Windows Phone Xap Archive -

The Windows Phone XAP Archive: Preserving a Mobile Legacy The Windows Phone ecosystem, once a vibrant third contender in the smartphone wars, left behind a unique digital footprint. Central to this history is the , the standard package used to distribute and install apps on Windows Phone 7, 8, and 8.1. As official support for these devices has ended and the Windows Store has shuttered its mobile doors, the community-driven "XAP Archive" has become the primary way to keep these devices functional. What is a XAP File?

Between 2010 and 2017, Windows Phone represented Microsoft’s ambitious attempt to compete with iOS and Android. Applications for this ecosystem were distributed via the Windows Phone Store (later Microsoft Store) as .xap files. The format derives its name from (a compressed package for browser-based rich internet applications), but Windows Phone XAPs incorporate mobile-specific metadata, capabilities, and compilation models. windows phone xap archive