zApps

zApps
	Component of Microsoft Windows
	zFeedbackHub in Windows 10 Mobile build 14262 (rs1_shell_winhub)
Type	applications
Introduced in	Windows Phone 7 build 6077

zApps are a collection of test apps that are present in most test image variants of Windows Phone, Windows Core OS and in some builds of Windows 10 (original release). zApps are most of the time work in progress versions of apps or diagnostic and testing apps, such as zEdge or zBattInfo. The applications use a "z" prefix to make them easier to locate, as when sorting alphabetically, all of the applications will always appear on the bottom of the list. Despite that however, when zApps were first introduced in Windows Phone 7 build 6077, a "~" prefix was used instead.

The “zApps” term was never officially used by Microsoft, and is instead used by the community to describe the long list of test applications found in these builds of Windows.

All currently known zApps[edit | edit source]

Selfhosting, testing and diagnostic apps[edit | edit source]

Windows 10 Mobile[edit | edit source]

zAAD TB Test App is an app used for getting Azure Active Directory tokens through Tokenbroker. The app allows for the token to be taken with the UI, with Account Picker, silently for default or silently for previous.
zAdvancedNotificationSample is used for testing tile notifications with text, local images, web images, and so on.
zAllThingsShell is an app used for testing parts of the user interface and for enabling velocity features on the device.
zAppIQ allows the tester to view the author, product ID and version of all apps installed on the device.
zBattInfo is an application used for checking the Battery Status of the device. The application shows information of the Battery Driver, CAD Driver and other miscellaneous information about the battery. It can also be used for basic diagnostic features, such as starting or stopping the charging process.
zCellular Status as indicated by the name, shows the cellular status, such as the IMEI, phone number or supported network types (such as 3G or LTE).
zDebugMenu is used for setting specific debug settings not normally accessible on the device, such as "All XAPs are SL 8.1 XAPs", or enabling velocity features on the device.
zEpdDiscoverySettings is an Endpoint Discovery application.
zFeedbackHub allows the self-hoster of the device to send feedback on their experience, view their feedback uploads and view information about the build they are currently running.
zFiddlerClient is a client for Fiddler.
zGestureBester tests display gestures, such as tapping, holding, flicking, double tapping, and vice versa.
zIrisTestUnlockEnroll allows for the configuration of the Iris feature.
zLiveTilesApp can create a sample live tile on the start screen for testing purposes.
zMSA is a Microsoft Account Test App used to test out the MSA ticketing feature. If the device is signed into a Microsoft account, a ticket will be returned.
zNoCenter, although its use is unknown.
zOsiris is a basic camera app with normally unacessible features.
zPacmanTestApp tests tier 0 app updating.
zPhotoPrint is a selfhost printing app that can be used to test out the printing feature.
zPlayReady Jupiter App is used to test music and video playback.
zSensorView is an application used for testing out the sensors on the device. The user can test the accelerometer, light, proximity, gyro and magnetometer sensors, as well as the compass, fusion and recorder.
zStorageToolbox is an application used for managing the device's storage and testing its eMMC.
zSystemInfo allows the user to install the diagnostic chrome feature, view the currently running processes and view other miscellaneous device details. Variants of a version without the prefix exist as well.
zVideoTelephony, although its use is unknown.
zUpdate is an update tool that can be used to set up automatic build updating on a self host device. The user can select an "Update Train" (switching between Production and Test builds) and view their current phone model, build and branch.
zWavelet2 is an application used for testing the operating system's audio events. The tester can either render the audio to test it, or capture audio with the microphone.
zWPSHIFT allows the selfhoster of the device to update to a specific build directly by specifying its branch and build number. Variants of this app without the z prefix exist as well.