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commit b3d15fd5bdd19abf467175071a113f03a9d5882a Author: Matias Lera <[email protected]> Date: Fri Jun 13 17:08:22 2025 -0300 Improved collapsible control commit 4971a060f6a639d89507195184fdf40055200bf9 Author: Matias Lera <[email protected]> Date: Fri Jun 13 16:54:09 2025 -0300 Improved collapsible control commit 024d2a0beb048117128abdc8f7165cab3b1576af Author: Matias Lera <[email protected]> Date: Fri Jun 13 16:07:22 2025 -0300 Fixed PR issues commit d263ca7cad33a6a69bb8d32e71e0162efe5b0625 Author: Matias Lera <[email protected]> Date: Fri Jun 13 16:00:01 2025 -0300 Fixed PR issue commit 9eaa8e904ab12ec48c93458e69b939fbd201fad5 Author: Matias Lera <[email protected]> Date: Fri Jun 13 15:15:02 2025 -0300 Applied FAQ's tables feedback commit 7dce65aa352f8b98d6c2e51fb7db4680dbdd241c Author: Matias Lera <[email protected]> Date: Wed Jun 11 11:24:03 2025 -0300 Update toc.yml commit 4a76a0364514f28cb6afe667a4c5274d0b39b8dc Author: Matias Lera <[email protected]> Date: Wed Jun 11 09:21:00 2025 -0300 Update resolve-submission-errors.md commit 55c2d78c24304fc5641ec62fda8356e9ec2cc575 Author: Matias Lera <[email protected]> Date: Wed Jun 11 09:16:32 2025 -0300 Moved publish addon section commit d1a2c34a83e2d299cf5e5ec0133336158255ef05 Author: Matias Lera <[email protected]> Date: Tue Jun 10 17:02:44 2025 -0300 Update enter-app-properties.md commit 2e840b4ec8232ff9c2d0c7114b3cb01bacf7b5a0 Author: Matias Lera <[email protected]> Date: Tue Jun 10 16:39:55 2025 -0300 Fix PR issues commit bd20ec151105c92dc6866b89c201801078f57a01 Merge: 89e29e2ae 5607a3f Author: Matias Lera <[email protected]> Date: Tue Jun 10 16:20:36 2025 -0300 Merge branch 'main' into llera/addon-changes commit 89e29e2aee84ec0cb4a5833cc52470dd6e2a0ccf Author: Matias Lera <[email protected]> Date: Tue Jun 10 16:12:11 2025 -0300 Apply PR's feedback MicrosoftDocs#1 commit 78d7e12c4528aab5454f5c88af6f91d324362571 Author: Matias Lera <[email protected]> Date: Tue Jun 10 09:45:22 2025 -0300 Update best-practices.md commit 0125247b4cf710c14cc7e4e9de11768660c3897d Author: Matias Lera <[email protected]> Date: Fri Jun 6 12:17:13 2025 -0300 Update toc.yml commit b3f86192d255dd39b7bfb90b2462a87859c67b92 Author: Matias Lera <[email protected]> Date: Thu Jun 5 14:55:53 2025 -0300 Update best-practices.md commit b6530f8217c859d68aac9db9e04c88dee57e00d5 Author: Matias Lera <[email protected]> Date: Thu Jun 5 14:42:26 2025 -0300 Update best-practices.md commit bbdd13974ae541ad1dc702376e7c6211a99d7ef7 Author: Matias Lera <[email protected]> Date: Thu Jun 5 14:25:33 2025 -0300 Updated add-ons documentation
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---
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description: Best practices for publishing your app
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title: Best practices for publishing your app
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ms.topic: article
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ms.date: 05/27/2025
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---
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# Best practices
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## Tips for choosing a great app name
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Choosing the right name for your app is important. Pick a name that will capture your customers' interest and draw them in to learn more about your app. Here are some tips for choosing a great app name.
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**Keep it short**. While your app's name can have up to 256 characters, the space used to display your app's name is limited. Long names may be truncated based on where in the store your app is being displayed and the user's display size and settings.
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> [!TIP]
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> Windows uses variable width fonts, so the number of visible characters in your title depends on which characters you use. For example, using Segoe UI, about 30 `i` characters will fit in the same space as 10 `w` characters. If you have multiple apps, be sure to test the visibility of each app's title, even if they are the same number of characters. Also be sure to test all localizations of your app's name. Keep in mind that East-Asian characters tend to be wider than Latin characters, so fewer characters will be displayed.
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**Be original**. Make sure your app name is distinctive enough that it won't be easily confused with an existing app.
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**Do not use names trademarked by others**. Make sure that you have the right to use the name that you reserve. If someone else has trademarked the name, they can report an infringement and you will not be able to keep using that name. If that happens after your app has been published, it will be removed from the Store until you've changed all instances of the name in your app, its content, and its store listing before you can submit your app for certification again.
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**Avoid trailing differentiators**. Information that distinguishes different versions of your app should not be put at the end of your title. This information can be truncated by the UI, and users can miss it even if it is displayed.
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If this is unavoidable, use different logos and app images to make it easier to differentiate one app from another.
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**Do not include emojis in your name**. You will not be able to reserve a name that includes emojis or other unsupported characters.
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### Choosing which device families to support
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If you upload packages targeting one individual device family, we'll check the box to make those packages available to new customers on that type of device. For example, if a package targets Windows.Desktop, the **Windows 10/11 Desktop** box will be checked for that package (and you won't be able to check the boxes for other device families).
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Packages targeting the Windows.Universal device family can run on any Windows 10 or Windows 11 device (including Xbox One). By default, we'll make those packages available to new customers on all device types _except_ for Xbox.
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You can uncheck the box for any Windows 10 or Windows 11 device family if you don’t want to offer your submission to customers on that type of device. If a device family’s box is unchecked, new customers on that type of device won’t be able to acquire the app (though customers who already have the app can still use it, and will get any updates you submit).
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If your app supports them, we recommend keeping all of the boxes checked, unless you have a specific reason to limit the types of Windows 10 or Windows 11 devices which can acquire your app. For instance, if you know that your app doesn't offer a good experience on [Surface Hub](https://developer.microsoft.com/windows/surfacehub) and/or [Microsoft HoloLens](https://developer.microsoft.com/mixed-reality), you can uncheck the **Windows 10 Team** and/or **Windows 10 Holographic** box. This prevents any new customers from acquiring the app on those devices. If you later decide you're ready to offer it to those customers, you can create a new submission with the boxes checked.
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## Write a great app description for MSIX app
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A great description can make your app stand out in the Microsoft Store and help encourage customers to download it. [The description you enter when submitting your app](/windows/apps/publish/publish-your-app/msix/add-and-edit-store-listing-info#description) is displayed in your app's Store listing. The first few lines may also be displayed in search results and algorithm lists in the Store.
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Here are some tips for making your app's description the best it can be.
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- **Grab attention in the first few sentences.** The beginning of your description is the most important, so make sure it grabs and holds attention. Start with the value prop: why should potential customers take the time and money to get your app? What is the benefit to choosing your app over another? In one or two sentences, using plain and clear language, explain your app's unique appeal and why someone would want it.
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- **Make it easy to learn about your app.** After your initial hook, describe additional benefits, in-app purchase opportunities, and other details about your app that customers will want to know. Make sure you include any disclosures or information that you are required to provide under the law in the markets where you are distributing your app.
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- **Use lists and short paragraphs.** Potential customers may just take a quick glance at your app's description. Breaking up the content by using short paragraphs and lists makes it easier to scan.
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> [!NOTE]
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>  Adding a list of [product features](/windows/apps/publish/publish-your-app/msix/create-app-store-listing) can also help to quickly show what your app does. This list appears directly below the app description.
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- **Avoid dry language.** Write your description using engaging language. Be sure the wording clearly describes what your app does, but say it in a way that doesn't sound boring. For many apps, a casual and friendly tone works well.
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- **Use a length that is just right.** A good description reads quickly, but also includes enough info to get the reader interested and explain what the app does. A complex app will need more sentences to describe it; a simple app may need only a few. In most cases the right length is somewhere over 200 words, but well under 3000.
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- **Be clear about free trials and add-ons.** If you offer a free trial of your app, be sure to explain how that trial works, so that customers understand which features are limited. It's also a good idea to mention what types of add-ons are available, particularly if they have significant impacts on your app's functionality.
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- **Use standard capitalization and punctuation.** Descriptions in all caps, or those that have unusual punctuation, can be hard to read.
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- **Don't forget to check the spelling and grammar.** A description with lots of misspelled words or mangled sentences doesn't reflect well on the quality of your app. Be sure to review your description (or have someone else take a look) to check for errors.
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- **Don't include links or info that belongs elsewhere.** URLs that you enter in the description field won't be clickable, so don't try to add links for things like your privacy policy or support website. Instead, add these in the designated areas of the **Properties** page of your submission.
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- **Don't use HTML tags.** HTML or other code will not be rendered. Your description needs to be plain text only.
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- **Get ideas by reviewing descriptions of similar apps in the Store.** Take a look at how other developers describe their apps. This also helps you figure out what you can emphasize that is different about your app.

hub/apps/publish/publish-your-app/add-on/add-and-edit-store-listing-info.md

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hub/apps/publish/publish-your-app/add-on/app-certification-process.md

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# The app certification process for add-on
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When you finish creating your app's submission and click **Submit to the Store**, the submission enters the certification step. This process usually is completed within a few hours, though in some cases it may take up to three business days. After your submission passes certification, it can take up to 24 hours for customers to see the app’s listing for a new submission, or for an updated submission with changes to packages. If your update only changes Store listing details, the publishing process will be completed in less than an hour. You'll be notified when your submission is published, and the app's status in the dashboard will be **In the Store**.
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When you finish creating your app's submission and click **Submit to the Store**, the submission enters the certification step. This process is usually completed within a few hours, though in some cases it may take up to three business days. After your submission passes certification, it can take up to 24 hours for customers to see the app’s listing for a new submission, or for an updated submission with packages changes. If you update only changes Store listing details, the publishing process will be completed in less than an hour. You'll be notified when your submission is published, and the app's status in the dashboard will be **In the Store**.
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## Preprocessing
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- **Technical compliance tests:** Technical compliance is tested by the Windows App Certification Kit. (You should always make sure to [test your app with the Windows App Certification Kit](/windows/uwp/debug-test-perf/windows-app-certification-kit) before you submit it to the Store.)
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- **Content compliance:** The amount of time this takes varies depending on how complex your app is, how much visual content it has, and how many apps have been submitted recently. Be sure to provide any info that testers should be aware of in the [Notes for certification](./manage-submission-options.md#notes-for-certification) page.
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After the certification process is complete, you'll get a certification report telling you whether or not your app passed certification. If it didn't pass, the report will indicate which test failed or which [policy](../../store-policies.md) was not met. After you fix the problem, you can create a new submission for your app to start the certification process again.
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After the certification process is complete, you'll get a certification report telling you whether or not your app passed certification. If it didn't pass, the report will indicate which test failed or which [policy](../../store-policies.md) was not met. Once you fix the problem, you can create a new submission for your app and start the certification process again.
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## Release
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When your app passes certification, it's ready to move to the **Publishing** process.
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- If you've indicated that your submission should be published as soon as possible (the default option), the publishing process will begin right away.
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- If this is the first time you've published the app, and you specified a **Release date** in the [Schedule](./schedule-pricing-changes.md#configure-precise-release-scheduling) section, the app will become available according to your **Release date** selections.
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- If this is the first time you've published the app, and you specified a **Release date** in the [Schedule](./configure-release-schedule.md#configure-precise-release-scheduling) section, the app will become available according to your **Release date** selections.
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- If you've used [Publishing hold options](./manage-submission-options.md#publishing-hold-options) to specify that it should not be released until a certain date, we'll wait until that date to begin the publishing process, unless you select **Change release date**.
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- If you've used [Publishing hold options](./manage-submission-options.md#publishing-hold-options) to specify that you want to publish the submission manually, we won't start the publishing process until you select **Publish now** (or select **Change release date** and pick a specific date).
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## Publishing
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Your app's packages are digitally signed to protect them against tampering after they have been released. Once this phase has begun, you can no longer cancel your submission or change its release date.
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For new apps and updates which include changes to the app's packages, the publishing process will be completed within 24 hours. For updates that only change options such as Store listing details, but don't change the app's packages, the publishing process will take less than one hour.
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For new apps and updates that include changes to the app's packages, the publishing process will be completed within 24 hours. For updates that only change options such as Store listing details, but don't change the app's packages, the publishing process will take less than one hour.
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While your app is in the publishing phase, the **Show details** link in the Status column for your app’s submission lets you know when your new packages and Store listing details are available to customers on each of your supported OS versions. Steps that have not yet completed will show **Pending**. Your app will remain in the publishing phase until the process has completed, meaning that the new packages and/or listing details are available to all of your app’s potential customers.
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## In the Store
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After successfully going through the steps above, the submission's status will change from **Publishing** to **In the Store**. Your submission will then be available in the Microsoft Store for customers to download (unless you have chosen another [Discoverability](./visibility-options.md#discoverability) option).
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After successfully completing the steps above, the submission's status will change from **Publishing** to **In the Store**. Your submission will then be available in the Microsoft Store for customers to download (unless you have chosen another [Discoverability](./visibility-options.md#discoverability) option).
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> [!NOTE]
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> We also conduct spot checks of apps after they've been published so we can identify potential problems and ensure that your app complies with all of the [Microsoft Store Policies](../../store-policies.md). If we find any problems, you'll be notified about the issue and how to fix it, if applicable, or if it has been removed from the Store.

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