1,086 questions
Can we install an app through Microsoft store and get installation parameters?
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Nikhil Trikutam
20
Reputation points
I need to install a UWP app from the store (using a link) and get the installation parameters present in the link after installation. While researching regarding this I found I can get the installation parameters using the app installer through protocol redirection and accessing them in OnActivation() of App.xaml.cs.
However, I do not wish to sideload my application. Is there a way I can do this directly through the store? i.e. is there a way to get the parameters directly from the link without an app installer, or can I publish an app installer to the store and get the parameters using it?
Note: I have already tried the ms-windows-store way and it hasn't worked for me.
ms-windows-store://pdp/?ProductId=<product-id>&CustomUri=<custom-protocol-uri>&CustomParameter=<parameter-value>
Microsoft Partner Center | Other
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Anonymous2023-06-02T03:11:15.34+00:00 Currently, there is no such API that could achieve the install parameters that you used for installing in the Microsoft Store. Why you need to do that?
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Nikhil Trikutam 20 Reputation points
2023-06-02T07:00:05.9966667+00:00 When distributing your UWP app through the Microsoft Store, you can add custom parameters to your app's download and install URI, just like with App Installer. When the user downloads and installs your app through the Store, the custom parameters will be automatically passed to your app. However, your app needs to be specifically configured to handle the incoming parameters. To configure your UWP app to handle protocol activation and parameters, follow these steps: Register your app for protocol activation by adding a protocol extension entry in your app's manifest file. You can do this by opening the Package.appxmanifest file, navigating to the 'Declarations' tab, and adding a new protocol element. Implement code in your app to handle the activation parameters. This can be done in the app's OnActivated event handler method. Add your custom activation protocol and parameters to the download and install URI for your UWP app in the Store. Once your app is set up to handle your installation parameters, you can customise the URI to contain uniquely defined parameters that will be passed to your app when it is launched after a user installs your app from the Store. To add these parameters to your app's download and install URI on the Store, you will need to append a query string to the URI. As an example, let's say you want the URI to contain a custom parameter called 'foo' with a value of 'bar': https://www.microsoft.com/store/apps/9WZDNCRDTZM4?foo=bar In this URI, the query string '?foo=bar' is added to the end of the base URI for the app in the Store. When the user installs and launches your app, your app should be able to read the value of the 'foo' parameter that was passed in by examining the activation event arguments in the OnActivated event handler. Note that when you use the Microsoft Store to distribute your app, there is no need to publish an app installer to take advantage of this functionality.This is the answer provided by Q&A assist on your page. Does this work? I tested this and also
ms-windows-store://pdp/?ProductId=<product-id>&CustomUri=<custom-protocol-uri>&CustomParameter=<parameter-value>But both these described ways do not work for getting the parameter in the app from the store.
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Anonymous
2023-06-02T07:20:45.57+00:00 As I've already mentioned, there is no way to do it. Why do you want to achieve such a feature? Maybe you could get what you want by other ways.
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Nikhil Trikutam 20 Reputation points
2023-06-12T05:34:37.3433333+00:00 Sorry, I can not exactly convey my feature. Thank You
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David Pugmire 5 Reputation points2023-09-26T18:45:47.13+00:00 @Anonymous is that really a question that Microsoft can't answer for themselves? Coming from decades worth of installation on Windows, I'm shocked, frankly, that the store doesn't provide developers with a way. The reason why seems so abundantly clear, and the example from @Nikhil Trikutam is spot on.
Scenario:
User is on customer website. Clicks to install the app from the MS Store, PASSING parameters from the site to the installer for the app to use on first launch. App is launched, parameters are available to the app to take further action on launch.In our case, the param would be a one-time sign-in token so that the user doesn't have to sign in with our web service when we know they just came from there. Or it could be a campaign ID so that we know how they found the MS Store link.
Possible everywhere BUT the MS Store:
Look at the official MSIX docs here:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/msix/app-installer/install-parametersIf we arrange our own deployment of the package from our own server, we can pass parameters and do as needed. But not if deployed in the store. That is a severe limitation of the store, and hampers user experience and advanced abilities developers have been able to do for decades. It causes developers to NOT use the MS Store for distro of their apps.
If I were still working at Microsoft, this issue would be raised to PM's as a high priority feature request, and not just be a support discussion here.
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