A reference distilled from the official documentation for packaging Windows apps as MSIX, distributing and deploying them, and publishing them to the Microsoft Store. It covers package creation, package identity, deployment architecture, code signing, and Store submission, review, and analytics. Depending on the user's task, read the appropriate README.md and follow it to the individual files.
Directory Structure
skills/windows-packaging-publish/
SKILL.md
references/
msix-packaging/
README.md
app-streaming-install.md
appv-vs-msix-comparison.md
asset-packages.md
create-psf-fixup.md
differential-package-updates.md
framework-packages.md
makeappx-cli.md
modification-packages.md
msix-app-attach.md
msix-containerization-overview.md
msix-overview.md
msix-packaging-tool.md
msix-sdk.md
msix-toolkit.md
optional-packages.md
package-asset-requirements.md
package-bundles-architecture.md
package-extensions-guide.md
package-manifest-schema.md
package-structure.md
package-support-framework.md
resource-packages.md
single-project-msix.md
unsigned-package.md
vs-packaging-project.md
package-identity/
README.md
apis-requiring-package-identity.md
detect-package-identity.md
get-activation-info-for-packaged-apps.md
integrate-packaged-app-with-file-explorer.md
package-class.md
package-id-class.md
package-identity-overview.md
package-manager.md
package-uninstall-update.md
packaged-vs-unpackaged-behavior.md
persistent-identity.md
sparse-packages-external-location.md
deployment/
README.md
app-installer-file-overview.md
app-installer-troubleshooting.md
app-installer-update-settings.md
choose-distribution-path.md
dotnet-deployment-models.md
enterprise-deployment-intune.md
enterprise-deployment-tools.md
gradual-package-rollout.md
package-folding.md
shared-package-container.md
sideloading-prerequisites.md
store-package-code-driven-update.md
tamper-protection.md
windows-app-sdk-bootstrapper-api.md
windows-app-sdk-deploy-packaged-apps.md
windows-app-sdk-deploy-unpackaged-apps.md
windows-app-sdk-deployment-architecture.md
windows-app-sdk-runtime-version-management.md
windows-app-sdk-self-contained-deploy.md
code-signing/
README.md
azure-key-vault-signing.md
azure-trusted-signing.md
certificate-types.md
cicd-signing.md
device-guard-signing.md
msix-signing-requirements.md
self-signed-certificate.md
signing-troubleshooting.md
signtool-sign.md
signtool-timestamp.md
signtool-verify.md
smartscreen-reputation.md
store-publish/
README.md
acquisitions-report.md
add-on-submission.md
additional-information.md
age-ratings.md
analytics-overview.md
app-certification-process.md
app-package-requirements.md
app-performance-insights.md
app-properties.md
attract-and-promote.md
create-app-submission.md
developer-account.md
distribute-win32-app.md
gradual-package-rollout.md
health-report.md
manage-submission-options.md
market-selection.md
msi-exe-publishing.md
msi-manual-package-validation.md
msstore-cli.md
package-flights.md
pricing-and-availability.md
product-page-experiments.md
publish-app-update.md
pwa-submission.md
ratings-reviews-report.md
remove-app-and-addon.md
reserve-app-name.md
resolve-submission-errors.md
responsible-ai-faq-ai-generated-keywords.md
screenshots-and-images.md
store-context.md
store-listings.md
store-policies.md
store-product.md
submission-api-msi.md
submission-api-msix.md
upload-app-packages.md
usage-report.md
visibility-options.md
Exploration Procedure
Derive the category from the task, then identify the target page in the category's README.md:
- Find the category corresponding to the task in the mapping table below
- In that category,
references/{category}/README.mdRefer to it to identify the target page - For the relevant page,
.mdRead it to check the details
Task → Category Mapping
| Task | Category | Reference README |
|---|---|---|
| I want to understand the structure of MSIX packages and the AppxManifest schema | msix-packaging | references/msix-packaging/README.md |
| I want to create a package with MakeAppx / MSIX Packaging Tool / Visual Studio | msix-packaging | references/msix-packaging/README.md |
| I want to work with package bundles, App Attach, and the Package Support Framework | msix-packaging | references/msix-packaging/README.md |
| I want to learn about the MSIX containerization mechanism, comparison with App-V, and the MSIX Toolkit/SDK | msix-packaging | references/msix-packaging/README.md |
| I want to understand the five elements of package identity, PackageFamilyName, and PackageFullName | package-identity | references/package-identity/README.md |
| I want to retrieve and manipulate package information at runtime with the Package / PackageId / PackageManager classes | package-identity | references/package-identity/README.md |
| I want to give a non-packaged app a package identity using a sparse package | package-identity | references/package-identity/README.md |
| I want to integrate a File Explorer context menu into a packaged desktop app | package-identity | references/package-identity/README.md |
| I want to handle activation information retrieval for packaged apps and persistent IDs (maintaining the ID when the certificate is renewed) | package-identity | references/package-identity/README.md |
| I want to decide whether to choose Microsoft Store / sideloading / non-packaged distribution | deployment | references/deployment/README.md |
| I want to configure sideloading with automatic updates using an App Installer file | deployment | references/deployment/README.md |
| I want to configure the Windows App SDK Bootstrapper API, self-contained deployment, and Intune distribution | deployment | references/deployment/README.md |
| I want to check installed versions of the Windows App SDK runtime and uninstall it | deployment | references/deployment/README.md |
| I want to understand package tamper detection (Tamper Protection), package folding, and shared package containers | deployment | references/deployment/README.md |
| I want to sign, timestamp, and verify packages with SignTool | code-signing | references/code-signing/README.md |
| I want to select a certificate type (self-signed / OV / EV / Azure Trusted Signing) | code-signing | references/code-signing/README.md |
| I want to incorporate automatic signing into a CI/CD pipeline | code-signing | references/code-signing/README.md |
| I want to understand the SmartScreen reputation mechanism | code-signing | references/code-signing/README.md |
| I want to submit an app for review in Partner Center | store-publish | references/store-publish/README.md |
| I want to set pricing, markets, age ratings, and store listings | store-publish | references/store-publish/README.md |
| I want to automate purchases and publishing with StoreContext / submission API / msstore CLI, and check phased rollouts and analytics reports (usage and crash rates) | store-publish | references/store-publish/README.md |
| I want to handle add-on submissions, product page experiments, attract campaigns, and analytics report sets (usage, ratings, and performance) | store-publish | references/store-publish/README.md |
| I want to distribute and validate MSI/EXE apps and PWAs to the Store | store-publish | references/store-publish/README.md |
This skill handles MSIX packaging, package identity, deployment architectures (including the Windows App SDK Bootstrapper API and self-contained deployment), code signing, and the Microsoft Store publishing flow. Other concerns such as UI controls (windows-winui-controls), layout and styling (windows-winui-ui / windows-design), Windows App SDK runtime APIs such as lifecycle, windows, and notifications (windows-app-sdk), and data storage, interop, and testing are handled by other windows-* skills.