winapp-cli

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---
name: winapp-cli
description: 'Windows App Development CLI (winapp) for building, packaging, signing, debugging, and UI-automating Windows applications. Use when asked to initialize Windows app projects, create MSIX packages, manage AppxManifest.xml or development certificates, run an app as packaged for debugging, automate Windows UI via Microsoft UI Automation, publish to the Microsoft Store, or access Windows SDK build tools. Covers commands like init, pack, run, unregister, manifest, cert, sign, store, ui, and tool. Supports .NET (csproj), C++, Electron, Rust, Tauri, Flutter, and other Windows frameworks.'
---

# Windows App Development CLI

`winapp` manages Windows SDKs, MSIX packaging, app identity, manifests, certificates, signing, store publishing, and UI automation for any framework targeting Windows (.NET/csproj, C++, Electron, Rust, Tauri, Flutter, etc.). Public preview — subject to change.

## Prerequisites

- Windows 10 or later
- Install via one of:
  - WinGet: `winget install Microsoft.WinAppCli --source winget`
  - npm (Electron/Node): `npm install @microsoft/winappcli --save-dev`
  - CI: [`setup-WinAppCli`](https://github.com/microsoft/setup-WinAppCli) GitHub Action
  - Manual: [GitHub Releases](https://github.com/microsoft/WinAppCli/releases/latest)

## Commands

| Command | Purpose |
| ------- | ------- |
| `init` | Initialize project: SDKs (`stable`/`preview`/`experimental`/`none`), manifest, `winapp.yaml`. **`.csproj` projects skip `winapp.yaml`** and use NuGet directly. **Does not auto-generate a cert** (v0.2.0+). |
| `restore` / `update` | Restore or update SDK package versions (`--setup-sdks preview` for preview SDKs). |
| `pack <dir>` | Build MSIX. Flags: `--generate-cert`, `--cert <pfx> --cert-password`, `--self-contained` (bundles WinAppSDK runtime), `--output`. Auto-discovers third-party WinRT components from `.winmd` (v0.2.1+). |
| `run <dir> [-- <app args>]` | Pack as loose layout and launch as packaged app — ideal for IDE F5 debugging without producing an MSIX. Supports `--` arg passthrough (v0.3.1+). (v0.3.0+) |
| `create-debug-identity <exe>` | Add sparse package identity to an exe so it can call identity-gated APIs (notifications, Windows AI, shell integration) without full packaging. |
| `unregister` | Remove sideloaded dev packages registered by `run` / `create-debug-identity`. |
| `manifest` | Generate `AppxManifest.xml`; supports placeholders and qualified names. `manifest update-assets <image>` generates all required icon sizes from one source (PNG **or SVG**, v0.2.1+). |
| `cert generate` / `install` / `info` | Manage dev certs. `cert info <pfx> --password <pwd>` shows subject/issuer/validity. `--export-cer` exports the public key. `--json` available on `generate` and `info`. (v0.2.1+) |
| `sign <target> --cert <pfx>` | Sign MSIX or exe; optional timestamp server. |
| `tool` | Run Windows SDK build tools with paths configured. |
| `store` | Run Microsoft Store Developer CLI for store submission/validation/publishing. |
| `create-external-catalog` | Generate `CodeIntegrityExternal.cat` for TrustedLaunch sparse packages. |
| `ui list-windows` / `inspect` / `click` / `search` / `wait-for` / `get-focused` | UI automation via Microsoft UI Automation. All support `--json`. **JSON envelopes for `inspect`, `get-focused`, `search`, and `wait-for` changed in v0.3.1** — see [`references/ui-json-envelope.md`](./references/ui-json-envelope.md) (other `ui` subcommands keep their pre-0.3.1 output). (v0.3.0+) |
| `node create-addon` / `add-electron-debug-identity` / `clear-electron-debug-identity` | Electron/Node helpers. All commands also exposed as typed JS/TS functions from `@microsoft/winappcli` (v0.2.1+). |

CI tip: pass `--no-prompt` to skip interactive prompts.

## Workflow

Standard init → package flow:

1. **Initialize the project** in your app folder. Sets up SDK refs, manifest, and `winapp.yaml` (`.csproj` projects skip the YAML and configure NuGet directly).

```bash
   winapp init        # add --no-prompt in CI
   ```

2. **Generate a dev signing certificate** — required for sideloading. `init` no longer creates one for non-`.csproj` projects (v0.2.0+). Pin the output path so later steps can reference it.

```bash
   winapp cert generate --publisher "CN=My Company" --output ./mycert.pfx --install
   ```

3. **Build your app** with the framework's own toolchain (`dotnet build`, `npm run build`, `cargo build`, etc.).
4. **Package as MSIX**, signing with the cert from step 2.

```bash
   winapp pack ./build-output --cert ./mycert.pfx --cert-password password --output MyApp.msix
   ```

5. **(Optional) Re-sign with a production cert** before distribution.

```bash
   winapp sign MyApp.msix --cert ./prod.pfx --cert-password $env:CERT_PWD
   ```

6. **(Optional) Submit to the Microsoft Store** with `winapp store …` (wraps the Store Developer CLI).

### Alternate flows

- **Debug identity-gated APIs without packaging** (notifications, Windows AI, shell):

```bash
  winapp create-debug-identity ./bin/MyApp.exe
  ./bin/MyApp.exe
  ```

- **Run as packaged app for IDE F5** (loose layout; app args after `--`):

```bash
  winapp run ./bin/Debug/net10.0-windows10.0.26100.0/win-x64 \
    --manifest ./appxmanifest.xml -- --my-flag value
  ```

- **Electron**:

```bash
  npx winapp init
  npx winapp node add-electron-debug-identity
  npx winapp pack ./out --output MyElectronApp.msix
  ```

## Gotchas

- **`winapp ui --json` envelope reshaped in v0.3.1** — `ui inspect`, `ui get-focused`, `ui search`, and `ui wait-for` use new shapes; per-element `id` / `parentSelector` / `windowHandle` are removed (use `selector`). Full schemas in [`references/ui-json-envelope.md`](./references/ui-json-envelope.md).
- **`winapp init` no longer auto-generates a certificate** (v0.2.0+) — run `winapp cert generate` explicitly. The old `--no-cert` flag was removed.
- **`.csproj` projects skip `winapp.yaml`** — SDK packages live in the project file. Hybrid setups need adjustment.
- **NuGet global cache, not `%userprofile%/.winapp/packages`** (v0.2.0+) — scripts depending on the old folder will break.
- **Re-run `create-debug-identity` after any manifest change** — identity is bound at registration time.

## Troubleshooting

| Issue | Fix |
| ----- | --- |
| Certificate not trusted | `winapp cert install <pfx>` to add to local machine store |
| Identity-gated API fails | Re-run `create-debug-identity` after manifest changes |
| SDK not found | `winapp restore` or `winapp update` |
| `run` / `create-debug-identity` registration error `0x800704EC` | Developer Mode is off — enable it in **Settings → Privacy & security → For developers** (or `Set-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppModelUnlock' -Name AllowDevelopmentWithoutDevLicense -Value 1`), then retry |
| `run` / `create-debug-identity` registration error `0x80073CFB` | Package already registered with a conflicting identity — run `winapp unregister` (or `winapp unregister --force` if registered from a different project tree), then retry |

## References

- [winapp CLI repo](https://github.com/microsoft/WinAppCli) · [Full usage docs](https://github.com/microsoft/WinAppCli/blob/main/docs/usage.md) · [.NET guide](https://github.com/microsoft/WinAppCli/blob/main/docs/guides/dotnet.md) · [Samples](https://github.com/microsoft/WinAppCli/tree/main/samples)
- [Windows App SDK](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/apps/windows-app-sdk/) · [MSIX overview](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/msix/overview) · [Package identity overview](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/apps/desktop/modernize/package-identity-overview)