How to Install an App in SharePoint 2013 Using PowerShell

After you have successfully configured an environment for apps in SharePoint 2013, you can add apps from the SharePoint Store to a site. Whether you developed the apps yourself or have a file with a .app extension though, you will need to deploy it to your SharePoint site collection in order to access all of the app’s features. This can be accomplished either using Windows PowerShell or Visual Studio. In this article, we’ll show you how to install SharePoint 2013 apps using PowerShell.

Before you begin, make sure that the user running the Windows PowerShell cmdlets has the following memberships on all databases that you will be using:

  • db_securityadmin
  • db_owner

In addition, the user will also need to be a member of the Site Collection Administrators group or Site Owners group on the site collection where you want to install.

Next, go to Start > All Programs.  Expand the folder MS SharePoint 2013 Products to reveal the SharePoint 2013 Management Shell program.

Select SharePoint 2013 Management Shell with the Run as administrator option.

Run the following command to import the app package:

$spapp = Import-SPAppPackage -Path <Path> -Site <URL> -Source <Source>

Please note that:

  • Path refers to the app package path in your local system.
  • URL refers to the URL for the site collection where you want to import the app.
  • Source is where the app came from (i.e.: Marketplace, CorporateCatalog, DeveloperSite, ObjectModel, RemoteObjectModel, or InvalidSource).

Per the above, in this example, we’ll be typing the following command line: $spapp = Import-SPAppPackage -Path “C:AppsBamboo.Apps.QuickAdd.app” -Site “http://chauo15:81/sites/sharepoint” -Source CorporateCatalog

Press Enter

When asked if you want to import the package, type Y

Run the following command to install the app:

$instance = Install-SPApp -Web <URL> -Identity $spapp

Please note that URL refers to the URL of the site or subsites where you want to deploy the app.

In this example, we’ll be typing the following command line: $instance = Install-SPApp -Web “http://chauo15:81/sites/sharepoint” -Identity $spapp

Press Enter

Return to your Site Contents page.  You will see your new app is now listed and available for use.

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