[Windows RT General] jonnyprogamer:
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UPDATE: As of 2024 it appears that the Microsoft Server responsible for giving a Developer License to Windows 8 / RT devices is shut down. :(​

This means that currently there is no way to sideload / manually installing APPX apps on Windows 8 RT, the only solution for now is to switch to Windows 10 RT ARM Build which doesn't need a Developer License.​

Server URL:

https://next-services.apps.microsoft.com/devLicensing/AcquireDeveloperLicense

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Essential Requirements:​

1) Windows 7 / 8 PC, you will need it to use the Windows 8 / RT Metro APP build tools, download them here: https://mega.nz/folder/82YgQabJ#in_YEkxi0vCj_DmBfms5ig/folder/YyxkiRaK

2) Microsoft Account, you will need it for the Developer License registration.​

* I checked today (01/05/2023) and it appears that the Build Tools link is dead, for this reason im uploading the buildtools on my Mediafire account, i will add the link here when the upload is finished.

UPDATE: New BuildTools Link :)

Appx Packer V2.5

MediaFire is a simple to use free service that lets you put all your photos, documents, music, and video in a single place so you can access them anywhere and share them everywhere.

www.mediafire.com

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Note: the build tools can't be used under Windows RT.​

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Instructions:​

1) Extract the "

Appx Packer v2.5.zip

" that you downloaded on the Win 7 / 8 PC that you want to use to

sign

the Metro Apps. (i recommend that you extract the tools to C:\Program Files(x86)\ and then add the folder to your system %PATH%)

2) Add a

developer license

to your

Windows 8 / Windows RT

installation (the

PC / Surface

where you want to install / test your signed "

.appx

").

Here is how to get a

developer license:

Run PowerShell as Administrator

Type Show-WindowsDeveloperLicenseRegistration

Sign in with your MS account when asked, and it will give you the license immediately for free :)

3) Download the "

.appx

" or "

.appxbundle

" of the app that you want (use https://store.rg-adguard.net/, just find the

Windows Store URL

of a

Win 8 / RT compatible Metro App

and paste it there to download the required files).

4) If the file that you downloaded ends with "

.appxbundle

" then

unzip

the contents of it to a folder (use

7-Zip

or "makeappx unbundle path/to/appx-bundle"), otherwise if it is "

.appx

" just skip this.

5) Launch CMD as Administrator and follow the instructions below:

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UNPACK APPX (step 1):

makeappx unpack /p file.appx /d DATA

FIND DEVELOPER NAME VALUE (step 2):

Go into the "DATA" folder, open the file named "AppxManifest.xml" and copy the "Pubblisher" Value -> (CN=...)

GENERATE CERTIFICATE (step 3.1):

NOTE: put no password (press None) when asked while generating the ".cer" file.

makecert -r -pe -n "CN=..put.value.of.step2.." -e 12/31/3000 -a sha256 -cy end -sky signature -sv MySPC.pvk MySPC.cer

GENERATE PRIVATE KEYS (step 3.2):

pvk2pfx -pvk MySPC.pvk -spc MySPC.cer -pfx MySPC.pfx

ADD CERTIFICATE AND PRIVATE KEYS TO THE "TRUSTED ROOT AUTHORITIES" STORE (step 3.3):

Double click the "MySPC.cer" that you just created and choose "Local Computer", then press "Next".

Now choose "Place all certificates in the following store" -> press "Browse" -> choose "Trusted Root Certification Autorithies" and press "OK" -> press "Next" -> Press "Finish".

Repeat the same process for the "MySPC.pfx" file ;)

NOTE: I think that it's not necessary to integrate the ".pfx" file, since that's just used for signing the App, try integrating the ".cer" first and if the app works then you can avoid integrating the ".pfx".

RE-PACK APPX (step 4):

makeappx pack /d DATA /p file-signed.appx

SIGN THE APPX (step 5):

SignTool sign /v /fd SHA256 /f MySPC.pfx file-signed.appx

INSTALL THE METRO APP (APPX) ON YOUR WINDOWS RT DEVICE (step 6):

Add-AppxPackage -Path file-signed.appx

NOTE: If the App requires any dependency install it like this:

Add-AppxPackage -Path file-signed.appx -DependencyPath dependency.appx

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I hope that this guide will help you guys, it took me 3 days of reading MSDN docs to understand how to run these damned apps :), maybe in the future we will be able to bypass this developer license (since M$ might shut down their license servers).