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March 18, 2025 | Power Apps | 5 min read

Manage your source code for canvas apps

This feature will be available in public preview starting May 2025, offering an exciting new way to manage and optimize your canvas app source code.

Introduction

As a Power Apps maker, I'm excited to see this new feature! It lets you view the code behind your app, which helps you understand its functionality and manage updates. This is especially useful for makers who want to follow best practices in Application Lifecycle Management (ALM). By using this feature, you can streamline your development process, improve code quality, and support the ongoing growth of your app.


What is it all about?

Now, with this new update, you can export a canvas app as a binary file with the .msapp extension. Previously, you would need to use the Power Platform CLI to convert the .msapp file into source code files. However, with this new feature, you no longer need that extra step! You can now view the source code for the canvas app in a more user-friendly, human-readable YAML format. Plus, each screen of your app gets its own separate file, making it easier to manage and update. This feature will be available in public preview in May 2025.

You'll love the new capability that allows you to view the source code of your canvas app directly in Power Apps Studio or use external code editors. This new feature brings several benefits:

  • Store the files in a code repository for better version control and collaboration.
  • Automate the generation of canvas apps , making it easier to create and manage apps at scale.
  • Improve generative canvas app models , enhancing how apps are built and customized.
  • Refactor canvas apps without using the designer , giving you more flexibility to update and optimize your apps.
  • Integrate natively with Git for Power Platform , making it simpler to manage code and collaborate with your team.

This feature streamlines your workflow and makes managing and improving your apps easier than ever.


Conclusion

With this new feature, managing the source code for your canvas apps becomes easier and more efficient. Whether you're using Power Apps Studio or an external code editor, you can streamline your development process, improve collaboration, and follow best practices in Application Lifecycle Management (ALM). This feature is set to enhance how you build, manage, and scale your apps, making it a valuable addition to your Power Apps toolkit.


  • Enabled for : Admins, makers, marketers, or analysts, automatically
  • Public Preview : May 2025
  • General Availability: Jun 2025