In this article, we are going to see two methods to export and import the PowerApps package. Deploying the solution is the final and most essential part of the project life cycle. Export and Import facility in PowerApps provides the way to deploy your app from one environment to the other environment easily

Prerequisite

• For any of these 2 methods,
  • You need to keep your app error-free before Exporting.
  • After fixing all the errors, you need to publish the App before exporting else whatever was lastly Published, will be exported in the package.

Method 1: Export and Import Solution

• This is a recommended approach.
• If you are having CDS (Common Data Service) entities along with PowerApp or any other component, then this is the best way to export and import your package to another environment.
• Follow the step by step process to deploy your package from one environment to another.

Create a Solution

• Go to Power App Portal.
• From the top right-side corner, select the environment from where you want to Export the package.

• From the left side panel, click on Solution

• From the top banner, click on New Solution.

• Fill all the details,
  • Solution Name – Enter the solution internal name and display name.
  • Publisher – you can select a default publisher.
  • Version – Enter the version number according to your company’s best practice policies.
  • Description – This is an optional field but very essential, you can describe the solution you are creating.
  • Package Type – Even though this is read-only and will be set to Unmanaged (Description below in Note).
  Note: An unmanaged solution is one that is still under development or isn’t intended to be distributed. When the unmanaged solution is complete and you want to distribute it, export it and package it as a managed solution.
• Your solution is created now.
• Click on the Solution Name (POC Solution here), from the solution gallery.

• You can add the components in this solution, so when you package this solution, all the added components will be packaged into a single one.
• When you are in your solution, you can add various components from the top link bar, there are two options, New or Existing.
• I have added one Entity and one App in the solution

Export the Solution

• After adding all the components in the solution, go back to the solution gallery.
• Select your solution and click on Export.

• You can check for issues in your solution by clicking on Run.
• Now, click on Publish. Once you get a green tick – Published Status, you can then click on Next.

• When you click on next, it will ask you to enter Version Number.
• Version Number should be in x.x.x.x format only.
• Also, select whether to Export the solution as Managed or Unmanaged

• For this article, I will publish it as a Managed solution.
• A zip file will be exported. This is our package.

Import the solution

• Go to the target environment where you want to deploy/import the solution.
• Click on the Solution from the left panel.
• The solution gallery will open. Click on Import from Top menu bar.
• Import solution gallery will open which will prompt for attaching the package (The zip file we exported above)

• Browse and select the package and click on Next.

• It will display information about the package. If it is ok, you can click on Import.
• DONE!! Your solution is moved to the other environment and you can use it now.

Method 2: Export and Import PowerApp

Export the PowerApp

• Go to PowerApps Portal.
• From the top right-side corner, select the environment from where you want to Export the package.
• From left side panel, click on Apps.

• Your Apps gallery will open.

• Select your App and click on the Export package (preview) as shown in the screenshot.
• It will open the package details page.

• You can enter below details
  • Name (Mandatory) - Name of the PowerApp
  • Environment – Specify the environment name. I have specified it like, App Name – Environment.
  • Description – Description of the App.
• On the same Export package page, scroll down. There is a section called Review Package Content.

• Here, click on the setting/update link.
• The import setup window will open.

• If it’s a first-time deployment in the target environment, Select Create a new. If the app already exists in the environment, then select Update (default). Click on Save.
• Now, if you Export the app, it will download a zip file.

Import the PowerApp

• Go to the target PowerApps environment.
• Click on Apps from the left-hand side navigation panel.
• The app gallery will open.
• From Top link bar, click on the Import canvas app.

• Upload your exported zip file/package here and click on Import.
• On the next screen – Import package page, it will show the package details
• Scroll down to Review page Content section
• Click on the Update link. Import Setup pop up will open.

• Click on Setup dropdown and select either Update or Create as new.
• If you select Update, then you need to select the app which you need to replace with.
• If you select Create as new, you need to give a name to your new App in this environment.
• Click on Import.
• Your package is imported in the environment

• Now, open the app and Publish it as mentioned in the screenshot above.
• DONE!!! The app is successfully deployed.