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How to: Install Cracked/Patched XAP on Windows Phone

You’d already know that Windows Phone devices do not support the installation of Apps or Games other than the ones that arrived from the Windows Phone Store. So, if you’ve found a cracked or patched application installation file (XAP/APPX) or if you are a developer and have developed a new app, you cannot just put it into the phone and install it. In order to install prepackaged or cracked apps, you firstly need to have a Developer Unlocked Windows Phone Device and then the app needs to be deployed to the phone using a PC.

Deploying XAP using Windows Phone SDK/Mini SDK

  1. Firstly, make sure that you have a developer unlocked Windows Phone (7/8/8.1) device. If you don’t, follow this tutorial to unlock your phone. It’s free.
  2. Download the Windows Phone Mini SDK or the Full SDK as needed (download links in the above tutorial). However, if you have a developer unlocked phone, chances are that you already have it installed on your PC; so skip.
  3. Connect your Windows Phone Device to your PC using a Data Cable.
  4. Click on Start and type Application Deployment. Then launch the Application Deployment app.application deployment start
  5. Set Target to Device.
  6. Click on Browse in front of the XAP field and locate your downloaded (cracked) or self-packed XAP file.
  7. Make sure your device’s screen is unlocked. Then click on Deploy at the bottom right of the window. aaplication deployment windows phone sdk
  8. After a few seconds, the application will show a XAP Deployment Complete status.
  9. The app has been deployed. You can now disconnect your phone and start using the deployed app.

Other Tools to Deploy Apps to Windows Phone

There are a couple of other capable tools to  deploy apps to a Developer Unlocked Windows Phone Device, such as Windows Phone Power Tools and XAP Deployer. But because these require your phone to be developer unlocked already and during the process of developer unlocking you also get the official Application Deployment app, we decided to choose that over anything.

Where to get Cracked Apps?

There are many websites providing downloads of cracked Windows Phone XAP files which can be deployed to the phone. A simple Google search can take you there.

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  • 1.) What’s the difference between an APPX and XAP file?

    2.) I have two files on SD:
    Minecraft-0.1602.2.0-Appx4Fun.appx
    Terraria-1.2.4.3-Appx4Fun.xap

    I would like to instal both of them but the Application Deployment shows result: XAP file invalid. Also tried over WPV XAP Deployer etc…

    Lumia 535 / Windows 8.1. / Developer: ON

    Why may I not see appx files and why is not possible to instal them?

    Thanks

  • Can anyone help me generate my activation code to access my one drive account .. Please let me know so I give you my phone details. Thanks

  • only decrypted xap files are installable through WindowsPhone Xap deployer..and its working on Windows 10 Mobile without dev unlocking..cause Windows 10 Mobile Os is already dev unlocked..

  • Wait I need a fucking account to install apps on my fucking smartphone?
    WTF is this shit?
    Trying to imagine as some example myself wanting to install winrar on my own pc, and having have some account on some specific website to do it. Not being able to just put the winrar installer on a pendrive, or ssd, or cd or dvd and then installing it on pc through it, or just going to the winrar oficial website and downloading it and installing it, or asking someone else to sent the installer through my email to then get it and install on my pc,…..

  • Hey bro can you tell me how can i install xap files on window 10 lumia 535 i tried with appx files and they get installed but when i tried installing xap it says you can’t install company app

  • xap can’t deploy an app. the app deployer gives me an error: cannot find the central directory. how do to fix?
    (i ‘m using the sdk 8.x v1.2.x for app deployment.)
    can you help me?
    yesterday i’ve tried a reinstall of VS2015 on my PC (Windows 10 64bit).

  • I hav a doubt ! I hav blu win jr windows phone 8.1 it hav windows 10 update also available! Now doubt is if I jailbreak my phone (developer mode enabling) , iz it stops windows 10 update !

  • Even after using 8.1 SDK Lite, Its showing similar issues. I cant also install any appx files too. How to get direct download links from Microsoft site as earlier for offline installations.

    • Did you unlock the device for development? If no, do that now and then you’ll be all set to deploy apps.

  • I have tried this method and while it looks easy and simple for XAP files.
    What about APPX files which seem to be the norm these days on Windows Phone 8.1
    My device is already Dev unlocked: It is a Lumia 640 FYI.
    I was trying this method but unfortunately it does not work with APPX files.
    Now I’ve sideloaded the application but I still can not seem to install it.

    • AFAIK, only Lumia 710 received some Interlop unlock love. Still, I’m not sure. It won’t be worth getting a WP7.x device anymore though.

  • plz suggest me from where i can
    download apps to take advantage of developer unlocking of my device??

    • Sorry as that will be Piracy, I can’t suggest you anything here. Try searching for ‘cracked xap’.

  • thnx buddy for ur replies nd faster replies… Actually i was searching here nd there for answers of my questions nd u mostly sort them out… nd can u plz suggest me from where i can download apps to take advantage of developer unlocking of my device??

  • what is the main benefit of developer unlock my 820 … Actually i just move from ios to windows phone os …. Nd jailbreaking on ios was awesome … so can u plz tell me more abt this

    • As it is Developer Unlock, it is only for Developers to be able to test their apps before submitting them to the store. It can also allow the installation of some apps which are not approved by Microsoft to be placed into the store.
      Jailbreak of iOS kinda equals Interlop Unlock in Windows Phone and unfortunately there is only one or two Windows Devices where interlop unlock was attained. In short, you should forget the Jailbreak fun. That’s not a thing for Windows.

  • can i customize my developer unlocked L820 to a great extant? Means customization more than just wallpaper change nd all this?

    • Not something that I know of. Interlop isn’t available for 820. So, you can’t do anything that requires more rights.

  • “End of central directory record could not be found” while deploying app on wp 8.1
    Please help me to solve this problem…

  • Will my Phone go out of warranty if I deploy my phone with this app?
    And I did store cracked app onto sd card but I’m not able to install it shows me msg “can’t install this company app there’s problem with this company app”.
    What could be the possible reason for this ?

  • When deploying I get error message that Device is developer locked. I have registered for developers… So why this error?

  • Sir where can I find the application deployer tool .is it installed in the pc when we install the sdk mini tool or we can find the deployer file in the .zip file of 64 MB. Please help

    • It is installed. Just search in Start and you’ll be able to find it 🙂
      Else it should be in – C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Windows Phone SDK 8.0

  • Hey narendra
    I have unlocked my lumia 630 using mini sdk and even i downloaded cracked xap but still i am getting an error during deployment of the app
    The error says…-
    Status: Error- Deployment optimization failed due to an invalid assembly. Rebuild your source projects and try again.

  • Plz let me know dat if I unlock my phone to install paid apps for free so will it cancel my warranty and all official things……??????
    Rply asap thnx in advance

  • Ok sir i am already using windows8 in my pc but developer unlocked Windows Phone iss line ka kya matlab hai sir kya mera Nokia Lumia 730 unlock hona chahiye apke iss software ke liye fir baad Mai ye paid apps free install hogi Maine mera mobile abhi October Mai he liya hai sir ye apka deploy tool Mai download kha se karu

  • Sir ye sab Jo paid apps hai ye free install Ho Sakti hai kya Nokia Lumia 730 Mai aur aap ye bta do inko install kaise karna h mobile Mai pxc Mai konsi windows honi chahiye plz brother bttaa Dena…

  • Hi Narender,

    Bro i tried unlock using chinese tool however it still gives only 2 xap limit…i tried every possible thing but its not going beyond 2 limit…please help…thanks

  • Guys Help I need To download minecraft for My windows phone but it is not XAP ..it is appx Help i really need to download it

  • HI Narender,

    I am using lumia 1020, it doesn’t have memory card option, i am little confused – just want to know if i have 30 apps installed from store and also installed 10 cracked apps with deploy method do i need to delete them in order to install more cracked apps/games or 10 is the limit for total apps once phone is unlocked…m sorry it was already asked above its just i am actually confused…please help

    Thanks.
    Sumit

    • If you unlock using that Chinese tool, you’ll get a limit of 10 apps, if you unlock using the SDK, you can only deploy 2 apps.
      All these are the maximum number of deployed apps at a time which means that you can delete older apps to install more.

    • Don’t think unlocking will be possible with Windows XP. Still, try giving it a try, in case it works 🙂

  • Hi, I reader before for the restriccion of 10 apps, but I don’t know if just for install 10 max or if i erase a few apps i can install more apps to have many apps.

    10 apps in the mobile in the moment or 10 maximun install?

  • i tried to install modern combat 5 cracked xap via this method but it is not working. It is showing up an error.I have my phone unlocked and also it has wp8.1 installed via developer preview.

  • My device L520 successfully registered in Developer Registration; but target to xap deploy not success—
    Status: Error- Deployment optimization field due to an invalid assembly. Rebuild your source projects and try again.

  • thats great..but can u tell me how to install games like gta san andreas modern combat ..the size of these games are 2 , 3 gb..so how can i install them on wndows….i mean we can deploy xap file but how to install all of this downloded games file????

  • Thanks for the tuto, btw is there any way to bypass the 2 apps limit, i have a lumia 920, and ive only read that wp phone with sd card can bypass that limit.

      • Ya i read that post but i dont know how to unregister de phone, anyway do you jnow how is it de lumia 820 to the 920? i mean how does it perform the processor and ram? i think im gonna get one afternoon or tomorrow, but anyway thanks for the reply.

        • Unregistering can be done straight via the Developer Registration app.
          The Lumia 820 is a decent mid-ranger and performs pretty well. Not as capable,as the 920, but wont disappoint either for the price that you will pay. There’s also the 1320 if you wanna have a look.

        • Not really. You can always sideload apps on Android without a root. You’re just doing that here. Apps don’t get any additional permissions.

  • I have tried everything nd even followed official microsoft instructions but still …. App window of ‘ windows phone developer registration’ status shows: Unable to connect to a phone….(I have developer preview installed 8.1) plz help…..!

    • Is your phone recognized by the PC? Try reinstalling the phone drivers by uninstalling it from Dev Manager.

      • Hi blogger, I m done all instructions. But when I put xap file (download from wp store from pc by download and install manually) it shows invalid xap file.
        What should I do?