MAUI Deployment

This document provides comprehensive guidance on deploying your .NET MAUI applications to various target platforms.

Deployment Targets

.NET MAUI allows you to build applications that can be deployed to:

• Windows
• macOS
• Android
• iOS
• Tizen

Platform-Specific Deployment Steps

Windows

To deploy your .NET MAUI application to Windows, you can create an MSIX package for distribution through the Microsoft Store or for sideloading.

Prerequisites:

• Visual Studio with the ".NET Desktop Development" workload.
• Windows SDK.

Steps:

1. In Visual Studio, right-click your .NET MAUI project and select "Publish...".
2. Choose "Folder" or "MSIX Package".
3. Follow the on-screen prompts to configure your deployment options. For MSIX, you'll need to provide signing certificates.

# Example command-line deployment for Windows (if applicable)
dotnet publish -f net8.0-windows -c Release /p:PublishProfile=FolderProfile

Android

Deploying to Android typically involves creating an APK or an Android App Bundle (AAB) for distribution via the Google Play Store or for direct installation.

Prerequisites:

• Visual Studio with the ".NET MAUI workload" and "Android SDK".
• An Android emulator or physical device for testing.

Steps:

1. In Visual Studio, right-click your .NET MAUI project and select "Publish...".
2. Choose "Android" as the target.
3. Configure signing options for your release build.
4. Select the output format (APK or AAB).
5. Click "Publish".

iOS

Deploying to iOS requires macOS and Xcode. You can deploy to simulators, physical devices, or package for distribution through the App Store.

Prerequisites:

• A Mac with Xcode installed.
• Visual Studio for Mac or Visual Studio with the Apple developer tools installed.
• An Apple Developer account.

Steps:

1. In Visual Studio, select "iOS" from the deployment target dropdown.
2. Choose either a simulator or a connected physical device.
3. For App Store distribution, you'll need to configure provisioning profiles and signing certificates through your Apple Developer account.
4. Build and deploy.

# Example command-line deployment for iOS (requires macOS)
dotnet publish -f net8.0-ios -c Release -p:RuntimeIdentifier=ios-arm64

macOS

Deploying to macOS can be done through the Mac App Store or by creating a standalone application bundle.

Prerequisites:

• A Mac with Xcode installed.
• Visual Studio for Mac or Visual Studio with the Apple developer tools installed.
• An Apple Developer account (for App Store distribution).

Steps:

1. In Visual Studio, select "macOS" from the deployment target dropdown.
2. Choose a target environment (e.g., macOS App Store, Network drive, or Disk image).
3. Configure signing identities and provisioning profiles.
4. Build and deploy.

Code Signing

Code signing is a crucial security measure for deploying applications to most platforms, especially for mobile and app store distribution. It verifies the identity of the developer and ensures that the application has not been tampered with since it was signed.

• Windows: Typically involves certificates for MSIX packaging and Windows Store distribution.
• Android: Requires a keystore file to sign your APK or AAB.
• iOS/macOS: Uses provisioning profiles and signing certificates managed through your Apple Developer account.

Distribution Channels

Your .NET MAUI applications can be distributed through various channels:

Platform	Distribution Channels
Windows	Microsoft Store, Sideloading (MSIX)
Android	Google Play Store, APK direct download
iOS	Apple App Store, TestFlight, Ad Hoc distribution
macOS	Mac App Store, Direct download (DMG)

For more detailed platform-specific deployment guides, please navigate to the respective sections or consult the official .NET MAUI documentation.