Distribute an App

The process you follow to distribute your Mobile app depends on the types of device you plan to use it on, your users, and your organization. The following lists are suggestions for what you may want to do.

Before you can distribute the app, you need to build it to create a file with settings that apply to your particular app and the device it will be on.

Android (.zip)

The Android version of the app is distributed as a .zip file as it contains the following files:

• An Android Package (.apk).

• An Android App Bundle (.aab).

Use the .apk if you want to:

• Sideload the file to devices using a USB cable.

• Host it as a link in a web page internally.

Use the .aab if you want to:

• Submit it as an app to the Play Store.

iOS (.ipa)

The file extension for iOS apps is .ipa.

You could use any of the following to distribute the file: 

• Distribute the file via your organization's developer's account.
• Provision it using your organizations Mobile Device Management (MDM) software.
• Submit it as an app to App Store.

Windows (.zip)

The Windows version of the app is distributed as a .zip file as it contains a dependencies folder. Inside the zip file is an .appxbundle, which is the app file.

You could use any of the following to distribute the file: 

• Put the file on a shared drive for users to double-click it.
• Host the file as a link in a web page internally.
• Submit the app to Windows Store.
• Manage it with your corporate Software Center.