In order to submit your app to the Store you need to pass several more steps after programming the application. Today I will describe all the necessary steps for submitting your app to the certification to Windows Phone Marketplace.

First of all, let’s assume that you have finished the programming part of your application. But you are not ready to submit it, because the certification requires some things to be done.

Here is the check list of what do you need to do to pass the certification in Windows Phone Marketplace successfully:

1. Change the Application Icons of your app. By default, those icons are generic and if you do not change them, you will not pass the certification at Windows Phone Marketplace. There are two icons you have to change: Application Icon and Background Icon. After uploading your icons to the project you need to go to Project -> Your Project Preferences and change “Icon” and “Background  Image” by selecting your icons instead of generic ones.
2. Change the Application titles of your app. There are two titles: one will be shown in the list of apps and one will be shown if you put your app to the start menu as a tile. Go to Project -> Your Project Preferences again and change those titles under “Deployment Options” and “Tile Options”.
3. Change the name of .xap file. The reason is not clear for me, but if you do not change the name of .xap file which you submit for certification from generic to a custom one, the app will fail the certification. So, you need to visit Project -> Your Project Preferences again and change the option “Xap file name”