How to: Build and Deploy a Windows Phone Application Using Visual Studio

 

You can use Visual Studio to deploy your application to a Windows Phone device or to Windows Phone Emulator. If you have installed Windows Phone SDK 7.1.1 Update, you can deploy to a 256-MB emulator or to a 512-MB emulator. You can create a debug build while you are developing your application and a release build for testing purposes. This topic describes how to specify a debug or release build and how to deploy to the emulator or device.

Specifying a Debug or Release Build of the Application

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When you are actively developing your application, you typically create debug builds of the application because it contains additional debug information. When you are ready to submit your application to the Marketplace, you will need to create a release build. In addition, you should create a release build prior to using tools, such as the Marketplace Test Kit and the Windows Phone Performance Analysis tool. If you are using Visual Studio 2010 Express for Windows Phone, you may need to take some additional steps to specify a release or debug build of your application.

To specify a debug or release build of a Windows Phone application

1. In Visual Studio, on the Standard toolbar, click the Solution Configurations down arrow, and then click Debug or Release.
   The following image shows the Solution Configurations list box.
   

   Note:
   If you are using Visual Studio 2010 Express for Windows Phone, the Solution Configurations list box might not be displayed by default.

2. If you are using Visual Studio 2010 Express for Windows Phone and the Solution Configurations list box is not displayed, click the Tools menu, click Settings, and then click Expert Settings.
   The Solution Configuration list box appears in the Standard toolbar. Click Debug or Release.

Deploying to Windows Phone Emulator

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If you don’t have a Windows Phone device, you can deploy and test your application using Windows Phone Emulator. If the emulator is the target device, it automatically launches when you run the application. For more information, see How to: Start an Application in Windows Phone Emulator.

To deploy to Windows Phone Emulator

1. In Visual Studio, on the Standard toolbar, click Windows Phone Emulator.
   
   -or-
   If you have installed Windows Phone SDK 7.1.1 Update, click Windows Phone Emulator – 512 MB.
   
   -or-
   If you have installed Windows Phone SDK 7.1.1 Update, click Windows Phone Emulator – 256 MB.
   
2. On the Debug menu, click Start Debugging, or press F5.
   Your application is deployed to the emulator and started.

Deploying to a Physical Windows Phone Device

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Before you can deploy an application to a Windows Phone device, you must register a device and meet some additional requirements. For more information, see Deploying and Testing on Your Windows Phone.

To deploy to a physical Windows Phone device

1. Make sure your phone is connected, turned on, and unlocked.
2. In Visual Studio, on the Standard toolbar, click Windows Phone Device.
   
3. On the Debug menu, click Start Debugging, or press F5.
   Your application is deployed to the device and started.