Cannot complete Submission Options - "Failed to fetch notification audience" error

Question

Hello Microsoft Partner Support team,

I am unable to submit my app for certification due to a system error on the Notification audience page that prevents Submission Options from being marked as Complete.

[App Information]

[Issue: Notification audience page returns persistent API error]

When I navigate to:

Apps and games > kaze dev helper > Submission Options > Submission notification audience > Click here

The page initially loads with the "Add user" button enabled, but after a few seconds an error appears:

"Failed to fetch current notification audience. Please retry."

After this error, the "Add user" button becomes permanently disabled and the user list is empty. I cannot add any notification audience members.

This causes "Submission options" to remain "Incomplete" on the Product release page, blocking my "Submit for certification" button.

[Steps already tried without success]

• Refreshing the page (Ctrl+F5)
• Logging out and logging back in
• Different browsers (Edge, Chrome)
• Clearing browser cache
• Trying in Incognito/Private mode

[Additional context]

When attempting to access User management as a workaround, I discovered that:

• My Microsoft Entra tenant exists
• However, when trying to log in with , the system says "We couldn't find an account with that username"
• This suggests my tenant has no Global Administrator account, preventing me from managing users myself

[Account Status]

• Tax profile: Complete
• Payment profile: Pending Microsoft validation
• Account verification: Verified successfully

All other submission sections are Complete:

• Pricing and availability: Complete
• Properties: Complete
• Age ratings: Complete
• Packages: Complete (Validated)
• Store listings: Complete
• Submission options: INCOMPLETE (blocked by this issue)

I have correctly entered:

• runFullTrust capability justification
• Notes for certification (in Additional Testing Information)
• Publishing hold options selected

[Request]

Please help me with one of the following:

1. Fix the notification audience API error on my account.
2. Manually add my account () as a notification recipient on the backend so the Submission options can be marked Complete.
3. Help create a Global Administrator account in my tenant so I can manage users myself.

I have completed all other required steps for my first app submission. This is the only blocker remaining. I have spent over 8 hours troubleshooting and have exhausted all self-service options.

Thank you for your prompt assistance.

Best regards,

[Kim Jeong Hun]

Kaze System

Answer 1

The Submission notification audience field is not required to submit an MSIX or PWA app, and the account owner is always notified even if no additional users are added.

On the Submission options page, only these fields can be required:

• Publishing hold options: Not required
• Notes for certification: Not required
• Restricted capabilities: Required only if the app declares restricted capabilities
• Submission notification audience: Not required

For MSIX and PWA submissions, the app can be submitted for certification as long as all required sections are complete (including Restricted capabilities if any are declared). The notification audience list is product-specific and optional; add-ons inherit the parent product’s audience and also cannot be managed separately.

Because the notification audience is optional and the account owner is always notified, the Submission options section should not be blocked solely by an inability to fetch or modify the notification audience. If the portal UI is preventing submission despite all required fields being complete, this is a backend/service issue that must be handled by Microsoft support.

The appropriate next step is to open a support ticket from Partner Center so the engineering/support team can:

• Check why the Submission options section is stuck in “Incomplete” state, and
• Correct the notification audience service behavior or bypass it for this product.

If there is no other administrator in the tenant and access or configuration is blocked at the tenant level, the Microsoft Data Protection team can be engaged via a support request or regional support hotline to restore proper admin access.

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References:

• Create app submission for MSIX apps
• Create app submission for PWAs
• Manage submission options for MSIX apps
• Submit your app to Microsoft Store
• Notifications
• Resolve submission errors for MSIX app