How To SideLoad Apps On Windows 10 PC

How to SideLoad apps on Windows 10 PC: A Step-by-Step Guide

Sideloading apps on Windows 10 PC means installing apps that are not available in the Microsoft Store. Sideloading can be useful for developers, testers, or users who want to try out apps that are not certified by Microsoft. However, sideloading also involves some risks, such as security issues, compatibility problems, or performance issues. Therefore, you should only sideload apps from trusted sources and be careful about the permissions and settings of the apps.

In this article, we will show you how to sideload apps on Windows 10 PC using two methods: using the Settings app and using PowerShell. We will also explain the prerequisites and the advantages and disadvantages of sideloading apps on Windows 10 PC.

Prerequisites for Sideloading Apps on Windows 10 PC

Before you can sideload apps on Windows 10 PC, you need to have the following:

A Windows 10 PC that is unlocked for sideloading. This means that sideloading is not blocked by a policy on your device. You can check this by going to Settings > Update & Security > For developers and making sure that the \"Sideload apps\" option is selected.

A signed app package (.msix or .appx) that you want to sideload. The app package should have a trusted certificate that is assigned to it. You can get app packages from developers or websites that offer sideloading apps.

A security certificate for the app package that you want to sideload. The certificate tells your device to trust the app and allows it to run. You can get the certificate from the developer or the website that provides the app package.

Method 1: How to SideLoad Apps on Windows 10 PC Using Settings App

This method is suitable for unmanaged devices or personal devices that are not controlled by your organization. You can use the Settings app to enable sideloading and install the app package on your device. Here are the steps:

Open the Settings app by pressing Windows key + I or clicking on the Start menu and selecting Settings.

Click on Update & Security and then click on For developers from the left-hand menu.

Select \"Sideload apps\" under the Use developer features section. Click Yes to confirm that you understand the risks of sideloading apps.

Open the security certificate for the app package that you want to sideload and select Install Certificate. On the Certificate Import Wizard, select Local Machine and click Next.

Select \"Place all certificates in the following store\" and click Browse. Choose \"Trusted People\" as the certificate store and click OK.

Click Next and then click Finish to complete the certificate installation.

Double-click on the app package (.msix or .appx) that you want to sideload and follow the instructions to install it on your device.

Method 2: How to SideLoad Apps on Windows 10 PC Using PowerShell

This method is suitable for managed devices or devices that are controlled by your organization. You can use PowerShell to enable sideloading and install the app package on your device. Here are the steps:

Open PowerShell as an administrator by pressing Windows key + X and selecting Windows PowerShell (Admin) from the menu.

Type or paste the following command and press Enter to enable sideloading:Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Scope CurrentUser

Type or paste the following command and press Enter to import the security certificate:Certutil -addstore TrustedPeople \"path\\to\\certificate.cer\"Replace \"path\\to\\certificate.cer\" with the actual location of your certificate file.

Type or paste the following command and press Enter to install the app package:Add-AppxPackage -Path \"path\\to\\package.msix\"Replace \"path\\to\\package.msix\" with the actual location of your app package file.

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