Document automatic update options for MSIX packages distributed through GitHub

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Assessment

Difficulty
2/5
Estimated time
1-3 hours
Newbie friendliness
72/100
Issue type
Documentation
Clarity
Mostly clear
Activity status
Active
Tech stack
github
Domain
documentation, release

Research direction

Review the existing App Installer file schema, update settings, signing, and Microsoft Store distribution documentation referenced by the request. Confirm how stable HTTPS locations, package identity, publisher, and versioning affect GitHub-hosted packages. Done means the guidance explains supported automatic-update options and clearly states that a standalone MSIX release does not update automatically.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Description

Documentation request

Provide guidance for developers who distribute MSIX packages through GitHub and want their applications to update automatically.

Proposed guidance

Recommend one of the following supported approaches:

  • Publish an App Installer file (.appinstaller) that references the MSIX package and configures automatic update behavior. Explain how this works when package releases are hosted on GitHub, including the need for stable HTTPS download locations and consistent package identity, publisher, signing, and versioning.
  • Publish a Microsoft Store-signed MSIX package through the Microsoft Store so the Store manages package updates.

Clarify that publishing a standalone MSIX package in a GitHub release does not, by itself, configure automatic updates. Include links to the existing App Installer file schema, update settings, signing, and Microsoft Store distribution documentation.

Intended outcome

Developers using GitHub can choose an appropriate distribution and update mechanism instead of expecting a directly downloaded MSIX package to discover and install updates automatically.

Dominant language
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Stars
82
Forks
121
Avg merge
16m
Merged PRs (30d)
2

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