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Is it possible to have a ClickOnce, WPF application certified as compatible with Windows 8?

Note that I’m not referring to getting the application certified for the Windows Store. I just would like to have it certified as a compatible Windows 8 desktop application.

Peter Mortensen
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bkstill
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1 Answers1

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No, ClickOnce applications can't be certified. :(

Here is the official word from the team:

ClickOnce deployment manages install/uninstall a bit different than a traditional installer. For instance, install location doesn’t go to %ProgramFiles% as mandated by the desktop certification requirements, short cuts have a different extension used by Windows app e.g. *.lnk, and so forth. The result is these apps aren’t properly detected by ACK, and hence cannot be certified.

For non-ClickOnce desktop applications, check out Get your desktop app compatible on how to get your desktop application ready and certified. Also look at the left menu sidebar (specifically Windows 8 and Windows RT Compatible Logo Usage Guidelines). This gives you the ability to display the “Windows 8 Compatible” logo on your application since it is certified as compatible.

Peter Mortensen
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Jennifer Marsman - MSFT
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  • Thanks for the links. From there I found http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/hh749939 which lists the requirements. 10.1 says 'Your app must be installed in the Program Files folder by default'. ClickOnce Apps are only installed to the User folder. Is this a problem? – bkstill Oct 25 '12 at 10:40
  • Good question. I just sent email to find out for sure for you. :) Stay tuned... – Jennifer Marsman - MSFT Oct 25 '12 at 14:58
  • Any news about this problem? – DreamOfMirrors Nov 13 '12 at 18:45
  • I'm sorry it is taking so long! I was referred to two other people, and am following up with them, but I'm still on this... – Jennifer Marsman - MSFT Nov 15 '12 at 20:09
  • I've heard back from the team, and updated my response accordingly. ClickOnce apps can't be certified. – Jennifer Marsman - MSFT Nov 20 '12 at 17:13
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    This is absolutely ridiculous. I just spent $200 on a code-signing cert and a MS developer account only to find out that ClickOnce (a recommended deployment mechanism from MSFT) is not supported?! I cannot describe my frustration... – simon.d Nov 23 '12 at 23:27