.APPREF-MS File Extension

Application reference file used by ClickOnce, a Microsoft platform used to deploy and run remote Web applications; contains a local or remote link to an application; commonly used to enable links from the Windows Start Menu.

APPREF-MS file and their corresponding .APPLICATION files are enabled by the Microsoft .NET framework. When an APPREF-MS file is activated from a Web hyperlink, ClickOnce can check for updates, make installations, and run a program.