XAP Handler for Windows Phone allows to install Apps from IE / Email Attachments ( Root Tools / Custom Rom )
This is an exciting news for all Stock Rom Windows Phone users who wanted to install Apps from Internet Explorer of the phone. Hats Off to GoodDayToDie Developer who has developed a hack in form of App, XAP Handler, which makes IE, aware of what to do when it encounters a XAP file, extension for Windows Phone Apps. As a matter of fact, if you open a XAP file from Email Attachments, it works the same way. Check out our guide on how to use XAP Handler for Windows Phone allows to install Apps.
XAP Handler for Windows Phone allows to install Apps
So what is it exactly?
Summary: In simple words, take an example of how browsers handle downloaded files in Windows. Browsers can be configured to open a certain type of file automatically when it’s downloaded. Similarly, here XAP is handled automatically to open it in the app itself. Think it like a file association.
The Expanded Version: If you are aware of what custom roms are, then one of the popular features of these roms was to install Apps from the browser itself, which allows developers of Deep Shining Marketplace gives a way for this kind of roms to install apps directly.
This was not possible for Normal, or the stock rom windows phone as IE always used to ignore the extension. However,a recent update to WP7 Root Tools from heathCliff, made it possible for Developer Unlocked and Interop Unlocked Phones to make any app us trusted app and use full advantage of Root Permissions.
Now GoodDayToDie had been developing an App named as XAP Handler, which allows IE, to understand what it has to do when it encounters a .XAP file i.e. Pass it to the App he developed. Then the app takes care of installation and update of the app in the phone.
How to install this app ?
Requirement :
- Developer Unlocked & interop Unlocked Phone
- Windows Phone SDK for Application Deployment.
- WP7 Root Tools App. (Read our Tutorial.)
- To test install the DS Marketplace App.
Its simple you need to deploy the XAP file through standard procedure i.e. Use the Application Deployment Tool which comes with Windows Phone SDK. The real fun is how to make it work.
Installation :
- Once installed, if you launch it might throw some exception, so skip it.
- Go to WP7 Root Tools > Policies and give XAP Handler app Trusted Permission.
- Launch the XAP handler again, It should now do some registry changes (Original settings are backed up and can be restored) and after that, you should get a message which says “The App will launch automatically when you open .xap File on the phone. You can check this again by re-opening the app. You can close the app.”
Note : If you want to restore the original registry settings, please follow steps given in the post link which I had mentioned below ( same place from where you will be downloading the XAP file ).
Testing :
Launch the DS Marketplace and open a homebrew app from there. It will open in IE, Download the file and then open the app in the XAP handler app.
Tap on Clean Install if it is the first time and update if you need to update any existing app. Hopefully, in next version, we will get a choice where in case you choose Clean install for an already installed app but then it might also remove the settings for that app also.
If all these works, you are good to go, else you need to ask the dev at this forum thread.
Suggestion :
If the app can make a list of the list of apps installed, it will be perfect for reference purpose. Though a Live tile support is not required, but a Live tile can always display the last app installed.
Screenshot :
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Video :
Download :
You can download and leave your comments at the official forum thread at XDA.
