.
I understand I can only install unsigned XAP produced by visual studio on a developer unlocked phone.
If I’ll publish my free application, wait for certification, download the XAP from windowsphone.com, then unpublish my application from the marketplace — will the .XAP remain installable from the micro SD card onto any non-developer unlocked phone as described there?
Or maybe some certificates will eventually expire?
Whenever you try to install XAP from SD card, the phone connects to Windows Phone Store and checks whether:
a) The app is available at Store at you region (from phone settings)
b) The XAP is the latest version available at Store
Installation is allowed only if the above conditions meet. This is also the reason why installation fails when wifi and cellular data is turned off (i.e. phone cannot connect to Store).
So in short, you cannot install the XAP if it's not available in Store.
Related
I have developed a windows phone 8 application. I have a developer account and unlocked device. Now I'm able to deploy/install the application in my phone through windows phone development sdk.
Now I want to install this application in another device ( a device of my friend, who is in different location). I don't want to put this application in the app store. I want to mail the XAP file only to him. So is there any other way to install this (XAP file) application in his mobile.
I am looking forward your responses.
Thanks.
Answer 1:
Your friend has to unlock his device with a developer account in order to install it. Can use the "Application Deployment Tool" to install the XAP.
(This goes well only if your friend is a developer)
Answer 2: (Easiest way for your friend to install)
You can release a beta in the store, and include the Microsoft ID of your friend as a beta tester. And after releasing the app, you can email the link to your friend. Beta release is fast and it usually goes live within 1 hour.
You could use the "Targeted distribution to customers with specified email addresses".
That means that you will publish the app on the store, but it will only be available for the users that you want.
I'm developping an application with Cordova targeted for Windows phone 8.
I'm able to build a De bug or Release Xap for windows phone and deploy it on device using usual tools. The matter is that my clients want to test it too but they don't have any of sdk tools (only a device).
What is the better solution to do that ?
Installing Xap file from sd card or phone storage doesn't work (company issue message). Sign xap with sdk tools for testing and then retry to install it from sdcard doesn't work.
Is the beta test store the only solution ? (Very long procedure)
Ty fort any tips...
The easiest way is just to create a beta and send them a download link. It's done in less then 5 minutes and you can update the app quickly, publish it again and retest it within minutes.
I get the error code 80073cf9 when I try to install an 8.1 app (.appx) from the Store on my 920 with 8.1 Preview.
The app is 8.1 only and I'm able to run it and install it when deploying from my laptop.
I have the development build installed on my phone.
Solution
Uninstall the development build from your phone and then you will be able to download the app from Store.
Some interesting facts
Since 8.1 (.appx) you can not install an app from Store if you already have the app installed. This include your development builds deployed from your computer.
Before 8.1 (.xap) you were able to run both your development build and the Store app at the same time. This was since the Store changed the GUID of the app when it was uploaded. For some reason Store doesn't change the GUID of the uploaded app anymore.
I also meet the error 80073CF9. With my case, the reason is the setting of memory location. I reproduced the issue as below:
1. I chose phone memory to install apps
2. Second, I updated the phone from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10. Somehow, I changed to SD card memory to install apps.
3. After upgrading to Windows 10, some apps had to be reinstalled, but the error 80073CF9 raised. At that moment, the phone still used SD card memory to install apps, not the same as the original memory.
--> I switch the memory to install apps from SD card to phone (Setting / Storage / Store new apps on my Phone. It's done.
Conclusion with my case: The memory in order to install application has been changed
I had the same problem on my Lumia 730.
Solution: Go to settings->Tap on storage sense->temporary files-> delete
You can also check: https://geeksnipper.com/error-code-80073cf9/2229/
Im trying to deploy XAP files to my Lumia 620. They work if i download them from the store but when i try and load another XAP from somewhere else, e.g. TimeMe or from Windows Phone Hub, the phone fails to show them. Any idea why?
The Windows Phone 8 OS architecture doesn't allow installation of non store applications, to support this they have restricted the loading of XAP files from other download sources.
In some countries Window Phone store comes with a option for installation from SD Card option, under this option you will be able to view XAP files on your storage media of phone, if you select that XAP file the store application will check for that application in the Windows Store and if it is a free app it will get installed otherwise it will ask to buy for a license of the app to install it.
The Windows Phone hub is for enterprise environment, where a company distributes its LOB apps to its employees, if you are able to access company hub app than you must be able to download and install the app. Even in this case the process is automated as in case of Windows Store and nowhere you will manually unpack the final XAP file.
Windows Phone will not let you install XAP files that are not certified in the WP Store. The only way you'll be able to install XAP files yourself is to either:
Download and install a WP Store signed XAP file. You can do this by going to an app's page on your computer, downloading the XAP file, transferring it to your SD card, and installing it through the Store app.
Download and install a unsigned XAP file that hasn't been through the WP Store yet. You can install these XAP files on a developer unlocked phone using the Application Deployment program included with the WP8 SDK.
The app TimeMe that you included as an example is an unsigned XAP file. You can "sideload" this app through the Application Deployment program.
Ok, when ever I search for this phrase I get tons of links on how to use the SD card to install an app, I don't have an SD card, is there another way of installing an app from a XAP file?
As of now its not possible. if you download the xap to any other memory than SD card, you'll have to first move it to SD Card and then install it from there. Read through this official blog post for more details - http://blogs.windows.com/windows_phone/b/windowsphone/archive/2012/12/13/windows-phone-store-expands-adds-new-features.aspx
here's what is quoted from the website -
The web Store also now has support for installing apps via SD card,
which many Windows Phone 8 models support. This option can be useful
when a cellular or Wi-Fi data connection isn’t available. Just look
for the “Download and install manually” link on the app’s details
page. Click to download the app’s installation—or.xap—file, which can
then be copied over to the phone’s SD card and installed. (See How do
I install apps from an SD card? for step-by-step instructions.)
To install any xap from SD Card, read this blog post - http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/How-to/wp8/apps/how-do-i-install-apps-from-an-sd-card
If your phone is developer unlocked, you can use the Application Deployment tool supplied with the Windows Phone SDK. To developer unlock the phone, register your Microsoft Account on http://dev.windowsphone.com (paying the fee), download the SDK, and run the unlock tool.
If this is an enterprise app, you can also side-load the app by downloading it (via the web) and installing it. You will need to code sign the XAP first, and install the application enrolment token for this to work. See this post for more details: http://nicksnettravels.builttoroam.com/post/2012/12/03/Windows-Phone-8-SDK-Deploying-Multiple-Enterprise-Applications.aspx
You can freely register for Windows Phone App Studio and then developer unlock it for free.
More details here.