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Clarify app submission requirements and packaging formats #5894

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38 changes: 22 additions & 16 deletions hub/apps/publish/faq/submit-your-app.md
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Expand Up @@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ Every app in the Microsoft Store must have a unique name. Reserving an app name

To reserve a name:
- Go to your Apps & games section in Partner Center and select “New product.”
- Choose the type of app (e.g., MSIX/PWA or EXE/MSI).
- Choose the type of app (e.g., MSIX/PWA).
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Copilot AI Apr 10, 2026

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The instructions here imply only MSIX/PWA can be selected when creating a new product. Elsewhere in this repo there is current guidance for creating an “EXE or MSI app” in Partner Center (for example, hub/apps/publish/publish-your-app/msi/reserve-your-apps-name.md). Please either scope this FAQ explicitly to MSIX/PWA submissions or keep/restore the EXE/MSI option to avoid contradicting the rest of the documentation set.

Suggested change
- Choose the type of app (e.g., MSIX/PWA).
- Choose the appropriate product type for your app (for example, MSIX/PWA or EXE/MSI app).

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- Enter the app title and click **Check availability**.
- If available, click **Reserve product name** to hold the name for 3 months.

Expand All @@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ After reserving a name, start a new submission. The process involves:
- **Pricing and Availability**: Choose free/paid, markets, trials.
- **Properties**: Set category and capabilities.
- **Age Ratings**: Complete content questionnaire for regional ratings.
- **Packages**: Upload your MSIX or EXE/MSI packages.
- **Packages**: Upload your MSIX package.
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This step narrows package upload to “your MSIX package”, but other Microsoft Store docs in this repo indicate multiple Windows package formats are accepted for MSIX submissions (e.g., .msixupload/.appxupload/.appxbundle). Consider rewording to “upload your package(s)” or explicitly listing the supported formats to avoid giving incorrect requirements.

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- **Packages**: Upload your MSIX package.
- **Packages**: Upload your package(s), such as supported MSIX and related package formats.

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- **Store Listings**: Add descriptions, features, images, logos.
- **Submission Options**: (Optional) Add notes for certification or schedule publish date.

Expand All @@ -44,22 +44,28 @@ Fill out all required fields, then click **Submit for certification**. Partner C
<details>
<summary><strong>Do I need to package my app as an MSIX, or can I submit a traditional EXE/MSI installer?</strong></summary>

Store allows both app types.
The Microsoft Store requires apps to be submitted using supported packaging formats such as MSIX and related package types.

**MSIX Benefits are**:
**Supported package formats include**:
- .msix
- .msixbundle
- .msixupload
- .appx
- .appxbundle
- .appxupload
- .xap

**MSIX benefits include**:
- Free Microsoft code signing and CDN hosting.
- Easier updates, better integration with Windows features.
- Enables advanced capabilities like flighting and commerce.

**MSI/EXE Submission**:
- Allowed since June 2021.
- You must provide a URL or upload the installer in submission.
- Requirements:
- Must be .exe or .msi only.
- Offline installer – no downloads during setup.
- Installer must not change after submission or bundle unrelated software.

Both app types can be submitted in Store depending on developer's needs.
- Easier updates and better integration with Windows features.
- Support for advanced capabilities like flighting and commerce.

**EXE/MSI installers**:
- Traditional installer formats such as .exe or .msi are not supported for direct submission in the Microsoft Store.
- Developers should convert or package their applications using MSIX or one of the supported formats listed above to ensure compatibility with Store requirements and certification processes.
Comment on lines +47 to +65
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The answer states that “traditional installer formats such as .exe or .msi are not supported for direct submission”, but this repo contains a full MSI/EXE submission guide that describes reserving an “EXE or MSI app” and uploading EXE/MSI packages in Partner Center (see hub/apps/publish/publish-your-app/msi/create-app-submission.md and .../msi/upload-app-packages.md). Please reconcile these docs—either qualify this FAQ as “for MSIX apps”, or update/remove the MSI/EXE guide and adjust wording here so the documentation set is internally consistent.

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Using msix package format ensures a more reliable, secure, and streamlined installation and update experience for users.
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“Using msix package format” should use the product name capitalization (“MSIX”) and read more clearly as “Using the MSIX package format …”. This helps keep terminology consistent across the docs.

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Using msix package format ensures a more reliable, secure, and streamlined installation and update experience for users.
Using the MSIX package format ensures a more reliable, secure, and streamlined installation and update experience for users.

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</details>

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