Now you have a standalone file to sideload onto other phones or keep as a backup.
Critical: If your phone is not "Developer Unlocked," you cannot install custom XAP files. The official Microsoft unlock service for WP7 is dead. However, the homebrew tool "WP7 Unlocker" still works on old Zune drivers.
Step 1: Install Windows SDK
To use PowerShell scripts that can download APPX files directly, you might need to install the Windows SDK. The Windows SDK includes tools that allow you to work with APPX files. Download Windows Phone Apps -XAP APPX Files- to PC
Step 2: Get APPX File Information
Get-AppxPackage | Select Name, PackageFamilyName
This will list all installed apps and their package family names.
Step 3: Download APPX File
It's challenging to directly download an APPX file from the Microsoft Store using PowerShell. However, you can use the Add-AppxPackage cmdlet to install an APPX file if you have it. If you're looking to extract an APPX file from a device:
# This example shows how to get the package path (not directly downloading)
$package = Get-AppxPackage <PackageFamilyName>
$package.InstallLocation
Once you have the file on your PC:
Pro Tip: For Windows 10 Mobile devices, use the Web Device Portal (
https://<phone-ip>:8080) to upload and install.appxfiles wirelessly. Now you have a standalone file to sideload
Last Updated: 2025
Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational and archival purposes. Always respect software licensing agreements.
Unfortunately, the Microsoft Store doesn't directly offer a feature to download app packages. However, you can use the Store to install apps and then use tools to extract the APPX package.
If you are a registered developer or built the app yourself: Critical: If your phone is not "Developer Unlocked,"
If the app is already installed on your Windows Phone, you can pull the .xap or .appx directly to your PC.