--- title: "Packaging and Package Identity for .NET apps with WinApp CLI on Windows" url: https://daily.dev/posts/packaging-and-package-identity-for-net-apps-with-winapp-cli-on-windows-x0qqcad7l source_url: https://devblogs.microsoft.com/dotnet/packaging-dotnet-apps-winapp type: article source: ".NET Blog" published: 2026-06-29T17:03:40.608Z updated: 2026-06-29T17:04:02.079Z tags: [".net"] reading_time: 7 upvotes: 1 comments: 0 language: en --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://daily.dev/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Packaging and Package Identity for .NET apps with WinApp CLI on Windows **[.NET Blog](https://daily.dev/sources/dotnet)** · 7 min read · 1 upvotes · 0 comments ## Summary The WinApp CLI is a new Microsoft tool that simplifies adding Windows package identity to .NET desktop applications (WPF, console, etc.). Package identity unlocks Windows APIs like push notifications, background tasks, file handlers, and AI APIs that are otherwise inaccessible to unpackaged apps. The CLI integrates with `dotnet run` so developers can test with identity locally without manual manifest wrestling, and provides a `winapp pack` command to generate signed MSIX packages for distribution. A VS Code extension is also available for an integrated F5 debug experience. Installation is via winget. ## Full article daily.dev links to this article rather than hosting it. Read it at the original source: ## Similar posts on daily.dev - [Microsoft Introduces WinApp CLI to Unify Windows App Development Workflows](https://daily.dev/posts/microsoft-introduces-winapp-cli-to-unify-windows-app-development-workflows-y5sifeppi) · InfoQ · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [Working with the Windows App development CLI](https://daily.dev/posts/working-with-the-windows-app-development-cli-17vd3qfge) · InfoWorld · 0 upvotes · 0 comments --- Tags: [#.net](https://daily.dev/tags/.net) [View this post on daily.dev](https://daily.dev/posts/packaging-and-package-identity-for-net-apps-with-winapp-cli-on-windows-x0qqcad7l)