Windows Store: Error updating package - Invalid package family name

If you see this error when trying to update an existing application in the Windows Store, chances are that your appmanfest is incorrect.

  • Invalid package family name: {yourpackagename}(expected: {yourpackagename})
  • Invalid package publisher name: CN={yourpublishername} (expected: CN={yourpublishername})

invalid-package

What you need to do is get the correct cert details to use within the package.appmanifest.  Thankfully, Visual Studio can do this for you.

Select the project name within Solution Explorer and navigate to Project - Store - Associate App with the Store, then click through the wizard:

associate-appselect-appassociate-app-2

Select the existing store application and your local package.appmanifest will be updated.  You can then go ahead and create new app packages to upload to the store.