Windows Phone 8.1 app - how to get it to my phone?

Question

I just created my first windows phone app. I do not intend to put it in the wp store, it was just an exercise for me. Now I want to use it and test it on my windows phone but I cannot find a way to do that.

Microsoft wants me to register as a developer and pay them money (I feel like they're kidding me). All I want to do is get the app on a phone, MY phone.

does anyone know how to do that? I'm getting desperate, any hints would be appreciated.

Answer 1

Any developer can unlock their phone to install up to two apps on their device using the Windows Phone Developer Registration Tool to register your device, you do not have to pay for a Dev Centre account unless you want to deploy up to 10 apps on a device or publish to the store which you don't want to do. All you'll need is a Microsoft Account and don't need to register as a developer, can refer to the How to register your phone for development for Windows Phone 8 documentation for details

Answer 2

You need to have only an Microsoft account( no any paid developer) , using this you can register the phone you want to test on.

You can now register one phone without a developer account, as you can see in the prerequisites of registering a phone:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windowsphone/develop/ff769508%28v=vs.105%29.aspx

Registering your phone:

• To install the app you need to unlock the device first, for this you need to connect your Windows Phone via USB to system and start the Registration tool. The tool detects the phone and asks you to login into your Microsoft account(live/outlook)

• after this step the phone is successfully unlocked.

• After unlocking the phone you can use visual studio or Windows Phone Power Tools or Application Deployment tool to install applications on the device.
• Previously we need to have a developer account for installation of apps on devices but now a Microsoft Account(live/outlook) is enough for doing so.

To register a phone, use the Windows Phone Developer Registration tool follow the link:

https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/windows/apps/ff769508(v=vs.105).aspx#BKMK_UsingtheWindowsPhoneDeveloperRegistrationTool