MSIX Installer for Desktop Applications - Packaging WPF, WinForms, and UWP Applications

Creating an installer for a C# desktop application used to involve a third-party solution like InstallShield to create MSI or Setup file. With the addition of UWP, Microsoft created the MSIX installer option. However, until recently it only worked for UWP applications. Now, we can use the MSIX installer to install Winforms and WPF desktop applications without going through the Microsoft Store if we don't want to. In this video, we are going to look at how to create an MSIX setup package, how to include our project in the package, and how to install and update our application on a client machine.
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[@BuddyHollyBK]

I wish Microsoft's instructions were as easy to understand and detailed as yours are.

[@IAmTimCorey]

I am glad my explanations are clear.

[@NoirMorter]

Began watching your videos in college a year ago and now love watching your stuff. It has helped me create my first very basic program. Thank you!

[@IAmTimCorey]

That is awesome!

[@MuthuKumaran-md7tv]

Saying Thanks in 2024.. As always Tim Corey !!

[@IAmTimCorey]

You are welcome.

[@sundeepyama]

I can't tell you how thankful I am for this video. You just made my week. I spent almost 2 days trying to figure out the build configuration issue and I searched in all regular blogs but couldn't find anything helpful. I am glad I finally found this. Your video is amazing with all the minute details and clarity of thought. Thank you.

[@IAmTimCorey]

Glad I could help. Be sure to check out my other videos.

[@eastmanh1]

This was EXACTLY what I needed. I simply couldn't figure out the certificate piece. Thank you for taking the extra time to be so clear and concise.

[@IAmTimCorey]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kylerbriskey372]

What an amazing video. Thank you so much!

[@IAmTimCorey]

Thank you!

[@leonardegray1769]

Excellent tutorial. Mr. Corey, you are a very talented man and an outstanding instructor. Your attention to details is what makes you stand out!

[@IAmTimCorey]

I appreciate the kind words.

[@anthonywoods2550]

Thanks for these links: The MSIX documentation helps a lot. Got Manifest error I am trying to figure out. Trying to put my first app in the Microsoft Store. Got some more to load out there later. I am a C# Developer. Love this stuff. Thanks man, Great videos!

[@IAmTimCorey]

Glad it was helpful!

[@cyberslut1]

At 29:50 "configure update settings" you mention that the app can be deployed on a server. An example on how to deploy the app on OneDrive or a server would be very nice!

[@IAmTimCorey]

I will add it to the list. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@OMG-2]

@@IAmTimCorey Thanks for the great video - created an installer for a friend's UWP app using your instructions here. I also attempted to deploy the files to a web server as you suggested but there is more to that than meets the eye. I got the HTML file and appinstaller file to reflect the URL but IIS would not return the files (other than the INDEX.HTML file) even after getting all the mime types configured in the web.config file. I am currently stuck trying to get some support from my hosting provider. It would be really helpful if you could walk thru the intricacies of deploying to the web because the MS doco just glosses over it like it should be automatic. One other question regarding this video, I attempted to target the user desktop using the environment variables available to locate each users unique desktop path (\desktop). It worked great on my PC but I couldn't replicate that success on any other PC when placing the directory with all the output files in the package on their desktops. Any ideas why that falls apart with an error can't find file? That said I really want the web to work as that is the best way to go with the most reach to remote folks.

[@stevechaille7255]

Thanks!

[@IAmTimCorey]

Thank you!

[@Vengalis]

OMG. Thank you! I wasted around 2/3 of my workday today figuring out WHY i got the processor-mismatch. Thank you again.

[@IAmTimCorey]

Glad I could help!

[@lenardbartha6722]

Awesome! We use Advanced Installer, it is fantastic. Thanks for the video, love it as always.

[@IAmTimCorey]

You are welcome.

[@techdeceptive]

Your work is very amazing... Keep it up.. We support you.. 😊

[@IAmTimCorey]

Thank you!

[@nandkishorsonwale]

Awesome! Really You made c# learning easy. I always love your teaching. Great video. Thanks GURU.

[@IAmTimCorey]

You are welcome.

[@nandkishorsonwale]

Hi Sir, I published wpf app using MSIX packaging. App is interacting with sqlite database. When I removed databases interaction related logic from app it works fine. But when I try to add databases interaction logic then app gets crash. In fact when I add Microsoft.EntityFramworkCore.Sqlite and related NuGet packages and try to publish app, It doesn't open. Why this is happening. If you guide me it will be great help.

[@embossCoder]

keep it simple and has why-and-when-factor make you different from other channels

[@IAmTimCorey]

Thanks!

[@williambell4591]

I had got excited when I saw this topic because I've been meaning to write myself an "Application Manager" program which would allow me to manage what applications users can request access to (from an application "Gallery"), and then perform a Zip file package download and install. At my company a lot of folks don't have Admin on their PCs, requiring IT to become involved for installations (And due to that fact, a lot of our apps have been ASP.NET MVC) But I absolutely LOVE WPF, and I'm much more productive when coding WPF, so I've been looking to complete this application manager which would provide automated installations and auto version updates similar to web apps. I had thought perhaps this MSIX installer would save me from having to developing my app manager, but it still appears Admin privs would be needed (at least in some cases) when using it. Great topic though - I appreciate you, Tim!

[@IAmTimCorey]

Another option is to check out my video on Squirrel. It does not need admin rights to install applications.

[@williambell4591]

@@IAmTimCorey Really?!! PROPS, Bigg Tim, I'll check it out pronto!

[@AbubakrMahdiSan]

I love what you do , Tim , keep it up.

[@IAmTimCorey]

Thanks!

[@majule1]

Great video as always. You might want to mention that is it possible to publish to a folder or single exe without using MSIX. Although you lose 'installation' of your app (it runs as a stand-alone program) and auto-updating, I found it handy for small scale beta testing to just say, 'double-click the exe file' and not worry about the certificates, etc.

[@IAmTimCorey]

Yep, that is a nice option. I did cover that in another video I believe.

[@diegoza75]

Thank you Tim, this tutorial was super useful form me and very easy to follow. Please continue to publish other video on this topic like to Automate the publish with Azure Dev Ops or others. Best regards

[@IAmTimCorey]

Thanks, and noted!

[@diegoza75]

Consider if our application use a database and it is necessary to make a small change in the database schema, eg. add a field in a table. Is it possible to deploy also a SQL script to update the database schema together the application exe?

[@naveenmakwana]

Excellent video as always.

[@IAmTimCorey]

Thank you!

[@habanerohoncho]

Excellent explanation. Thanks you for taking the time and for sharing your knowledge.

[@IAmTimCorey]

My pleasure!

[@mahmoudsalah5359]

thanks for video and i like your way to discription a package

[@tomthelestaff-iamtimcorey7597]

Thanks for sharing and for watching the video.

[@marianasetpar3158]

"I cannot be considered trustworthy of myself" :'( haha Thanks for the instructions, it really helped to clarify my mind after some hours hitting my head in the wall.

[@IAmTimCorey]

Happy to help!

[@shelleycurrie764]

Thanks Tim, really very helpful video

[@IAmTimCorey]

Glad it was helpful!

[@hafizdanmanu3720]

I really appreciate your work and thanks alot for the contribution and I want to tell you that your aim is archived

[@IAmTimCorey]

You are most welcome.

[@wsurferdude_ct]

Excellent tutorial ! Thanks !

[@IAmTimCorey]

You are welcome!

[@keithnicholas]

I haven't made an installer for a while, but I used to use Inno Setup.... works well. Used by things like Visual Studio Code. Completely Free

[@IAmTimCorey]

Yep, that's a good one.

[@ErtBaran]

Thank you so much. That was very helpful. You are great.

[@IAmTimCorey]

Glad it was helpful!

[@hawnyawk1]

Thanks Tim, seems like a better solution than sharing EXE files on the network. I guess using the installer, I can build my own store on the local network, I got lots of interesting ideas watching the video. Maybe a video on how developers should use certificates, I still don't understand it.

[@IAmTimCorey]

I will add it to the list. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@pylvr8021]

Great tutorial as Always

[@IAmTimCorey]

Thank you!

[@willimnot]

28:16 How do I access this version number in the main program? I'm able to get the "Assembly Version" and the "File Version" but they do not match the version number here that automatically increments.

[@TheJessejunior]

great as always!! thank you sr!

[@IAmTimCorey]

You are welcome.

[@danielheydt9864]

Great video! Thank you.

[@IAmTimCorey]

You are welcome.

[@techdeceptive]

We are waiting the next video of How to upload MSIX package to Microsoft Store. Please upload soon.

[@IAmTimCorey]

Good to know.

[@StudentCompanion]

Thanks for the great video as always. Does this installer support the .NET Framework or only Core? Does it work only under Windows 10 like the UWP? What about windows 8 or 7? Does it have an option to check and install prerequisites like .NET framework or SQL Sever express?

[@IAmTimCorey]

It only supports .NET Core because it has to do a self-contained installation where it bundles .NET Core with the application so that it does not have to depend on the client machine to have .NET Core. The MSIX installer works on Windows 10 natively and will work on Windows 7 and beyond if you install the MSIX Core package (a one-time install). You cannot install items on the client machine that might remain after the package is uninstalled so you cannot install SQL Server Express or anything similar. It is a sandboxed installation.

[@StudentCompanion]

@@IAmTimCorey ok thanks for the info and great tutorial

[@chezchezchezchez]

IAmTimCorey what about SQLite ? My app uses that. How will a version update NOT touch a users database? Also, how do alter the DB if I NEED to? Thanks!!

[@chezchezchezchez]

Hello?

[@richardw-i4p]

Thank you so much for making it so clear and explaining everything in detail, it has really helped! I have a problem though, after it finishes packaging and I click copy and close, the install location folder i selected is empty. I tried this a while ago and I didn't have this issue, but now no matter what settings I change the install location folder is always empty. I have tried creating new blank projects, new certificates, tried all the runtime configurations, but it makes no difference, and the output log just tells me it finished with no problems and it copied the files and that i can open index.html to start the installation, but the file doesn't exist!

[@자아성찰닷넷]

정말 감사합니다!!! 좋아요 댓글 구독할께요 형님!

[@tomthelestaff-iamtimcorey7597]

고마워, 형제!

[@황경민-t7s]

[English] Thank you very much!!! I'll give you like, comment and subscribe. Bro!

[@themorleyc]

Thanks for this Tim! Any pointers on MSIX for installing Windows Services projects please?

[@amitkbirla]

That's nice tutorial, many thanks for that. Every steps was explained with simplicity. Really appreciate. Just few things, one, how to add custom form in the installer like agreements, system check etc. second, how can I create MSIX with custom form using azure devops pipeline.

[@IAmTimCorey]

I'm not sure if you can do that with the basic MSIX installer. You might need to go custom on that one.

[@amitkbirla]

@@IAmTimCorey so the same project type won't work for that ? Any other options, tool on Microsoft stack ?

[@IAmTimCorey]

Look into Advanced Installer or other 3rd party MSI tools.

[@christianimfeld7357]

Thanks a lot Tim for the great introduction. Wondering, if creating a MSIX installer is (still) the preferred way to create a "installeable" package of a .NET 8.0 solution, with the target platform on windows systems? Or is there a newer way to create such "installeable" packages?

[@IAmTimCorey]

From Microsoft? MSIX is the solution. There are third-party solutions that offer alternatives.

[@christianimfeld7357]

@@IAmTimCorey Thanks! Yes, it is Microsoft. We use Visual Studio 2022. We have a "windows service" which provides a REST API (based on Kestrel). The "windows service" will get installed on customer machine. I'm looking for the best way to provide this "installeable" package to the customer. I would like to have as less dependencies as possible. Waht would be the advantage of using 3rd party tools, like Wix Toolset? Is there any benefit?

[@paulsanchez5030]

dude... 58 minutes??? !!! 2x speed anyone!!! no skips also... great!

[@tomthelestaff-iamtimcorey7597]

Do what works for you! Many folks adjust the speed, nothing wrong with that. Thanks for watching!

[@AnResearch]

thank you!

[@IAmTimCorey]

You are welcome.

[@footballaipredictions]

Thanks. This is great and works brilliantly for net framework. The same project in net5 is proving trickier. Is there anything on debugging msix packages? For installs that don't go smoothly? Thanks

[@MiguelRobinson-oc6tq]

Just checking when you are going to do the video to post app to Microsoft store

[@arnoud877]

Hello Tim, This is kinda golden tutorial! Super beneficial and explained in details. Many Thanks! Even they are not directly related your content here, I have two (may be advanced or irrelevant (: ) question on mind : 1. Is it a way to create development certificate while publishing (create new trusted certificate) with end date bigger than 1 (one) year? 2. Is there a way to include not native libraries and scripts inside that installer? For ex: A winforms desktop app which use a python scripts and python libraries(pandas, numpy), could be able to include in MSIX installer project?

[@IAmTimCorey]

Glad you liked it!

[@EyeOfTheMind86]

But if you create a local installer you basically need to give the other person the bundle installer and the certificate only right? I guess that if you create a server where to store the installer, you just give them the 1 kb .appinstaller file which will scan the latest file on the server, am I right?

[@DavidBailey-zb7xb]

Great video. Following your instructions worked too as you missed out nothing! I could not get Click-Once to function properly in the past. You mention that you would be making a video on uploading to the Microsoft Store. How is that coming along? When you do, can you discuss things such as payment methods, trial periods and the like and how they are set up?

[@IAmTimCorey]

The video is on my list but it isn't done yet. Not sure of a release date yet. I'll add those suggestions to the list.

[@DavidBailey-zb7xb]

@@IAmTimCorey Appreciate that. Also is there a way to allow friends, testers etc to download for free.

[@JohnPeter-yf5jf]

Was hoping you would do one on this. Are you planning on adding to to the TimCoManager?

[@IAmTimCorey]

That is a good possibility.

[@ChristianLuksitch]

Hey Tim, I must say that I found the tutorial very helpful!! I have one question, is it possible to automatically install a ".inf" driver using Windows Application Packaging Project?

[@jerryhuang3565]

thank you... Is it possible to run MAUI development directly on Windows without using MSIX packaging for simple small development? Of course, if not, I can continue to use Flutter or React.

[@drewrodrigues]

Thanks for the guide! I'm curious, are you familiar with packaging in Azure Dev Ops or Github? I've seen various guides that cover how to do so through the UI, but none in CD. If you are, it would be very helpful!

[@IAmTimCorey]

For MSIX? Not really, no. I am planning on doing a video covering creating NuGet packages with CI/CD, though.

[@anthonywoods2550]

Tim, Tried doing what you said, but could not load the Windows Application Package. I tried everything, but nothing worked, so I downloaded the MSIX package separately and was able to create an MSIX Package. I got an error about the manifest file. I wonder why I was not able to load the windows app package in my VS Community edition.??? I selected UWP just like you said but to no avail.

[@IAmTimCorey]

It sounds like you have a configuration issue in Visual Studio. It should be able to do it (VS2019, right?)

[@anthonywoods2550]

Yes, VS 2019 Community

[@tomasknor8947]

Does MSIX works with windows form applications build in framework? If no, what should i use? I am beginner so this might be a stupid qustion. I love your vids, you really inspirated me in coding. Thanks

[@IAmTimCorey]

It does not work for the .NET Framework. If you need to support the .NET Framework, I would suggest looking at Squirrel: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWm0pmengq-snpY

[@tomasknor8947]

@@IAmTimCorey thanks i will definitly watch it

[@AnkitaPadmanabhan]

It was a very useful video. Could you please make a video on how to have a feature(premium features) unlocked by using a unique activation key for each user, in a WPF application.

[@IAmTimCorey]

Noted, added to the suggested topics list, thanks.

[@jamesbest3347]

Tim, this is pretty awesome. I don't know how in depth you've used these installers, but I'd like to know your thoughts on this vs WiX which is literally the bane of my existence. It appears as though MSIX make it much easier with a GUI (I always said if someone could make a WiX GUI and sell it for 1000 bucks they'd make a killing). Does MSIX support pre and post installation scripts? Also does it have any support for registering/GACing like the original Visual Studio Installer Creator from VS2013. Lastly, does MSIX allow you to create a step by step installer that allows you to choose your install path?

[@IAmTimCorey]

The things you are asking for are mostly not something MSIX will do. The reason goes back to what MSIX represents - a sandboxed application that has very little access to the system. We bypass some of that when we use WPF applications because they get full access but accessing the GAC, modifying the registry, and other similar tasks are mostly out. The reason why is because MSIX wants to be a clean uninstall, which it can't do if it does any of those things. If you want a Wix alternative, you might look at Inno Setup to see if they have what you need ( www.jrsoftware.org/isinfo.php ).

[@jamesbest3347]

@@IAmTimCorey Tim, thank you so much for your time and effort to help the .NET community. It is greatly appreciated!

[@martinrj30]

If you are interested in the MSIX capabilities. techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/msix-blog/msix-packaging-tool-insider-preview-feb-2019-now-available/ba-p/357347 and also a build2019 talk on the 'install exe and files and make registry changes etc.' then make diff of changes into MSIX: mybuild.techcommunity.microsoft.com/sessions/77012 note all MSIX packages only 'install' to an isolated user environment.

[@chrisbenedetti]

Tim, this was a great tutorial, and entertaining as well. Keep up the great work! I do have one question. The installer defaults to the Program Files\WindowsApps folder on the root drive. Is there any way to let the person installing choose a path? Maybe they want to install on D:\apps for example?

[@chrisbenedetti]

I did find an option to do this for anyone interested. Not quite as simple as I was hoping, but it's possible. techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-dev-appconsult/msix-how-to-copy-data-outside-the-installation-folder-during-the/ba-p/1133602

[@bollywoodcastingcouch]

Thanks Tim for this great video it is very helpful for me. Could you please extend this topic for SQL Server database engine, Instance and Database installation through this package.

[@IAmTimCorey]

Noted, added to the list.

[@bollywoodcastingcouch]

@@IAmTimCorey Thank you so much sir.

[@microtechie4834]

@@IAmTimCorey Hey Tim thanks, can u share video link to create setup with database scenario.

[@vittoriomorellini1939]

Hi Tim, beatiful video. A question: where is fisically installed on PC the application when installed from MSix ?? I did not find it !! If I have to deploy to customers and install log directory on base directory app, how can I do ?? I was not able to do with msix bundle. I did it with classic installer project

[@IAmTimCorey]

I believe your application will be installed in AppData. To put a log directory in the folder where the application is installed, just use the relative path instead of the absolute path. Either that or you can ask the application where it is installed (it knows).

[@vittoriomorellini1939]

@@IAmTimCorey Thanks Tim, you are my tecnical leader on .Net Core. The app is installed in: "C:\Program Files\Windowsapp\cashReg_... " but I have no access to that directory, I have no rights on that dir, even if I'm administrator. On "AppData" only some configuration files are installed. Question: where do I have to set "relative path instead of absolute path" ? in the building phase ? while I'm configuring the package ?? Thanks in advance. How can I ask it to the application ? I don't understand your suggestion.

[@jeroenj]

Do I have to make a new certificate for every application? I have two apps I want to have on my other device. If not, where is the certificate located?

[@wasined1523]

You, good sir, made my day! 2 questions: a. Is it possible to show the user a license agreement text before they can install? b. Is it possible to make updates optional for the user? Thanks!

[@mhpkr]

Great video ! I have a question here. Lets say the application is using SQLite as a local database , would automatic updates affect the local database content ? Thanks.

[@IAmTimCorey]

Possibly, but I don't believe so. You want to make sure that local databases are only used for caching, not things you want to store long-term though.

[@mhpkr]

@@IAmTimCorey thanks Tim! I am quite new to c# and everything so please bear with me here. I am building a really small inventory management software as practice for a friend. I was assuming SQLite is enough for a local small database. According to your reply the local databases are for caching. So should I use service-based database even for a small application like this ? Appreciate your time

[@arebelstory]

Hey Tim, Gould you please make a Video about VS Blend? Is it still relevant in 2020? When and how to use it? There are so less videos about Blend there...

[@IAmTimCorey]

I will add it to the list. Thanks for the suggestion. As for its relevance, it is still relevant but only to a select few people since it is a UI-specific tool that is mostly just for display changes.

[@jasonbie3576]

Hi Tim, thanks for your video, it's very clear. I have one question, after build it will generate two files and a folder, how could only output one .msix file? Thanks.

[@girornsveinsson7970]

Thanks a lot for the video. This looks a bit like a mix of installing with ClickOnce and the Squirrel method, you demonstrated in a video before. Do you recommend this or Squirrel? Another thing. Is there a way for these installers to check if dependencies exist in the target machine's GAC and install them there if they are not? In the case of use of the big libraries provided by companies like ComponentOne and DevExpress the target machines tend to get blown by copying the same dll's over and over again on the target machines in each application folder of new applications.

[@IAmTimCorey]

Both installers have their place. It depends on your scenario. MSIX cannot touch the GAC or registry because it wants to have a clean uninstall. The only way to do that is to be self-contained.

[@ihershkovitz]

Hi Tim, Thanks for a great tutorial. I was wondering if the same process will work to get the app installed on a windows server machine. THANKS

[@IAmTimCorey]

Probably not. It is meant to install under a user's profile, and it isn't really designed for being installed on a server.

[@ihershkovitz]

@@IAmTimCorey THANKS! are you familiar with a way to perform something similar that will able to install a WPF app on windows server machine ?

[@youcefbourouba3673]

hey tim hope you doing well , just one question if i sent this application to another pc , and i published a new update on my pc does the other pc get the update automatically?

[@IAmTimCorey]

Only if the other PC can see the update location on the first machine. That's why we publish to servers.

[@rakeshchandra504]

Great tutorial @IAmTimCorey. Easy to understand. I tried for WPF application and it worked. But when I tried for Winforms application, it's not working. I mean everything went well and bundle also got created. But it's not launching my application. I can see the App in the windows search bar, but when I clicked on it App is not getting launched and no error is displayed. Much appreciate if you can resolve my issue.

[@IAmTimCorey]

I am not sure what the issue is. Sorry.

[@gopichandarselvaraj5250]

Hey Tim, this was awesome video, is there a way to include custom script that need to be run before starting installer and after installation complete Custom action possible?

[@IAmTimCorey]

Not really. Custom Actions can only be executed before the app is opened or when it’s closed. It cannot be placed in the install sequence. Scripts executions are added to the config.json file. -from www.advancedinstaller.com/msix-limitations.html

[@gopichandarselvaraj5250]

@@IAmTimCorey Thanks alot. will go through..

[@metekaba6532]

Hi Tim! Thanks for the video. I have a question that how can we add the other layers of the project? I have BLL, CUL, and DAL beside the main GUI project which has the windows. Thanks in advance!

[@shivapola5958]

Thanks for the superb video. How to install this in client's machine? Like windows server 2016/2019. I've copied the installer/.msix, no app couldn't recognize this installer. And which one do you recommend squirrel.windows or msix?

[@IAmTimCorey]

MSIX has certain system requirements: docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/msix/supported-platforms I use the best tool for the job. Some jobs, that is squirrel. Others, it is MSIX. And sometimes it is another solution entirely.

[@techforyoubyjr]

@@IAmTimCorey I am having a similar issue. I'm trying to install the package in a Windows Server Datacenter Virtual Machine on Azure, but it shows me an error message indicating that doesn't recognize .appinstaller file type. Do you have any suggestions or workaround to solve this?

[@balborando]

Thanks for the tutorial. I have a question. I want to sign also the exe of the application with a certificate, not only the package. With click once it works by clicking the option 'sing the ClickOnce manifests'. But with MSIX is the exe not signed. Any sugestions?

[@huzaifaaseel]

Thx Tim .. Fast question: my wpf app start process to excute command in cmd ,work s fine made msix and install app (run as admin) ... Boom nothing happin to call cmd ... I hope if there custom way to give permission ..like this(cmd) and run as defult run administrator .. In internet there is advance installer and other tool to do troubleshooting ... But i want without this tools ... I prefere cutom build with my vs

[@howitworksofc]

Hi, my application is updating from localhost but not updating from Web Hosts like URLs. Let me know if I have to use Azure to achieve that thing for updating application online or there is any other way! Thank you Tim Corey

[@IAmTimCorey]

Those URLs have to be visible to the application and it needs to know what URL to look at.

[@soulsearch7383]

Hi Tim. Great content. I've been trying to figure this out for a few days and you saved the day as always. I have a little problem. When I package my app it says that the files were copied to the output locations successfully, but the folder remains empty. Any ideas? Also I set the Build Bundle to always but on the confirmation screen still says Bundle NO.

[@kaidouz7756]

Hello Tim, First of all appreciate for your effort on your videos, free content with top quality! :) Im currently deploying my MSIX Package, everything works perfect in localhost however when I install using the package itself some funcionalities of my WPF dont work. After some researches I found that all MSIX package are deployed into this super protected folder with read-only permissions: C:\Program Files\WindowsApps. My problem is that im using a nugget package from Microsoft to install Microsoft.Playwright which is a tool to automate browser tasks. The following code installs the binaries for chromium browser: var exitCode = Microsoft.Playwright.Program.Main(new[] { "install", "chromium" }); if (exitCode != 0) { output.Text += "Failed to install browsers" + Environment.NewLine; } However because of the super protected folder C:\Program Files\WindowsApps the code above does not work. I've tried another approach that was to install the binaries manually and then use the following code to create the object to automate browser task: using var playwright = await Playwright.CreateAsync(); await using var browser = await playwright.Chromium.LaunchAsync(new BrowserTypeLaunchOptions() { Headless = false }); await using var browserContext = await browser.NewContextAsync(); var page = await browserContext.NewPageAsync(); await page.GotoAsync(website_url); await page.WaitForTimeoutAsync(10000f); Even this way it still doesnt work. I did give permission myself to write aswell on this super protected folder: C:\Program Files\WindowsApps and this way works, but this is a big NO, because this folder shouldnt be unsecured. Have you had some problem like this? I did all my research for weeks but no successfull answers, if you know how to solve please let me know mate Thanks

[@IAmTimCorey]

MSIX installs into a sandbox environment. If you don’t want that, you need to use a different installer. Preferably one that creates an MSI file.

[@kaidouz7756]

@@IAmTimCorey thanks for your answer mate, i will look it up for MSI installer, if you got some video of yours that you teach please link me! Or if you have a course where you explain how to deploy a desktop application (azure or any other host) from start to end with everything included i dont mind paying for it

[@SørenBechChristensen]

Hi, great video - does this work well with Azure DevOps Pipelines?

[@IAmTimCorey]

It can, yes.

[@Raefipourfans]

hello sir . iam using wpf core , and i want create appx package with The Windows Application Packaging, i have a .txt file in my application. when i create my appx and install it, i get error, because for the text file. the error is this : your text file is not find !! how should i add my text file to the Windows Application Packaging?

[@FreyClante]

Hi @Tim Corey --> Is this method also applicable to a .Net 4.x WPF app and can it be build that way in Azure DevOps? Or how would you go about that?

[@IAmTimCorey]

Yes, it can. I don't have any demos showing that off, though.

[@ahmadalbaz6059]

thank you for the effort Tim i have a question though will this work if i want to install a windows service? thanks already

[@IAmTimCorey]

No, since installing a service is a PC-changing event and MSIX files want to be isolated changes that can be fully undone. MSIX is for desktop apps.

[@techdeceptive]

@@IAmTimCorey Hello, but what if our application is using Windows Service to run or may be create Service to accomplish any task. So is it support in MSIX package? Please reply.

[@anthonywoods2550]

Gonna try to solve the 1 error in MSIX file for manifest file. I like the way MSIX installer works. Gonna try to stick with it. I will try to go to MSIX community to get help with this error.

[@IAmTimCorey]

Yep, they should be able to help.

[@DJone4one]

Nice. How i can make this with a Database Application? Their need a root standard path to connection between the app and the Database. How i know where is the path or the standard path to install this Application and the Database.

[@rodrigo6459]

Tim.. this video was JUST was i was looking for, but i have a little problem here... with the current virus lockups here in my country we are all working from home, we always had a very.. VERY small infrastucture which is now not working since we moved out of the office and changed from On-Site working to home-working, now... how can i do EXACTLY what you did here but instead of publishg to a local server i can have the ability to upload to... let's say a virtual machine running an ubuntu server with Apache so when the users run the app, it will look for updates on THAT server over the internet so i can push updates to their computers at home. Thanks a TON for all your valuable content!

[@IAmTimCorey]

This article and the ones below it might help: docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/msix/app-installer/installing-windows10-apps-web

[@rodrigo6459]

IAmTimCorey 😯 that was very good info!! Thnx!

[@jpboy1962]

Excellent. Thank you. ClickOnce deployment does not let you move the installation location after the package is built. For example I have an app that I want to give to my clients that they can place in their S3 bucket based web site to deploy the app and get updates. ClickOnce does not allow this as the update location is signed along with everything else. Squirrel allows this but it appears to be a dead project now. Does MSIX support moving the install location after the package is built?

[@IAmTimCorey]

Squirrel is not dead (it almost died but was revived). As for MSIX, no it does not allow you to choose your installation location. Installers are going away from this because doing so means that uninstalling your application might leave artifacts behind.

[@jpboy1962]

@@IAmTimCorey In the words of Magic Max it is "mostly dead". ;) As for my question, I used the wrong word. Not installation location but deployment location or install-from location. I have spend the last 2 days implementing MSIX for one of my apps and I answered my own question: yes you can change the location after the package has been built. All thanks to your great video!

[@dangerzonee465]

Thank you for video. I was wondering if the automated process and deployment through azure dev ops was out yet?

[@IAmTimCorey]

I haven't completed this for MSIX yet. I just did something similar in TimCo with just the self-contained EXE file.

[@thorduffin4485]

Always love your videos, Tim! However, I have a question/issue that I am stuck on. I set the "Installer Location" (as directed by the video) to, in my case, "C:\mydir1\mydir2" It get's ignored, but the file installs. I couldn't find where, and finally learned that it was put into "Program Files\WindowsApps". I've spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out what I need to change to get it to install where I told it to. Any help from you or your audience would be great.

[@IAmTimCorey]

That's not really what MSIX does. It is designed to be installed as a Windows App. Custom installation locations are more for MSI installers. MSIX installers are meant to be self-contained and easy to uninstall. That means a central installation location.

[@olamas92]

@@IAmTimCorey 👌 ok

[@natalyalmassry6775]

Hello Tim, Thank you for the video! It is very helpful I have one question. Is there a way to automatically uninstall the older version of the application before installing the new version?

[@IAmTimCorey]

This way updates the application. There isn't a way to uninstall fully and then install a new, fresh version.

[@natalyalmassry6775]

@@IAmTimCorey thank you so much for your help!

[@keithprice3369]

I watched your older video about Squirrel installer app. Do you now prefer MSIX over that? Or do they each have scenarios where they're better suited?

[@ВиталийГвоздев-в7в]

Squirrel not working with .net core projects

[@IAmTimCorey]

They each have their benefits and uses. I personally prefer Squirrel projects because they are simpler in some ways.

[@IAmTimCorey]

Yes it does work with .NET Core. It appears to use .NET Framework but that is just old naming that hasn't been fixed. It doesn't rely on .NET at all. You can deploy anything you want, including non-.NET projects.

[@drewfyre7693]

Very nice video! So how does the installation process on the clients pc actually work? Which files do I send him? How can I deploy the installation files to say an FTP server so that it can always check for updates? If I just deploy it locally on my machine how will it check for updates when my PC is offline.

[@IAmTimCorey]

If you are just having them install once, you could send them the msixbundle file. If you want them to have the ability to update the application, you would point them to the appinstaller file and make sure you transfer all of the files and folders to that same location. Ideally, you FTP these files to a web server that hosts your index.html page that has the link to your installer. As far as checking for updates offline, that is not possible. You need to be connected to the location where your updates are in order to get those updates.

[@drewfyre7693]

@@IAmTimCorey Alright thank you for that answer. One more question, how about obfuscating your app? We develop business apps for internal use which often have to be obfuscated so that they cant be reverse engineered. Currently we are using Babel Obfuscator for this. Is there any way to handle obfuscation with VS?

[@martinrj30]

@@drewfyre7693 great question - I'm also in the same boat. I was thinking of creating an azure secure storage solution and require users to oauth register/authorize through azure AD, then retrieve any secrets. RE: Distribution: I have put the files on our webserver (needed a web.config update), but the trick is knowing the URL of the file/folder when creating the packages and putting it in the 'output location'.

[@harishkumarp87]

How to uninstall the app from the startup not using control panel to uninstall? Can u help me !!

[@dhiliph98]

Hey Tim, really a nice tut.. Thanks a lot.. I have one question. Is it possible to distribute updates over GitHub, IIS or S3 Buckets? Like something we have in Squirrel.Windows?

[@IAmTimCorey]

It is possible to do that, yes. You can put that updates folder in a web-accessible location to distribute your updates.

[@dhiliph98]

@@IAmTimCorey Thank You for the clarification Tim.. Have a great day :)

[@sergiomc]

Hi, great video and tutorial!!! I tried with a APP on Net Framework 4.5, but I get an error, than it needs Net 4.6.1 version minimal... is there a way to make it work on 4.5 ? Thank you !!

[@IAmTimCorey]

I don't believe so. Sorry.

[@djelasrca8091]

What if i want to add the notification that new update is available and if user clicks update app to update it? So user opens the app and sees the notification and if he wants to click it updates but if not he can use the old version

[@IAmTimCorey]

That is possible, but I don't have a demo showing off how to do it.

[@Chiramisudo]

31:12 Is there anyway to make the application update immediately rather then the next launch?

[@IAmTimCorey]

You can write some custom code to check for the update, and then restart the application automatically.

[@ibrahimhussain3248]

Is it possible to use sqlcmd with the installer? To execute database publish scripts generated by ssdt projects? Or something similar?

[@IAmTimCorey]

With the installer? No. Later through your application itself? Yes, that is possible.

[@brianpacheco3297]

Could MSIX be used to bypass license screens or certain "click through" dialog boxes users need to click on in order to automate package deployment?

[@dotnetdevni]

Can it install SQL Express on the client or would u not recomend that route if deploying to windows store?

[@IAmTimCorey]

No, it can't because it is designed to be self-contained so that removal is easy.

[@sakethravirala7912]

Thanks for the video. Can you tell me how the Google Chrome installer works? Just by a single click, how it installs and is there any way to change settings for Chrome like the installation path, etc. How an applications like Chrome are bundled? Thanks in advance.

[@IAmTimCorey]

There isn't really a Chrome installer. It is just a simple web page that launches the "real" installer. You can see that by opening up the page that it creates in an editor.

[@sakethravirala7912]

@@IAmTimCorey How to create an installer which installs an application just on a single click? The chrome "real" installer doesn't have any user input but installs in the system.

[@IAmTimCorey]

That's an apples and oranges comparison, though. When you are installing a Chrome extension, you are adding on to an already-installed application (Chrome). In our case, we are installing a brand new application. There isn't a way to make that process quicker unless you changed to a different installer mechanism like Squirrel: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWm0pmengq-snpY

[@shelleycurrie764]

would you perform the same process if you were going to create an installer with a SQL Server database. Do you have a video for this Tim ?

[@IAmTimCorey]

No, if you are going to install a SQL Server database, you would use a different process. Probably I would recommend using a DevOps pipeline (CI/CD). I demo that in the TimCo Retail Manager series. You typically don't install a SQL database for desktop applications, though. You typically have one central database that all of the desktop applications use.

[@Fragmaster777]

Can you add SQL Server Express as prerequisite in UWP installer? or any kind of prerequisite? I know it is possible to use connection string with localdb and SQL Server Express and it works but then do I need to tell my client to install SQL server manually on their own?

[@IAmTimCorey]

I don't believe so with MSIX. You would need a more customizable installer system for that.

[@erikjansen9149]

thnx. very usefull. But my next question is, do I have any influence on the installing process? e.g. define the destination location of specific files? My app prescribes these locations.

[@IAmTimCorey]

No you do not. The installer needs to have the ability to completely uninstall the app so it retains control over what gets installed where. It is all installed inside of a sandbox.