Managing apps
Managing sideloaded apps
Once you have a few UWP apps installed, the same Device Portal you used to install them becomes your control center for everything afterward. You can manage apps from there or directly on the console.
From the Device Portal
The Apps page lists every sideloaded title with its package name and current state. From here you can start an app, stop one that is running, or remove it entirely. Removing an app frees its slot and, importantly, deletes its private data folders, so back up any saves first.
On the console
The Dev Home app and the Dev Mode app list let you launch installed apps without touching a PC. You can also switch the console between Developer Mode and Retail Mode here, though switching back to Retail hides your dev apps until you return.
| Task | Where |
|---|---|
| Install or update | Device Portal, Add package |
| Start or stop | Device Portal or console app list |
| Uninstall | Device Portal, Remove |
| Switch modes | Dev Home on console |
Updating
Sideloaded apps do not auto-update. To move to a newer build, download the fresh package and install it over the old one through the portal. Reinstalling normally preserves the app's data folders, but read the release notes, since some updates ask for a clean install.
Keep an eye on the installed app count and total space. Dev Mode reserves only a limited amount of storage, so prune apps you no longer use.