Sideloading is when you will manually install the app from the install files (not via the Microsoft store)

Releasing

Microsoft docs:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/publish/

Log into the store: https://partner.microsoft.com/dashboard

Create the app.

In Visual Studio

Select ‘Release’

Menu > Build > Run code analysis on solution

Do any checks you have on the project, set version number defines, etc.

Open Package.appxmanifest file and check the options for your package.

Menu > Build > Clean [MyAppName]

Menu > Build > Rebuild [MyAppName]

In Solution Explorer right-click the project > Publish > Create App Packages.

Select distribution method > Sideloading

Certificate

If you’ve not created one before here’s how you can create a simple self-issued one (there has to be a certificate to be able to install the app):

Create
Publisher common name: [a unique name for this app, e.g. “YOUR_COMPANY_NAME-MyProjectName” ]
Enter password: [you can leave password blank]

Next

Set you version number

Select x64 (for 64bit Windows PCs)

Create

The app will then be built + packaged

Installing on a Windows PC

Assuming you didn’t have an officially issued trusted certificate when you built your app, you will get a “certificate not trusted error” when you first try to install the app on a PC. Windows insists on a trusted certificate for UWP apps.

To add your self-created app certificate to the PC:

Right click .appxbundle file > Properties > Digital Signatures
Select the signature in the list > Details > View Certificate > Install Certificate
Store location: Local machine
Certificate store: Place all certificates in the following store > Browse “Trusted Root Certification Authorities”
Next
Finish

Now you will be able to install the App – Double click the .appxbundle file to install.