Wsappbak Updated Jun 2026
You must have the original Windows Store App license (owned via your Microsoft account) to run the backed-up app. It will not work on different accounts or pirated apps, as it only works for apps checking ownership through the Microsoft account Scribd Document. WSAppBak Common Issues
(Windows Store App Backupper and Repacker) is a niche open-source utility designed to facilitate the backup, decryption, and sideloading of Windows Store applications (APPX/MSIX files). It is primarily utilized by the Windows modding and preservation communities to maintain access to paid or discontinued applications and to bypass restrictive Microsoft licensing. Core Functionality and Mechanics
Save a "dead" app that Microsoft has removed from the store. How to Use (Summary) Preparation: Download the latest release and extract it to your system drive. Initialization:
WSAppBak is commonly employed in offline scenarios, such as when IT administrators need to deploy apps to computers without internet access. One user explained how they "created Windows to go (WTG) on a USB flash drive via PC #1, online, and then installed apps on it, after that ran WTG on PC #2, the offline one"—but even then, repackaging via WSAppBak was required to make those apps functional. wsappbak
Packages can be transferred via local storage devices and installed without an internet connection.
System administrators deploying software across air-gapped corporate computers can use the tool to pack a configured app layout on a master terminal, distribute it over local networks via PowerShell scripts, and bypass Microsoft Store downloads entirely. Client Modding
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. Created originally by developer Kiran Murmu and expanded upon in popular open-source hubs like the Wapitiii WSAppBak GitHub Repository , this utility bridges the gap for enthusiasts who need to archive modern Windows Store apps before they vanish from the official marketplace.
Many classic Microsoft Metro UI apps—such as vintage MSN Weather, Sports, or Bing travel hubs—have had their server backends shut down or pulled entirely from newer versions of the Microsoft Store. Retro enthusiasts on platforms like the r/Windows8 Subreddit use WSAppBak to extract legacy formats, inject community-run API endpoints, repackage them, and bring functional Live Tiles back to older operating systems. Creating AppxBundles
(Windows Store App Backupper and Repacker) is a powerful, lightweight open-source tool designed exactly for this purpose. Developed by Wapitiii/WSAppBak on GitHub and originally credited to Kiran Murmu My Digital Life Forums , this console application helps users package installed Windows Store apps into .appx or .appxbundle files. What is WSAppBak? It is primarily utilized by the Windows modding
This is the most well-known feature in certain circles. WSAppBak can repackage an app in a way that removes its dependency on a Microsoft Account license check. When you download a paid app from the Microsoft Store, it is tied to your account. WSAppBak allows users to circumvent this by generating new signing certificates for the app. The tool extracts the necessary files from a downloaded app bundle, generates a new certificate, repackages the app, and creates an output folder containing the new .appx file and its associated certificates. By installing these certificates ( .pfx and .cer ) on the local machine, the user can then install the .appx file without being prompted for a Microsoft Store login.
If you use both Google Drive backup and a local backup app (e.g., Titanium Backup, Swift Backup), conflicts can create orphaned .wsappbak files. Use only one scheduled local backup solution.
Navigate to your hidden Windows applications folder. The default pathway is usually: C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\ Identify the specific subfolder matching the app you want to save (e.g., Disney.TempleRunOz_1.6.0.25_x86__6rarf9sa4v8jt ). Copy this full pathway text. Step 2: Configure WSAppBak Paths Launch the WSAppBak.exe console application.
: Saves old or discontinued applications (such as classic MSN/Bing apps or vintage Windows 8 Metro UI software) before servers shut down permanently.