Visual Studio cannot find reserved app name from Microsoft Partner Center when packaging MSIX

Peter Norman 0 Reputation points
2026-03-26T16:59:09.47+00:00

I am trying to package a desktop application (Talk-Deck Creator) for submission to the Microsoft Store.

  • The app name has already been successfully reserved in Microsoft Partner Center
  • The app appears in my Partner Center dashboard and setup is complete (except for package upload)

However, in Visual Studio, when I attempt to associate the app with the Store or select an app name during packaging, I receive the following message:

“There are no app names to select. You can only select app names that you've reserved from the Microsoft Store…”

Despite this:

  • I am logged into Visual Studio using the same account as Partner Center
  • The app name is clearly reserved and visible in Partner Center
  • This is a new app (no previous packages published)

I have already tried:

  • Signing out and back into Visual Studio
  • Restarting Visual Studio
  • Waiting for synchronization
  • Attempting to associate the app via “Associate App with the Store”

The issue persists — no app names are listed.

Question: What could cause Visual Studio to not detect a reserved app name in Partner Center, and how can I force the sync or resolve the association?I am trying to package a desktop application (Talk-Deck Creator) for submission to the Microsoft Store.

  • The app name has already been successfully reserved in Microsoft Partner Center
  • The app appears in my Partner Center dashboard and setup is complete (except for package upload)

However, in Visual Studio, when I attempt to associate the app with the Store or select an app name during packaging, I receive the following message:

“There are no app names to select. You can only select app names that you've reserved from the Microsoft Store…”

Despite this:

  • I am logged into Visual Studio using the same account as Partner Center
  • The app name is clearly reserved and visible in Partner Center
  • This is a new app (no previous packages published)

I have already tried:

  • Signing out and back into Visual Studio
  • Restarting Visual Studio
  • Waiting for synchronization
  • Attempting to associate the app via “Associate App with the Store”

The issue persists — no app names are listed.

Question:
What could cause Visual Studio to not detect a reserved app name in Partner Center, and how can I force the sync or resolve the association?

Microsoft Partner Center | Other
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  1. AI answer

    2026-03-26T16:59:26.6033333+00:00

    Visual Studio lists app names directly from Partner Center only when a Store identity and reserved name are correctly set up for the product and the signed‑in account has access. If the name/identity is missing or mismatched, Visual Studio will show no app names even though the name appears reserved.

    To resolve this, ensure the following in Partner Center, then re‑try association in Visual Studio:

    1. Confirm the app has a Store identity and that the name is reserved for that identity
      1. In Partner Center, open the app and go to Product management → Product identity.
      2. If there is no identity, create one. This requires reserving a name for the app.
      3. Verify that the reserved name shown on the Product identity page is exactly the name intended to use in the package.
    2. Make sure the reserved name is actually tied to this app
      1. Under Product management, open Manage app name reservations.
      2. Confirm that the desired name is listed for this specific app.
      3. If the name is not listed, reserve it here for this app.
    3. If Visual Studio still cannot list the app name
      1. In Visual Studio, use Publish → Associate App with the Store again after confirming the above.
      2. If association still fails and later, when packaging, a submission error appears such as:

        “The name found in the package is not one of your reserved app names…”, then update the package to use the exact reserved name from the Product identity page.

    If the desired name cannot be reserved because it is reported as unavailable, but the app is already published under that name or there is a right to use it, contact support from Partner Center as indicated in the documentation.

    References:

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