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Make your app easier to promote

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Get your app noticed! Aside from making your app the best it can be, there are things you can do that make it easy for the Microsoft Store and other sites to showcase your app and help it get more attention.

The Microsoft Store showcases different apps grouped by category or theme. There are too many great apps to feature them all, and there is no way to guarantee your app will get selected. However, there are some things you can do to make sure your app is eligible to be considered for promotion in the Store. Following these guidelines may also make it easier for others to promote your app in reviews, social media, or other venues.

  • Include great screenshots and images

    When featuring apps, the Microsoft Store may use your app screenshots and images in various layouts. Be sure to design great screenshots that represent your app, and make sure the first screenshot is especially representative and appealing. You can provide different sets of screenshots to show how the app looks on each device type that it supports.

    To maximize your app's chance of getting featured in the Store, provide all applicable images in the Store logos and Additional art assets sections of your Store listing. The 9:16 Poster art (720 x 1080 or 1440 x 2160 pixels) and 16:9 Super hero art (1920 x 1080 or 3840 x 2160 pixels) images are particularly important. If your app supports the Xbox and/or Holographic device family, we recommend providing all applicable images for those device families as well. For more details and guidelines, see App screenshots, images, and trailers.

  • Build one version of your app, not one free version and a distinct paid version

    Rather than publishing separate free and paid versions of the same app, offer a free trial version for your paid app, or make it a free app and offer add-ons to let customers purchase enhanced functionality. This way your app will have one listing that works for all customers: those only interested in free downloads, and those who might be ready to make a purchase.

  • List your app in all relevant markets and languages

    Submitting your app to all relevant markets can help you get broader coverage for your app. Of course, you'll want to make sure that your app is appropriate and meets all local guidelines for the markets you choose. Localizing your app's content and Store listing info into additional languages can also help.

  • Enable filters for apps containing 16+ and 18+ content

    In most cases the Microsoft Store doesn't consider featuring apps with 16+ content, unless the app uses content filtering so that any content that is only appropriate for age 16+ is hidden from users until they explicitly choose to show it. The content filter should be turned on by default, it should be password protected, and it should be available in the app itself (not on a separate website).