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Dynamics 365 Community / Forums / Small and medium business | Business Central, N... / Trouble signing .app
Small and medium business | Business Central, N...
Suggested Answer

Trouble signing .app

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Posted on by jdrco 485

I have followed the steps in this documentation for signing my .app file
Signing an APP Package File - Business Central | Microsoft Docs

I get stuck on this error when running the sign tool with my .app and .pfx certificate
SignTool Error: This file format cannot be signed because it is not recognized.

I have removed all spaces within the .app file name.

How do I fix this error?

Also, is signing an app really required for App Source deployment?

  • Suggested answer
    IB-29041624-0 Profile Picture
    IB-29041624-0 1,191 Moderator on at

    Hi,

    Signing is mandatory for the apps on app source.

    From the error you are getting it looks like you do not have Business Central installed on the computer you are using for signing.

    You need to have BC installed on the computer you use for signing or use a Docker container to sign your app.

    Hope this helps you.

  • Suggested answer
    YUN ZHU Profile Picture
    YUN ZHU 103,296 Super User 2026 Season 2 on at

    Hi, for quesiton 1, I have answered something similar in the question below.

    (+) Sign-BcContainerApp not signing .app properly - Dynamics 365 Business Central Forum Community Forum

    For question 2, Yes. The .app file must be digitally signed.

    https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/developer/devenv-checklist-submission#technical-validation-checklist

    pastedimage1658971629098v1.png

    Hope this helps.
    Thanks.
    ZHU

  • jdrco Profile Picture
    jdrco 485 on at

    When you mentioned using a Docker container, did you mean using the Sign-BcContainerApp?

  • Suggested answer
    IB-29041624-0 Profile Picture
    IB-29041624-0 1,191 Moderator on at

    Hi jdrco

    That is exactly what i am talking about.

    If you develop using Docker containers you can use that command to also sign the app in the Docker container using BCContainerhelper.

    Then you do not need to install BC on the local machine were you want to sign the app.

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