Microsoft Store CLI

A command-line interface skill for managing Microsoft Store app submissions, including package uploads, listing management, certification tracking, and release automation through the msstore CLI tool.

What Is This?

Overview

This skill provides guidance for using the Microsoft Store CLI to manage app submissions programmatically. It covers authentication, package uploading, store listing updates, certification status tracking, and automated release workflows for Windows applications, games, and add-ons.

Who Should Use This

Perfect for Windows app developers automating store submissions, CI/CD engineers integrating store publishing into pipelines, and teams managing multiple Microsoft Store applications.

Why Use It?

Problems It Solves

Manual Microsoft Store submissions through Partner Center are time-consuming and error-prone. Developers must navigate multiple web forms, upload packages manually, and check certification status by polling the dashboard. The CLI automates the entire workflow from build to published listing.

Core Highlights

• Automated Submissions - Upload packages and submit for certification via CLI
• Listing Management - Update descriptions, screenshots, and metadata programmatically
• Certification Tracking - Monitor submission status from command line
• CI/CD Integration - Automate publishing in build pipelines
• Multi-App Support - Manage multiple apps from a single configuration

How to Use It?

Basic Usage

Ask Claude about Microsoft Store publishing, and this skill guides CLI-based workflows.

Scenario 1: App Submission

Ask Claude: "Submit my Windows app to the Microsoft Store via CLI"

Claude will walk through:

winget install "Microsoft Store Developer CLI"

msstore reconfigure

msstore init

msstore submission update --skipInitialPolling

msstore publish

msstore submission status

msstore submission poll

Scenario 2: CI/CD Pipeline Integration

Tell Claude: "Automate store publishing in GitHub Actions"

Claude will configure:

name: Publish to Microsoft Store
on:
  release:
    types: [published]

jobs:
  publish:
    runs-on: windows-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4

      - name: Setup .NET
        uses: actions/setup-dotnet@v4
        with:
          dotnet-version: 8.0.x

      - name: Install Microsoft Store CLI
        run: dotnet tool install -g MSStore.CLI

      - name: Configure Store credentials
        run: msstore reconfigure -t ${{ secrets.STORE_TENANT_ID }} -c ${{ secrets.STORE_CLIENT_ID }} -cs ${{ secrets.STORE_CLIENT_SECRET }}

      - name: Build MSIX package
        run: dotnet publish -c Release -o ./publish

      - name: Submit to Store
        run: msstore publish

Real-World Examples

Indie Game Publisher

An indie game studio automated store submissions for 5 games. Each game's CI pipeline builds, packages, and submits to the Store on every release tag, eliminating 2 hours of manual work per submission.

Enterprise App Fleet

An IT department managing 20+ internal Windows apps used the CLI to batch-update store listings during rebranding. Script-driven listing updates completed in minutes instead of days of manual editing.

Advanced Tips

Submission Rollback

If certification fails, use the CLI to delete the pending submission and resubmit with fixes, avoiding the manual Partner Center navigation.

Automated Screenshots

Combine the CLI with screenshot automation tools to capture fresh app screenshots during builds and include them in listing updates automatically.

When to Use It?

Use Cases

• App Publishing - Submit new apps or updates to the Microsoft Store
• CI/CD Automation - Integrate store publishing into build pipelines
• Listing Updates - Programmatically update descriptions and metadata
• Certification Monitoring - Track submission status without browser access
• Multi-App Management - Manage several store apps efficiently

Related Topics

When you ask Claude these questions, this skill will activate:

• "How do I publish to the Microsoft Store via CLI?"
• "Automate Microsoft Store submission"
• "Check store certification status"
• "Set up CI/CD for Windows app publishing"

Important Notes

Requirements

• Microsoft Partner Center account with app registrations
• Azure AD app registration for CLI authentication
• .NET 8.0+ runtime for the CLI tool
• MSIX or APPX packaged application
• Windows or compatible OS for building packages

Usage Recommendations

Do:

• Automate in CI/CD - Eliminate manual submission steps entirely
• Test packages locally - Validate MSIX before submitting to reduce failures
• Use service principals - Configure Azure AD app credentials for CI
• Monitor certification - Set up alerts for submission status changes

Don't:

• Don't submit untested packages - Failed certification wastes review cycles
• Don't hardcode credentials - Use environment variables or secrets management
• Don't skip versioning - Increment version numbers for every submission

Limitations

• CLI requires Azure AD credentials with Partner Center access
• Some listing features only available through Partner Center web UI
• Certification review times vary and cannot be expedited via CLI
• Package validation errors may need manual investigation