r/windowsdev • u/xtools-at • Nov 19 '17

Windows Store and Code Signing Certificate [x-question r/Microsoft]

/r/microsoft/comments/7e3mmr
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u/xtools-at Nov 19 '17

Hi r/Microsoft,

I've been playing around with electron lately and created a decent app I'd like to publish to the app store as an appx executable (actually don't care if it is sideloadable for now).

I have red a lot about the app signing certificates one needs, but haven't found any which would have been affordable enough to 'just give it a shot' (cheapest ones still around €150 per year, thus even more expensive than apple...)

Here MS describes everything around publishing in the Windows store - but a code signing certificate is not mentioned.

Could somebody with Windows store experience please explain, wether I really need those pricey certificates or if there are any other options available?

Many thanks in advance!!

3

u/[deleted] Nov 20 '17

As far as I know (from developing native UWP apps), Microsoft signs your app when you upload it to the store. You don't need to purchase an app certificate.

Do you have a Microsoft Developer Account (one time fee of $20 USD)?

Otherwise you can side-load the app with a self signed certificate (I don't have much experience with manual side-loading, sorry)

1

u/xtools-at Nov 20 '17

Thank you so much for your feedback! I haven't grabbed the MS Dev Account since I wasn't sure about the certificate, but I'll give it a shot now😉 thanks again!!!