Azure does not deploy Blazor Static Web App API when using SWA CLI

[matt-j-griffin]

I wish to deploy my static web app + managed API using SWA CLI, however when I follow the deployment instructions the frontend deploys but the API doesn't.

1. I have forked the Blazor Stater Application (see here: https://github.com/matt-j-griffin/urban-tribble/) and made no changes.
2. In the repo route I run: dotnet publish -c Release -o bin/publish.
3. In the repo route I run: swa deploy ./bin/publish/wwwroot --api-location ./Api.

This fails as the API language and version cannot be identified.

4. This time I provide the API language, version, environment and silly verbose: swa deploy ./bin/publish/wwwroot --api-location ./Api --api-language dotnetisolated --api-version 8.0 --env production --verbose=silly.

This succeeds (see verbose output below), however the API does not deploy, you can see this in the image below and by navigating to the deployed site (https://polite-ocean-077f4ff1e.3.azurestaticapps.net/).

C:\urban-tribble> swa deploy ./bin/publish/wwwroot --api-location ./Api --api-language dotnetisolated --api-version 8.0 --env production --verbose=silly

Welcome to Azure Static Web Apps CLI (2.0.7)

Getting config file options from "swa-cli.config.json"...
Config file does not exist at "swa-cli.config.json"
Resolving outputLocation=./bin/publish/wwwroot full path...
Deploying front-end files from folder:
  
C:\urban-tribble\bin\publish\wwwroot

Deploying API from folder:
  .\urban-tribble\Api

No deployment token found. Trying interactive login...
Checking Azure session...
Executing authenticateWithAzureIdentity
- details:
  - tenantId: <undefined>
  - clientId: <undefined>
  - clientSecret: <undefined>
 - useKeychain: true
Keychain is enabled
Executing swaCliPersistencePlugin
✔ Successfully logged into Azure!
Found an existing Azure config file, getting Tenant and Subscription Id from C:\Users\me\.azure\azureProfile.json
Selected tenant: <REDACTED>
Selected subscription: <REDACTED>
Project credentials:
 - subscriptionId: <REDACTED>
 - tenantId: <REDACTED>
 - clientId: <undefined>
 - clientSecret: <undefined>
Login successful

Checking project settings...
choose static site with initial: undefined
√ Choose your Static Web App » urban-tribble-rg/urban-tribble
Static site found!
- staticSite:
  - id: /subscriptions/<REDACTED>/resourceGroups/urban-tribble-rg/providers/Microsoft.Web/staticSites/urban-tribble
  - name: urban-tribble
  - location: West US 2
  - type: Microsoft.Web/staticSites
 - sku:
   - name: Free
   - tier: Free
  - defaultHostname: polite-ocean-077f4ff1e.3.azurestaticapps.net
  - repositoryUrl:
  - branch:
 - customDomains:
 - privateEndpointConnections:
  - stagingEnvironmentPolicy: Enabled
  - allowConfigFileUpdates: true
  - contentDistributionEndpoint: https://content-wus2.infrastructure.3.azurestaticapps.net
  - keyVaultReferenceIdentity: SystemAssigned
  - userProvidedFunctionApps:
 - linkedBackends:
  - provider: SwaCli
  - enterpriseGradeCdnStatus: Disabled
  - publicNetworkAccess:
 - databaseConnections:
Project settings:
 - resourceGroup: urban-tribble-rg
 - staticSiteName: urban-tribble
 - subscriptionId: <REDACTED>
✔ Successfully setup project!
No swa-cli.config.json file found. Skipping saving project settings.

Deployment token provided via remote configuration
 - deploymentToken: <hidden>

Deploying to environment: production

Trying to read workflow config with values:
 - appLocation: C:\urban-tribble
 - outputLocation: C\urban-tribble\bin\publish\wwwroot
 - apiLocation: C:\urban-tribble\Api
 - dataApiLocation: <undefined>
Found a SWA workflow file: C\urban-tribble\.github\workflows\azure-static-web-apps-zealous-smoke-0ba00241e.yml
 - app_build_command: <undefined>
 - api_build_command: <undefined>
 - app_location: ./Client
 - output_location: wwwroot
 - api_location: Api
 - data_api_location: <undefined>
Validating user workflow config (BEFORE):
 - appLocation: C:\urban-tribble
 - outputLocation: C:\urban-tribble\bin\publish\wwwroot
 - apiLocation: C:\urban-tribble\Api
 - dataApiLocation: <undefined>
Validating user workflow config (AFTER):
 - appLocation: C:\urban-tribble
 - apiLocation: C:\urban-tribble\Api
 - outputLocation: C:\urban-tribble\bin\publish\wwwroot
 - dataApiLocation: <undefined>
Workflow configuration:
- config:
  - appBuildCommand: <undefined>
  - apiBuildCommand: <undefined>
  - appLocation: C:\urban-tribble
  - apiLocation: C:\urban-tribble\Api
  - outputLocation: C:\urban-tribble\bin\publish\wwwroot
  - dataApiLocation: <undefined>
 - files:
   - 0: C:\urban-tribble\.github\workflows\azure-static-web-apps-zealous-smoke-0ba00241e.yml
Reading content from staticwebapp.config.json...
Parsing C:\urban-tribble\Client\staticwebapp.config.json...
Content parsed successfully

Found configuration file:
  C:\urban-tribble\Client\staticwebapp.config.json

Deploying project to Azure Static Web Apps...
Fetching release metadata for version: stable. Please wait...
GET https://aka.ms/swalocaldeploy
Decode JSON: [
  {
    "version": "latest",
    "buildId": "694f9b1be52be00b1b4cde5deb5bb4994154f9b6",
    "publishDate": "2025-07-21T07:21:52.0658686Z",
    "files": {
      "linux-x64": {
        "url": "https://swalocaldeployv2-bndtgugjgqc3dhdx.b01.azurefd.net/downloads/694f9b1be52be00b1b4cde5deb5bb4994154f9b6/linux/StaticSitesClient",
        "sha": "3fdeaa74fff3e8136fa95f994761559b48900f094214dc81c98f825de506a398"
      },
      "win-x64": {
        "url": "https://swalocaldeployv2-bndtgugjgqc3dhdx.b01.azurefd.net/downloads/694f9b1be52be00b1b4cde5deb5bb4994154f9b6/windows/StaticSitesClient.exe",
        "sha": "f55f0efd65b1b401b4ee0197143da4e16c87ff7f541b2bf5b094fcc8e3443dfe"
      },
      "osx-x64": {
        "url": "https://swalocaldeployv2-bndtgugjgqc3dhdx.b01.azurefd.net/downloads/694f9b1be52be00b1b4cde5deb5bb4994154f9b6/macOS/StaticSitesClient",
        "sha": "0412544daa8522aafeaa495e03fad3a6530b5e121959624de4c115f76018cae9"
      }
    }
  },
  {
    "version": "stable",
    "buildId": "694f9b1be52be00b1b4cde5deb5bb4994154f9b6",
    "publishDate": "2025-07-21T07:21:52.0658686Z",
    "files": {
      "linux-x64": {
        "url": "https://swalocaldeployv2-bndtgugjgqc3dhdx.b01.azurefd.net/downloads/694f9b1be52be00b1b4cde5deb5bb4994154f9b6/linux/StaticSitesClient",
        "sha": "3fdeaa74fff3e8136fa95f994761559b48900f094214dc81c98f825de506a398"
      },
      "win-x64": {
        "url": "https://swalocaldeployv2-bndtgugjgqc3dhdx.b01.azurefd.net/downloads/694f9b1be52be00b1b4cde5deb5bb4994154f9b6/windows/StaticSitesClient.exe",
        "sha": "f55f0efd65b1b401b4ee0197143da4e16c87ff7f541b2bf5b094fcc8e3443dfe"
      },
      "osx-x64": {
        "url": "https://swalocaldeployv2-bndtgugjgqc3dhdx.b01.azurefd.net/downloads/694f9b1be52be00b1b4cde5deb5bb4994154f9b6/macOS/StaticSitesClient",
        "sha": "0412544daa8522aafeaa495e03fad3a6530b5e121959624de4c115f76018cae9"
      }
    }
  },
  {
    "version": "backup",
    "buildId": "53b7d0e07fe5c34bf68929fab92f87ce910288dc",
    "publishDate": "2024-10-24T20:43:23.5850191Z",
    "files": {
      "linux-x64": {
        "url": "https://swalocaldeployv2-bndtgugjgqc3dhdx.b01.azurefd.net/downloads/53b7d0e07fe5c34bf68929fab92f87ce910288dc/linux/StaticSitesClient",
        "sha": "66fca4b42cbc64d451097931ca4ed75649233bd818f97f0c3f6d1d75cff61413"
      },
      "win-x64": {
        "url": "https://swalocaldeployv2-bndtgugjgqc3dhdx.b01.azurefd.net/downloads/53b7d0e07fe5c34bf68929fab92f87ce910288dc/windows/StaticSitesClient.exe",
        "sha": "fc949fb19d29cce1e8b74cf1e2c31706426d46b3e03d830d601524cee63faa0b"
      },
      "osx-x64": {
        "url": "https://swalocaldeployv2-bndtgugjgqc3dhdx.b01.azurefd.net/downloads/53b7d0e07fe5c34bf68929fab92f87ce910288dc/macOS/StaticSitesClient",
        "sha": "89ec4fe61217325e89ed849a564ffe4cc51b61c325abdca82e8e441a4959ec92"
      }
    }
  }
]
Release Metadata for stable: {
  "version": "stable",
  "buildId": "694f9b1be52be00b1b4cde5deb5bb4994154f9b6",
  "publishDate": "2025-07-21T07:21:52.0658686Z",
  "files": {
    "linux-x64": {
      "url": "https://swalocaldeployv2-bndtgugjgqc3dhdx.b01.azurefd.net/downloads/694f9b1be52be00b1b4cde5deb5bb4994154f9b6/linux/StaticSitesClient",
      "sha": "3fdeaa74fff3e8136fa95f994761559b48900f094214dc81c98f825de506a398"
    },
    "win-x64": {
      "url": "https://swalocaldeployv2-bndtgugjgqc3dhdx.b01.azurefd.net/downloads/694f9b1be52be00b1b4cde5deb5bb4994154f9b6/windows/StaticSitesClient.exe",
      "sha": "f55f0efd65b1b401b4ee0197143da4e16c87ff7f541b2bf5b094fcc8e3443dfe"
    },
    "osx-x64": {
      "url": "https://swalocaldeployv2-bndtgugjgqc3dhdx.b01.azurefd.net/downloads/694f9b1be52be00b1b4cde5deb5bb4994154f9b6/macOS/StaticSitesClient",
      "sha": "0412544daa8522aafeaa495e03fad3a6530b5e121959624de4c115f76018cae9"
    }
  }
}
Local client binary is up to date. Skipping download.
Deploying using C:\Users\<me>\.swa\deploy\694f9b1be52be00b1b4cde5deb5bb4994154f9b6\StaticSitesClient.exe@694f9b1be52be00b1b4cde5deb5bb4994154f9b6
Deploying using the following options:
- env:
  - SWA_CLI_DEBUG: silly
  - SWA_RUNTIME_WORKFLOW_LOCATION: C:\urban-tribble\.github\workflows\azure-static-web-apps-zealous-smoke-0ba00241e.yml
  - SWA_RUNTIME_CONFIG_LOCATION: C:\urban-tribble\Client
  - SWA_RUNTIME_CONFIG: C:\urban-tribble\Client\staticwebapp.config.json
  - SWA_CLI_VERSION: 2.0.7
  - SWA_CLI_DEPLOY_DRY_RUN: false
  - SWA_CLI_DEPLOY_BINARY: C:\Users\me\.swa\deploy\694f9b1be52be00b1b4cde5deb5bb4994154f9b6\StaticSitesClient.exe@694f9b1be52be00b1b4cde5deb5bb4994154f9b6
  - DEPLOYMENT_ACTION: upload
  - DEPLOYMENT_PROVIDER: SwaCli
  - REPOSITORY_BASE: C:\urban-tribble
  - SKIP_APP_BUILD: true
  - SKIP_API_BUILD: true
  - DEPLOYMENT_TOKEN: <hidden>
  - APP_LOCATION: C:\urban-tribble\bin\publish\wwwroot
  - API_LOCATION: C:\urban-tribble\Api
  - DATA_API_LOCATION: <undefined>
  - CONFIG_FILE_LOCATION: C:\urban-tribble\Client
  - VERBOSE: true
  - FUNCTION_LANGUAGE: dotnetisolated
  - FUNCTION_LANGUAGE_VERSION: 8.0
ℹ DeploymentId: 88fd8ffa-20fe-4740-bafd-ff91b5aab79a
ℹ Verbose logging enabled
ℹ Try to validate location at: 'C:\urban-tribble\C:\urban-tribble\bin\publish\wwwroot'.
ℹ Build timeout not specified, defaulting to 15 minutes
ℹ App Directory Location: 'C:\urban-tribble\bin\publish\wwwroot' was found.
ℹ Try to validate location at: 'C:\urban-tribble\swa-db-connections'.
ℹ Try to validate location at: 'C:\urban-tribble\C:\urban-tribble\Client\staticwebapp.config.json'.
ℹ config_file_location: config file 'C:\urban-tribble\Client\staticwebapp.config.json' was found.
ℹ Looking for event info
ℹ Could not get event info. Proceeding
ℹ Skipping step to build C:\urban-tribble\bin\publish\wwwroot with Oryx
ℹ Didn't find Oryx manifest file under location: C:\urban-tribble\88fd8ffa-20fe-4740-bafd-ff91b5aab79a-swa-oryx\app-manifest\oryx-manifest.toml
ℹ Determined default file to be: index.html
ℹ Using 'staticwebapp.config.json' file for configuration information, 'routes.json' will be ignored.
ℹ Calculating the size of app artifacts: 15387552 B
ℹ Try to validate location at: 'C:\urban-tribble\C:\urban-tribble\Api'.
ℹ Api Directory Location: 'C:\urban-tribble\Api' was found.
ℹ Skipping step to build C:\urban-tribble\Api with Oryx
ℹ Function Runtime Information. OS: windows, Functions Runtime: ~4, dotnetisolated version: 8.0
ℹ Zipping Api Artifacts
ℹ Api Zip will be created from directory: C:\urban-tribble\Api
ℹ Api Content Hash: 5f16934ab5e6a492191ce414877d0dea
ℹ No node_modules folder found.
ℹ Done Zipping Api Artifacts
ℹ Zipping App Artifacts
ℹ App Zip will be created from directory: C:\urban-tribble\bin\publish\wwwroot
ℹ Done Zipping App Artifacts
ℹ Uploading build artifacts.
ℹ Skipping function upload as functions are identical to last successful deployment.
ℹ Finished Upload. Polling on deployment.
ℹ Status: InProgress. Time: 0.3005953(s)
ℹ Status: Succeeded. Time: 15.5726991(s)
ℹ Deployment Complete :)
ℹ Thanks for using Azure Static Web Apps!
✔ Project deployed to https://polite-ocean-077f4ff1e.3.azurestaticapps.net 🚀

[matt-j-griffin]

I was able to fix the issue following the guidance here: Azure/static-web-apps-cli#566. Apparently you need to reference the the executable path when providing --api-location.

cd ./Api
dotnet publish -c Release
cd ../
swa deploy ./bin/publish/wwwroot --api-location .\api\bin\Release\net8.0\publish --api-language dotnetisolated --api-version 8.0 --env production

Please update the documentation, this caused me a lot of grief!