Hi, I have a requirement that I need to call a method in a .net app running on the same machine from my UWP app. We were planning to do that with sockets. But just realized that there is a Windows restriction not allowing UWP to connect to other processes in the same machine. So can you please tell me what is the standard way of doing such communication from a UWP app to another app (most probably a .net app) in the same machine? Thanks Madhu

Hello, Welcome to our Microsoft Q&A platform! For UWP apps, there are two main ways to communicate with other apps. 1. Via URI Protocol. Calling each other through a link is a relatively simple way. You can set a special URI Schema for your application and pass parameters through the link. For specific creation methods, refer to this document 2. Via AppService From document : App services are UWP apps that provide services to other UWP apps. They are analogous to web services, on a device. An app service runs as a background task in the host app and can provide its service to other apps. Both methods require you to be able to control the two applications that communicate (you need to write specific handlers for them), but you cannot directly access the data of other applications. Thanks.

Communicate from UWP app to a .net app in same machine

Accepted answer

Richard Zhang-MSFT 6,936 Reputation points

2020-03-05T06:02:24.637+00:00

Hello,

Welcome to our Microsoft Q&A platform!

For UWP apps, there are two main ways to communicate with other apps.

1. Via URI Protocol.

Calling each other through a link is a relatively simple way. You can set a special URI Schema for your application and pass parameters through the link.

For specific creation methods, refer to this document

2. Via AppService

From document:

App services are UWP apps that provide services to other UWP apps. They are analogous to web services, on a device. An app service runs as a background task in the host app and can provide its service to other apps.

Both methods require you to be able to control the two applications that communicate (you need to write specific handlers for them), but you cannot directly access the data of other applications.

Thanks.
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2 people found this answer helpful.
Madhu 96 Reputation points

2020-03-05T06:09:16.223+00:00

@Richard Zhang-MSFT Thanks for the info. So with both these approaches I can communicate from my UWP apto a NON UWP app (a .net app) in the same machine? Basically I need to call a method/function in that .net app from the UWP app. I was under the impression that AppService is for communication between UWP apps only. To be clear we have a UWP app and another 3rd party app which has a .net plugin we have added there as a dll. Now we want to call a function in that plugin (dll) from our UWP app running on the same machine. While both are running as 2 separate applications on foreground. Can you please suggest me the best way to do that. Thank you.

Richard Zhang-MSFT 6,936 Reputation points

2020-03-05T07:08:13.877+00:00

Hello, If I understand correctly, are you asking UWP apps and plugins to communicate, not third-party apps? This may be difficult, and currently UWP does not have a more appropriate method to this point.

Madhu 96 Reputation points

2020-03-05T07:36:31.99+00:00

@Richard Zhang-MSFT We have to call a SDK in another 3rd party app we use. For that what we did was created a .NET C# class library project which is installed as plugin in that 3rd party app/software. Our plugin works as a socket server and listen to the UWP app clients connecting and then when the client sends a message we call that SDK method from this plugin. But later saw in some threads that there is a restriction in UWP when communicating via sockets to another app (even non uwp) in same machine. Our codes works fine with sockets in same machine when we tested with VS and even with the side loaded package. But from what I read it doesn't seem to be reliable. So I am looking for the best option to do this. So any guidance on this is really appreciated. https://stackoverflow.com/questions/60538388/uwp-to-another-app-communication-in-same-machine/60539035#60539035

Richard Zhang-MSFT 6,936 Reputation points

2020-03-05T09:22:47.7+00:00

UWP has a feature that disables local network loopback by default. This means that UWP apps cannot access localhost when the app is published. However, in the debug state, Visual Studio will lift this restriction. This is why WebSocket cannot be a reliable solution. Of course, we can lift the limitation of this network loopback, but it may be troublesome, see this document

Madhu 96 Reputation points

2020-03-05T09:31:26.857+00:00

@Richard Zhang-MSFT The link you shared doesn't seem to work. If lifting it is going to be security concern, my client won't allow it :-). So may be we'll have to go with the AppService options?

Richard Zhang-MSFT 6,936 Reputation points

2020-03-05T09:36:01.207+00:00

Sorry, I modified the comment. At present, AppService is the most feasible solution, you can try it.

Madhu 96 Reputation points

2020-03-05T09:40:00.957+00:00

@Richard Zhang-MSFT thank you. We'll check App services. In the link you shared, it mentions about side loaded apps. So if I publish the app to Store, we can't lift it anyway?

Richard Zhang-MSFT 6,936 Reputation points

2020-03-05T09:54:49.577+00:00

I'm not sure, but if your app relies on this feature (requires the user to unlock the loopback), it may affect the user experience, which is not recommended

Richard Zhang-MSFT 6,936 Reputation points

2020-03-13T06:54:49.867+00:00

Hello, if you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.

Madhu 96 Reputation points

2020-03-13T06:58:17.92+00:00

Thanks @Richard Zhang-MSFT Nothing at the moment. We decided to do it by sharing a file between our UWP app and the other app.

Richard Zhang-MSFT 6,936 Reputation points

2020-03-13T07:01:03.387+00:00

Glad you found the solution, you can write it as the answer and mark it, it will help more people.

Madhu 96 Reputation points

2020-03-13T07:04:34.507+00:00

@Richard Zhang-MSFT ok. But not sure whether that's a standard way to do that. :-) Considering our situation that was the best option we had.

Richard Zhang-MSFT 6,936 Reputation points

2020-03-13T07:08:51.593+00:00

It is a great thing to provide a way to solve the problem. :)
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