XAP files are ZIP file formatted packages, however Microsoft has enabled XAP file encryption, meaning the file can no longer be opened with a standard ZIP extractor. The MIME type associated with XAP files is application/x-silverlight-app.[2]
The Windows Phone Marketplace allows users to download XAP files to an SD card and install them manually.[3]
XAP is also the extension for XACT Audio Projects, openable with the Microsoft Cross-Platform Audio Creation Tool.
Silverlight XAP Files are not openable with the Audio Creation Tool, and XACT XAP files are not archives.
Contents
An XAP file is a ZIP archive that usually contains the following files:[4]