XAP File Extension
Have a problem opening a .XAP file? We collect information about file formats and can explain what XAP files are. Additionally we recommend software suitable for opening or converting such files.
What is the .XAP file type?
The primary association of the .xap extension belongs to the Microsoft Windows Phone Application Package (XAP) file format and type. Windows Phone is a proprietary operating system developed by Microsoft (MS) for its mobile devices, incl. hi-end Nokia Lumia smartphones. Windows Phone applications purchased and/or downloaded from the official Windows Phone Store are normally deployed via XAP packages.
A .xap file is a digitally-signed compressed archive (ZIP) that contains an application and its resources, including DLL libraries. One cannot normally install (deploy) a third-party XAP application onto a Windows Phone device, unless the archive was downloaded from the Store in association with a certain user account.
On a PC, XAP packages are handled by Zune, a content-management and synchronization application by MS. Apart from Zune, there are several known ways to install third-party Windows Phone software, however, most of such ways require a so-called 'jail-break' procedure to bypass DRM (may be considered illegal). On those Windows Phone devices that allow XAP deployment in the developer or student mode, one can legally deploy only two third-party or homebrew XAP applications.
Alternatively, the .xap extension also denotes the Microsoft (MS) Silverlight Application Package (XAP) file format/type. MS Silverlight is a proprietary rich content-delivery cross-platform technology that, similarly to Adobe Flash, provides media streaming and web application hosting capabilities for the Web.
A Silverlight package (.xap) is a compressed ZIP archive with a Silverlight application and its resources. XAP applications are served from Silverlight-enabled web servers, and Silverlight support (plugin) is required on the client side to view/run Silverlight content in a web browser.
Lastly, the .xap extension can be encountered in association with the Microsoft XACT Project (XAP) file type and format. XACT (Xbox Audio Cross Platform Tool) is a proprietary technology and content authoring environment for Xbox game consoles by Microsoft. In MS Windows, XACT support has been discontinued.
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