Unable to get Electron MSIX bundle certified for store

Question

I built an app with Electron (+ Forge) as .msix package and submitted it for review. The process fails at the certification step with "no details given".

Well… what can I do?

Answer 1

Ah, I now see more information in the submission options:

We detected the use of one or more restricted capabilities in your Package.appxmanifest file. You must request approval to use restricted capabilities by providing more information below. Please include as much detail as possible.

If you don't need to declare these capabilities or added them in error, you can remove them from your Package.appxmanifest file and then upload the updated package(s).

Answer 2

If your Electron MSIX package is failing at the certification step with no details provided, there are several steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue:

1. Review Submission Errors: Check if there are any error messages displayed in the Partner Center after your submission. These messages can provide clues about what went wrong. If there are no specific errors, consider reviewing the Resolve submission errors documentation for common issues.
2. Test with Windows App Certification Kit: Ensure that you have tested your app with the Windows App Certification Kit before submission. This tool can help identify compliance issues that may cause your app to fail certification.
3. Check Package Format: Make sure that your package is correctly formatted as a .msixupload or .appxupload file generated by Visual Studio. Submitting the wrong file type can lead to certification failures.
4. Ensure Technical Compliance: Verify that your app meets all technical compliance requirements. This includes ensuring that your app does not crash without network connectivity and that it performs well across different configurations.
5. Provide Necessary Information: If your app requires specific information for testers, such as login credentials or steps to access certain features, make sure to include this in the Notes for certification.
6. Consult Microsoft Store Policies: Review the Microsoft Store Policies to ensure that your app complies with all the requirements listed there.

If you continue to face issues, consider reaching out to Microsoft support for further assistance with your submission.