Distributing your apps

Getting your apps into the hands of your users or out into the world is the most important, and sometimes painstaking, part of any development effort. We've simplified the process into a set of resources, which depend on the distribution and deployment scenario that's best suited for you or your team.

HoloLens

If you have a HoloLens application, choose your preferred distribution option from the table below. If you're publishing to the Microsoft Store, you have the option of adding In-app purchases to monetize your content.

Windows Mixed Reality

If you're working with an immersive application that targets a Windows Mixed Reality headset, create a 3D app launcher, then choose your preferred distribution option from the table below. If you're publishing to the Microsoft Store, you have the option of adding In-app purchases to monetize your content.

Designing 3D app launchers for VR

3D app launchers appear as objects in the Windows Mixed Reality home environment that appears whenever a user puts on an immersive headset. These objects are yours to create and customize however you like, but it's recommended that you start with our design guidance article to get the hang of good design practices, including scaling, type, color choice, texturing, and above all making it stand out in a virtual environment.

Modeling and exporting 3D app launchers

Once you're set on the idea for your 3D app launcher, you need to make sure it meets the Microsoft Store requirements, including asset file format, triangle count, texture sizes, animation length, and asset optimization. This process can be highly technical, so we recommend using our 3D model creation article to check all the boxes. Assets that don't to meet this authoring specification won't be rendered in the Windows Mixed Reality home.

Adding 3D app launchers in your apps

After you've ensured that your 3D app launcher meets the Windows Mixed Reality authoring guidelines, it can be used to override the default 2D launcher for your application in the Windows Mixed Reality home environment. The process for integrating a 3D app launcher into your application depends on the type of application you're developing:

• UWP apps
• Win32 apps

[Optional] Placing 3D models in the Windows Mixed Reality home

As an added bonus, some 2D applications let you place 3D models directly into the Windows Mixed Reality home as decorations or for further inspection in full 3D. The add model protocol lets you to send a 3D model from your website or application to the Windows Mixed Reality home, where it'll persist like 3D app launchers, 2D apps, and holograms. Check out how to place 3D models in the Windows Mixed Reality home to find more details and instructions on how to liven up your own apps.

Distribution options

Important

• If you're sharing your app with another party, you need to build and supply the appx file.

  • If you're using App Installer, you'll also need to share the certificate with the user.

• If you're sharing with an organization, you need a work or school account and access to the organizations MDM (Mobile Device Management) infrastructure.

  • If you're the sharing party, you need to be an Admin in your tenant and use the Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center to make the app available. Another option is to share the appx file and the app dependencies with your end user.
  • If you're the end user, the app will either automatically download or be available for download once you enroll with the sharing organization's tenant.

Scenario	Local device installs	Share with anyone	Share with an organization
App Installer	✔️	✔️	❌
MDM - Company Portal	❌	❌	✔️
MDM - Required App Install	❌	❌	✔️
Microsoft Store	❌	✔️	✔️
Microsoft Store for Business	❌	❌	✔️
Provisioning Package	✔️	✔️	✔️
Custom Win32 deployment (Not available for HoloLens devices - see below)	✔️	✔️	❌

Important

App Installer isn't currently available for managed devices or HoloLens (1st Gen) devices.

Other scenarios

• You can produce a Win32 .EXE file using the PC Standalone build target from Unity for Win32 application deployment, including Steam and Game Pass. Once you have the .EXE, you can submit your apps as normal to your chosen platform.

• If you need to install a HoloLens 2 application while you're offline, refer to the offline secure HoloLens 2 instructions or install the app through a Provisioning Package without enabling developer mode.

• You can also deploy builds to your device and share them with other developers who have Developer Mode enabled by deploying and debugging with Visual Studio or installing an application package with the Device Portal.

See also

• Finding, installing, and uninstalling applications from the Microsoft Store