How to SideLoad apps on Windows 11/10

Windows 11 and Windows 10 support the sideloading of apps. This feature allows users to download their favorite apps outside the Windows Store. There are a lot of apps that are not available in the Windows Store and using this method, users can now install and run those apps easily on Windows 11/10. The procedure to sideload non-store apps in Windows 8 was a little difficult, but in Windows 11/10, it is much easier.

What is SideLoading of applications?

Installing and running any non-certified software in a Windows device is known as the sideloading of apps. Sideloading of applications gives freedom to users to download any app from different stores. Earlier, Microsoft did not allow Windows users to install any outside application and blocked such installs if any user tried to install it.

SideLoad apps on Windows 10

Let us see how to SideLoad applications on a Windows 10 computer.

How to download apps outside the Microsoft Store

To download non-Store apps, first enable the ‘For Developer’ mode of Windows. The ‘For Developer’ mode will not only allow users to download uncertified apps but also allow them to test their own developed apps before launching them officially.

With this Developer mode, a user can test or install apps without tweaking the Registry or the Group Policy Editor, as was required on Windows 8.1 [This part has been explained at the end].

To enable this option follow these steps:

Launch the ‘Start’ menu.
Open the ‘Settings’.
Select ‘Updates and Security’
Go to the ‘For Developer’ section and select the checkbox of ‘Sideload Apps’
Windows 10 will send a warning message saying ‘Sideloading of apps is potentially dangerous’
If the user is ready to take the risk, he/she can select ‘Yes’ and proceed.

After changing these settings, the user can download any application from different app stores.

How to Sideload apps in Windows 11

To sideload apps in Windows 11:

Open Windows 11 Settings.
Scroll down to Privacy & security.
Switch to the Security Section.
Expand For Developers menu.
Locate Developer Mode heading.
Toggle the switch to On position.

The Developer Mode in Windows 11 will let you install apps from any source, including loose files.

Risks of sideloading apps

Technically it is wrong to download any application outside from the authentic stores. It includes a lot of security risks and malware can infect your system. Hackers can send ransomware or users can be targeted by identity thieves, and so on. Therefore, before enabling the ‘sideload apps’ option, Microsoft sends out the warning message.

Windows 11/10 includes lots of built-in security features and tools that can easily detect any type of unwanted software. Moreover, a lot of controversial games and software, emulators, and BitTorrent clients are restricted by Microsoft. It is always better to download the application from trusted platforms. But if you do need to run or test outside apps, this is the way to go in Windows 11/10.

Whether this feature includes lots of risks, users like me are very excited about it. Now they are free to use and run different types of apps, themes, and games on their Windows PCs, laptops, and phones like Android users do.

Read: How to generate Direct Download Links for Microsoft Store apps

SideLoad Non-Microsoft Store Apps

Microsoft has made it easy to SideLoad apps on Windows 11/10 as explained above. Earlier, to SideLoad Non-Microsoft Store Apps on Windows 8.1, one had to follow this method, which incidentally will work on Windows 10 and Windows 11 too.

Please remember this method will only work for Windows Enterprise Edition or Windows Server by joining the PC to a domain. If you have a standalone Windows Enterprise Edition, make sure you have activated Windows Enterprise with the product key.

According to TechNet, theSideLoad Requirements are:

Windows Runtime-based apps must be cryptographically signed and can only be installed on a computer that trusts the signing certificate
You must activate a sideloading product key or join the PC to an Active Directory domain that has the Allow all trusted applications to install Group Policy setting enabled.
Until the PC meets all of the sideloading requirements, app tiles on the Start menu will show an “X” in the bottom-right corner to indicate that a problem is preventing the app from running.

Here is how to do it:

We need to enable the Group Policy that allows us to sideload non-store applications.

Hover the mouse to Left end corner and right-click on Start

Click on Run and type in gpedit.msc to open Group Policy Editor.

Go to Computer Configuration – > Administrative Template – > Windows Components – > App Package Deployment
Double-click on “Allow all trusted apps to install”.

Click on “Enabled” then click OK

Now you are ready to install non– Store applications on Windows 8.

Now we’ll install the application using an elevated PowerShell prompt.

Execute the following command:

add-appxpackage C:\app1.appx –DependencyPath C:\winjs.appx

You are all set!

Now you should have the application installed. This method is for IT professionals for deployment on a large scale. I couldn’t test this method since I was not able to find a non-store application.