Power Apps code apps overview

Power Apps code apps help developers build and run custom business web apps from code-first IDEs such as Visual Studio Code on a managed platform. This overview explains key features, prerequisites, support, and limitations so you can evaluate code apps and get started.

Code apps let developers bring Power Apps capabilities into custom web apps built in a code‑first IDE. You can develop locally and run the same app in Power Platform. Build with popular frameworks (React, Vue, and others) while keeping full control over your UI and logic.

Key features include:

• Microsoft Entra authentication and authorization
• Access to Power Platform data sources and 1,500+ connectors, callable directly from JavaScript
• Easy publishing and hosting of line-of-business web apps in Power Platform
• Adherence to your organization's Managed Platform policies (app sharing limits, Conditional Access, Data Loss Prevention, and so on)
• Simplified deployment and application lifecycle management (ALM)

The managed platform accelerates safe, rapid innovation, and when ready, apps can be deployed to dedicated production environments.

Prerequisites

Code apps require an IDE, Node.js, npm, Git, and the Power Apps CLI.

Install the following developer tools

Use these tools while creating code apps:

• Your IDE of choice. For example, Visual Studio Code
• Node.js (LTS version)
• Git
• Power Apps CLI

Enable code apps on a Power Platform environment

Admins can enable code apps by setting an environment option. Power Platform admins and environment admins can set this option. The environment setting respects groups and rules set by Power Platform admins.

1. As an admin, go to Power Platform admin center.

2. Go to Manage > Environments > select the environment where you use code apps.

3. Go to Settings > Expand the Product subsection > Select Features.

   

4. Go to the feature Power Apps code apps and use the Enable code apps toggle to turn it on.

   

5. Select Save in the settings experience.

License end users with Power Apps Premium

End users that run code apps need a Power Apps Premium license.

Explore samples and report issues

To help you get started and stay productive, use the resources available in the Power Apps Code Apps GitHub repository.

Find samples

Browse sample projects and starter templates shared by the community and Microsoft. These examples can help you learn best practices and accelerate development.

Submit new issues

To share feedback or seek guidance, open a new issue in the repository.

For support or to report a bug, use your standard channel for Microsoft support. Learn about how to submit feedback and get support.

Review completed issues

Check the Closed tab in Issues to see how other customers solved problems or requested enhancements. Closed issues are a great way to learn from real-world scenarios and confirm whether a fix or feature you need is already available.

Limitations

• Code apps don't use Storage Shared Access Signature (SAS) IP restriction, so the SAS IP Binding and Firewall environment setting doesn't apply to them. The compiled app assets are served from a publicly accessible endpoint that doesn't support IP-based restrictions today. To restrict access by IP, use Conditional Access – block access by location, since code apps authenticate with Microsoft Entra ID.
• Code apps don't support Power Platform Git integration.
• Code apps aren't supported in Power Apps for Windows.
• Code apps don't yet support Power BI data integration (PowerBIIntegration function), but can be embedded in Power BI Reports using Power Apps Visual.
• Code apps don't support SharePoint forms integration.

Managed platform capability support

This table lists Power Platform management capabilities that work for code apps.

Related information

• Code apps architecture
• System limits and configuration
• Feedback and support