How do I download an APPX file?

An APPX file is a package file format used by Windows apps and games from the Microsoft Store. It contains all the necessary files and dependencies for an app or game to run on a Windows 10 device. Downloading an APPX allows you to install apps and games on your PC without having to go through the Microsoft Store. This can be useful for trying out apps not available on the store or sideloading development builds. In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know about APPX files and how to download and install them on your Windows 10 PC.

What is an APPX file?

APPX stands for Application Package Executable. It is a file format introduced by Microsoft for the new Windows app model with Windows 8 and Windows 10. Some key things to know about APPX files:

• APPX contains all the app binaries, assets, dependencies like frameworks and dlls required for the app to function.
• The contents are compressed for smaller file size.
• APPX uses the Open Packaging Conventions (OPC) standard for packing and unpacking.
• Developers compile their app code into the APPX format for submitting to the Microsoft Store.
• Downloaded and installed apps from the Microsoft Store use the APPX format.
• APPX ensures apps are self-contained and portable across Windows 10 devices.

So in summary, the APPX file format is the installation and distribution unit for apps on Windows 10 and Windows 11. It contains everything an app needs to run locally on a Windows machine.

Benefits of APPX files

Here are some of the major benefits provided by the APPX file format:

• Self-contained – Has no dependency issues since APPX contains all binaries and libraries.
• Portable – Can be installed on any Windows 10 or 11 device.
• Consistent – Standardized packaging format enforced by the Microsoft Store.
• Secure – APPX is sandboxed with limited system access for safety.
• Versionable – Allows side-by-side installation of different app versions.
• Distributed – Can be downloaded from Microsoft Store or other sources.
• Centrally managed – Microsoft controls updates and additions to the Microsoft Store.

The self-contained and portable nature of APPX makes them easy to install and manage on both client PCs and servers. The strict security sandboxing also prevents apps from tampering with the system.

How to download an APPX file

If you want to download an APPX file for sideloading, you have a couple options:

Method 1: Download from Microsoft Store

Even though the Microsoft Store doesn’t directly let you download APPX files, there is a workaround using Microsoft Store website:

1. Search for the app you want in Microsoft Store and open its product page.
2. The product page URL will be in a format like https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/. Copy the product ID GUID.
3. Now construct a direct download link using the product ID: https://www.microsoft.com/store/downloads/productId/
4. Paste the link in your browser to download the APPX file.
5. You may need to paste the link in an incognito window for it to work.

This method lets you download APPX files of apps available on the Microsoft Store. But it doesn’t work for all apps, and link may stop working in the future.

Method 2: Download from app developer site

Many app developers host the APPX files on their own site for users to directly download. They are meant for sideloading and testing prerelease builds. For example, Firefox has an APPX download for their Firefox Nightly builds.

Simply get the APPX download link from the developer site. It will typically be a setup.appx or .appxbundle file.

Method 3: Extract from Windows 10 PC

You can use a tool like PowerShell to extract the APPX file for an installed app from your Windows 10 PC:

1. Search for the app name in PowerShell to find its PackageFullName:

Get-AppxPackage -Name Firefox

2. Now use the PackageFullName to extract the APPX file:

Get-AppxPackage -Name PackageFullName | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -Path $_.InstallLocation}\$_.PackageFamilyName.appxbundle

3. This will save the APPX file to the current folder.

So if you have access to the Windows 10 PC where the app is installed, you can retrieve its APPX file this way.

How to install an APPX file

Once you have downloaded the APPX file, installing it on your Windows 10 device is pretty easy. Here are a couple methods:

Double-click to install

Simply double-click the APPX file in File Explorer to launch the installer. It will take you through the installation process like any other app.

Install from PowerShell

You can use the Add-AppxPackage command in PowerShell to install APPX files:

1. Launch PowerShell as Administrator.
2. Navigate to the folder containing the APPX file.
3. Run the command:
   Add-AppxPackage -Path filename.appx
4. Follow the prompts to complete installation.

This will install the app silently without any confirmation popups.

Install using Windows App Installer

Windows 10 also has the Windows App Installer app to easily sideload APPX files:

1. Launch Windows App Installer.
2. Drag and drop the APPX file into its interface.
3. Click Install and follow the instructions.

This provides a streamlined GUI for installing APPX and APPXBundle files on your device.

Troubleshooting APPX install issues

Sometimes you may run into errors while trying to install an APPX file, such as:

• Package could not be registered
• Error – Deployment failed because of ARM/x86 mismatch
• Error – Deployment failed because package requires minimum Windows 10 version
• Error – Deployment failed with HRESULT 80073CF6

Here are some things to try in that case:

• Make sure you are running PowerShell or App Installer as Administrator.
• Temporarily disable security software that may be blocking installation.
• Ensure the app certificate inside APPX is trusted on your device.
• Check that your Windows 10 version meets the minimum requirement.
• Try installing on a different Windows PC or build.

If it is still not working, you may need to unpack the APPX and edit its manifest or certificates before repackaging. Consult the app developer for more troubleshooting tips.

How to unpack and repackage an APPX file

While installing 3rd party APPX files, you may want to modify them or resolve issues. This requires unpacking, making changes, and then repackaging the APPX. Here is how to do it:

Unpack APPX

Use the MakeAppx tool to unpack APPX files:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Navigate to location of MakeAppx.exe tool using CD command.
3. Run command: MakeAppx unpack /p filename.appx /d unpacked
4. This will extract all the APPX contents into an unpacked folder.

You can now browse through the files and make any changes required.

Some things you can modify:

• AppXManifest.xml – To edit name, version, etc.
• Certificates – Add trusted certificates.
• Images and assets
• Dependencies like DLLs

Repackage APPX

Once done with modifications, repackage the APPX using:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator in unpacked folder.
2. Run command: MakeAppx pack /d . /p output.appx
3. This will generate output.appx file containing your changes.

You can now install this updated APPX file on your device.

Repackaging allows resolving many APPX installation issues. Just make sure to only modify essential things for resolving errors.

Conclusion

To summarize, APPX is the file format for installing apps and games on Windows 10/11 devices. It bundles everything an app needs to function locally. You can download APPX files from Microsoft Store, developer sites or extract from an installed app. To install the APPX file, just double click on it, use PowerShell Add-AppxPackage or Windows App Installer. If facing any install issues, try troubleshooting steps like checking certificates, Windows version compatibility etc. Repackaging the APPX can also help in resolving errors by modifying manifest, certificates and other internals. Used properly, APPX files give you full control over app installation and management on your Windows device.