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Clarify Microsoft Store automatic code signing for MSIX packages#5825

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Clarify Microsoft Store automatic code signing for MSIX packages#5825
Copilot wants to merge 4 commits intodocsfrom
copilot/check-store-code-signing

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Copilot AI commented Feb 12, 2026

Documentation did not explicitly state that Microsoft Store automatically signs MSIX packages, leaving developers uncertain about certificate requirements—particularly those using USB tokens unable to export .pfx/.cer files.

Changes

app-package-requirements.md

  • Added "Code signing for Microsoft Store submissions" section
  • Lists what is NOT required: certificates, .pfx/.cer files, USB tokens, HSMs
  • Distinguishes Store vs. non-Store distribution requirements

app-certification-process.md

  • Updated Publishing section to clarify Store performs automatic signing with Microsoft certificate
  • Separated concepts into distinct sentences for clarity

get-started-with-the-microsoft-store.md

  • Added FAQ: "Does the Microsoft Store provide code signing for my app?"
  • Explains automatic signing replaces any existing signature
  • Clarifies certificate requirements only apply to non-Store distribution

Key Points

Store submissions require only package files (.msix, .msixupload, .msixbundle, etc.). The Store re-signs all packages with a Microsoft certificate during publishing after certification passes. This eliminates the need for developers to purchase or manage code signing infrastructure for Store distribution.

Original prompt

This section details on the original issue you should resolve

<issue_title>Code signing for .msix files</issue_title>
<issue_description>The packager asks for .pfx or .cer files but I use a USB Token and cannot export from that. However I see an option for using the cert provided by the Microsoft Store developer account. Not having a Store account I cannot verify that, and need to know before committing.

Does the Store provide code-signing for my app?</issue_description>

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Learn Build status updates of commit 1054703:

⚠️ Validation status: warnings

For more details, please refer to the build report.

Note: Your PR may contain errors or warnings or suggestions unrelated to the files you changed. This happens when external dependencies like GitHub alias, Microsoft alias, cross repo links are updated. Please use these instructions to resolve them.

Copilot AI and others added 2 commits February 12, 2026 19:43
…SIX packages

Co-authored-by: GrantMeStrength <1928855+GrantMeStrength@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: GrantMeStrength <1928855+GrantMeStrength@users.noreply.github.com>
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Learn Build status updates of commit 6ac882e:

✅ Validation status: passed

File Status Preview URL Details
hub/apps/publish/faq/get-started-with-the-microsoft-store.md ✅Succeeded
hub/apps/publish/publish-your-app/msix/app-certification-process.md ✅Succeeded
hub/apps/publish/publish-your-app/msix/app-package-requirements.md ✅Succeeded

For more details, please refer to the build report.

…edback

Co-authored-by: GrantMeStrength <1928855+GrantMeStrength@users.noreply.github.com>
Copilot AI changed the title [WIP] Inquire about Microsoft Store code signing for .msix files Clarify Microsoft Store automatic code signing for MSIX packages Feb 12, 2026
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Learn Build status updates of commit 04af857:

✅ Validation status: passed

File Status Preview URL Details
hub/apps/publish/faq/get-started-with-the-microsoft-store.md ✅Succeeded
hub/apps/publish/publish-your-app/msix/app-certification-process.md ✅Succeeded
hub/apps/publish/publish-your-app/msix/app-package-requirements.md ✅Succeeded

For more details, please refer to the build report.

cgaarden pushed a commit to cgaarden/windows-dev-docs that referenced this pull request Mar 1, 2026
…9893341306sync_temp

For protected branch, push strategy should use PR and merge to target branch method to work around git push error
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Closing this in favour of a re-submission to the private repo at MicrosoftDocs/windows-dev-docs-pr#6647. The same changes have been applied there. Thanks to @copilot for the original work

learn-build-service-prod bot pushed a commit that referenced this pull request Apr 18, 2026
* Clarify Microsoft Store automatic code signing for MSIX packages

- Added FAQ entry explaining Store auto-signs all submissions
- Updated app-certification-process.md Publishing section to note Microsoft cert
- Expanded app-package-requirements.md with code signing section

Moved from #5825 (originally by copilot-swe-agent).

Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

* Address Copilot feedback on store code signing PR

- FAQ: scope 'all apps' to MSIX/AppX; add explicit callout that MSI/EXE
  installers must be Authenticode-signed by the publisher (Store doesn't re-sign)
- FAQ: clarify 'no CA-trusted cert needed' (not 'no signing at all')
- app-package-requirements: ### → #### for code signing section to fix
  heading hierarchy (App bundles was incorrectly nested under it)
- app-package-requirements: reword bullets to clarify the Store replaces
  the MSIX signature — not that no signing exists in the pipeline
- app-package-requirements: add NOTE that MSI/EXE require publisher signing
- app-certification-process: remove trailing space on digitally signed line
- app-certification-process: 'on an average' → 'on average' (consistency)

Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

* Address Copilot review feedback on code signing docs

- Broaden 'MSIX packages' to 'MSIX/AppX packages' consistently
  across all three files (Store re-signs both formats)
- Scope 'all packages' to 'all MSIX/AppX packages' in certification
  process to avoid implying MSI/EXE are re-signed (they are not)
- Add comma before 'depending on their location' in two sentences
  for grammatical clarity

Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

---------

Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
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Code signing for .msix files

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