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How to Distribute a Custom PowerPoint Add-in Outside AppSource
Question details
The user needs to distribute a custom PowerPoint web add-in to other users without publishing it to the official Microsoft AppSource store, and is exploring offline distribution alternatives.
- Product
- PowerPoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Distributing a custom-built PowerPoint add-in to clients or colleagues without going through the public AppSource marketplace.
- Observed behavior
- The user is looking for alternative deployment methods for web add-ins or offline VBA add-ins (.ppam) that bypass AppSource requirements.
Before proceeding, determine whether your target users will be running PowerPoint on the web, or if they require offline access via desktop applications on Windows or Mac.
Deploy Using a Custom Manifest (For Web Add-ins)
Use a custom XML manifest to point to an add-in hosted on your own secure server, bypassing AppSource for web users.
If you created a web add-in using Visual Studio, you can host the web application on a separate secure URL (HTTPS).
Users can load the custom XML manifest file, though this approach may require them to use PowerPoint for the web or rely on Microsoft 365 Centralized Deployment within an organization.
Upload your add-in's web application files to a secure web server (HTTPS).
Modify the add-in's XML manifest file to point to the new hosted URL.
If distributing within an organization, use the Microsoft 365 admin center to upload the manifest and deploy it to specific users or groups.
Alternatively, users can manually sideload the manifest file in PowerPoint on the web by navigating to Insert > Add-ins > Upload My Add-in.
Distribute as a VBA Add-in (.PPAM) for Desktop Users
If users need offline access or cannot install third-party software, rebuild the add-in using VBA and distribute it as a .PPAM file.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I distribute a web add-in to desktop PowerPoint users without AppSource?
Yes, you can use Microsoft 365 Centralized Deployment or network file shares to distribute the XML manifest file to desktop users within an organization without going through AppSource.
Are sole proprietorships eligible to publish on AppSource?
Microsoft's business requirements for AppSource can vary by jurisdiction. A sole proprietorship may qualify as a business in some regions, but it is highly recommended to confirm current eligibility requirements directly with Microsoft.
Can iOS or Android PowerPoint users load VBA .ppam files?
No, VBA add-ins (.ppam) are only supported on the desktop versions of PowerPoint for Windows and Mac. They will not function on iOS, Android, or PowerPoint for the web.
