What is MSIX packaging tool and why you need it
If you are looking for a modern way to package and deploy your desktop applications, you may want to check out the MSIX packaging tool. This is a tool that enables you to repackage your existing desktop applications (such as MSI, EXE, ClickOnce, or App-V) into the MSIX format, which is a Windows app package format that provides a modern packaging experience for all Windows apps.
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Some of the features and benefits of using the MSIX packaging tool are:
It offers both an interactive UI and a command line for conversions, giving you the flexibility and convenience to convert your applications without having access to the source code.
It creates reliable, secure, and efficient packages that can be installed on any Windows 10 device or published on the Microsoft Store.
It preserves the functionality of your existing app packages and/or install files while enabling new features such as network bandwidth optimization, disk space optimization, app updates, app uninstallation, etc.
It supports various types of desktop installers, including MSI, EXE, ClickOnce, App-V 5.x, custom scripts, or manual installation.
It allows you to create modification packages for your main application packages, which can be used to add or modify features or settings without changing the original package.
It enables you to open your MSIX packages and view or edit their content or properties using the package editor feature.
It provides troubleshooting tips and log files for every conversion, as well as an option to send feedback or report bugs using Feedback Hub.
It supports offline distribution of packages in enterprise scenarios using Microsoft Store for Business web portal.
In this article, we will show you how to set up your environment for MSIX packaging, how to use Hyper-V Quick Create to create a virtual environment for MSIX packaging, and how to troubleshoot and optimize your MSIX packaging process. Let's get started!
How to set up your environment for MSIX packaging
Before you can use the MSIX packaging tool to convert your desktop applications, you need to prepare your conversion environment. This is the machine or device where you will run the MSIX packaging tool and perform the conversion. There are three options for setting up your conversion environment:
Using a clean virtual machine (VM) that matches the minimum OS requirements of your application.
Using a remote machine that matches the minimum OS requirements of your application and has the MSIX packaging tool installed.
Using a local virtual machine that has the MSIX packaging tool environment pre-installed and configured.
The first option is recommended for most scenarios, as it ensures that your conversion environment is isolated from any other applications or settings that may interfere with the conversion process. However, it requires you to have a VM software (such as Hyper-V, VMware, or VirtualBox) and a Windows 10 ISO file to create and configure the VM.
The second option is useful if you have access to a remote machine that meets the requirements and has the MSIX packaging tool installed. You can connect to the remote machine using Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) and run the MSIX packaging tool from there. However, this option may have some limitations in terms of network bandwidth, latency, and security.
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The third option is convenient if you want to use a local virtual machine that has everything you need to start converting your applications. You can use Hyper-V Quick Create feature to create a VM with MSIX packaging tool environment pre-installed and configured. This option is fast, easy, and free, but it requires you to have Hyper-V enabled on your Windows 10 machine.
In this article, we will focus on the third option and show you how to use Hyper-V Quick Create to create a virtual environment for MSIX packaging.
How to use Hyper-V Quick Create to create a virtual environment for MSIX packaging
Hyper-V Quick Create is a feature that allows you to create a VM with a pre-configured operating system and applications in just a few clicks. You can choose from various options, such as Windows 10 development environment, Ubuntu desktop, or MSIX packaging tool environment. The latter option is what we will use in this article.
By using Hyper-V Quick Create, you can create a VM with the following features:
A Windows 10 Enterprise edition operating system with the latest updates.
The latest version of MSIX packaging tool and its prerequisites (such as Windows SDK).
A pre-configured firewall rule that allows RDP connections from the host machine.
A pre-configured network switch that connects the VM to the internet.
A pre-configured user account (Administrator) with no password.
To use Hyper-V Quick Create, you need to do two things: download and install Hyper-V Quick Create on your Windows 10 machine, and create a VM with MSIX packaging tool environment using Hyper-V Quick Create. We will explain how to do both in the following sections.
How to download and install Hyper-V Quick Create
Hyper-V Quick Create is available as a free app on the Microsoft Store. To download and install it, you need to have Hyper-V enabled on your Windows 10 machine. Hyper-V is a built-in feature that allows you to run virtual machines on your Windows 10 device. To enable Hyper-V, follow these steps:
Open the Start menu and type "Turn Windows features on or off". Click on the result that appears.
In the Windows Features dialog box, scroll down and check the box next to "Hyper-V". Click OK.
Wait for the installation process to complete. You may need to restart your computer.
Once you have enabled Hyper-V, you can download and install Hyper-V Quick Create from the Microsoft Store. To do so, follow these steps:
Open the Microsoft Store app on your Windows 10 machine.
In the search box, type "Hyper-V Quick Create" and press Enter.
Click on the app that appears in the search results. It should have a blue icon with a white lightning bolt.
Click on the Get button to download and install the app.
Wait for the installation process to complete. You may need to sign in with your Microsoft account.
How to create a VM with MSIX packaging tool environment using Hyper-V Quick Create
Once you have downloaded and installed Hyper-V Quick Create, you can use it to create a VM with MSIX packaging tool environment. To do so, follow these steps:
Open the Hyper-V Quick Create app from the Start menu or the Microsoft Store.
In the app window, you will see a list of available options for creating a VM. Select the one that says "MSIX packaging tool environment".
Click on the Create Virtual Machine button at the bottom of the window.
Wait for the download and creation process to complete. This may take some time depending on your internet speed and system performance.
Once the process is done, you will see a confirmation message that says "Your virtual machine is ready to go". Click on the Connect button to start the VM.
Congratulations! You have successfully created a VM with MSIX packaging tool environment using Hyper-V Quick Create. You can now use this VM to convert your desktop applications to MSIX packages.
How to start the MSIX packaging tool on the VM and convert your desktop applications
To start the MSIX packaging tool on the VM and convert your desktop applications, follow these steps:
After clicking on the Connect button, you will see a new window that shows the VM screen. You may need to sign in with the pre-configured user account (Administrator) with no password.
On the VM desktop, you will see a shortcut icon for the MSIX packaging tool. Double-click on it to launch the tool.
In the MSIX packaging tool window, you will see two options: Application package and Modification package. Select Application package if you want to create a new MSIX package for your desktop application. Select Modification package if you want to create a package that modifies an existing MSIX package.
Click on Next to proceed to the next step. You will see three options for selecting your installer: Browse for installer, Select from Store, or Manual installation. Select Browse for installer if you have a local installer file (such as MSI, EXE, ClickOnce, or App-V) for your desktop application. Select Select from Store if you want to convert an app that is already published on the Microsoft Store. Select Manual installation if you want to manually install your desktop application on the VM.
Click on Next to proceed to the next step. You will see a screen where you can specify the package information, such as package name, publisher name, version number, etc. You can also select an output location for your MSIX package and a signing option for your package. Fill in the required fields and click on Next.
The next step is to configure your package settings, such as capabilities, declarations, visual assets, etc. You can also add or remove files or registry entries from your package using the package editor feature. Click on Next when you are done.
The final step is to create your package. Click on Create to start the conversion process. Wait for the process to complete. You will see a message that says "Package creation completed successfully". Click on Finish to exit the tool.
You have successfully converted your desktop application to an MSIX package using the MSIX packaging tool on the VM. You can now test, deploy, or publish your MSIX package as you wish.
How to troubleshoot and optimize your MSIX packaging process
While using the MSIX packaging tool, you may encounter some issues or errors during conversion. You may also want to improve your MSIX packaging experience by applying some tips and tricks. In this section, we will show you how to troubleshoot and optimize your MSIX packaging process using some useful features and tools, such as log files, Feedback Hub, and Package Support Framework.
How to use log files to diagnose and fix errors during conversion
One of the most helpful features of the MSIX packaging tool is that it generates log files for every conversion that you perform. These log files contain detailed information about what happened during conversion, such as what actions were taken, what errors or warnings were encountered, what files or registry entries were added or removed, etc.
You can use these log files to diagnose and fix errors during conversion by following these steps:
Open File Explorer and navigate to %localappdata%\Microsoft\MSIX Packaging Tool\Logs folder. This is where all log files are stored by default.
In this folder, you will see subfolders named after each conversion that you performed. Each subfolder contains three log files: Installer.log, Packaging.log, and PackageEditor.log.Open the log file that corresponds to the step where you encountered the error. For example, if you encountered an error during the installer selection step, open the Installer.log file.
Look for the error message or code in the log file. You can use the search function (Ctrl+F) to find it quickly.
Read the error message or code and try to understand what caused it and how to fix it. You can also search online for more information or solutions for the error.
If you fixed the error, try to run the conversion again and see if it works. If not, you can contact Microsoft support or use Feedback Hub to report the bug.
By using log files, you can troubleshoot and fix errors during conversion and improve your MSIX packaging process.
How to send feedback and report bugs using Feedback Hub
Another useful feature of the MSIX packaging tool is that it allows you to send feedback and report bugs using Feedback Hub. Feedback Hub is an app that lets you share your feedback and suggestions with Microsoft and other users about Windows 10 and its features. You can also report problems or bugs that you encounter while using Windows 10 or its apps.
You can use Feedback Hub to send feedback and report bugs about MSIX packaging tool by following these steps:
Open the MSIX packaging tool and click on the Settings icon at the top right corner of the window.
In the Settings menu, click on Send feedback.
This will open the Feedback Hub app. You may need to sign in with your Microsoft account.
In the Feedback Hub app, click on Add new feedback at the top left corner of the window.
Select whether you want to send a suggestion or report a problem.
Fill in the required fields, such as title, description, category, subcategory, etc. You can also attach a screenshot or a file to your feedback.
Click on Submit to send your feedback.
By using Feedback Hub, you can help Microsoft improve MSIX packaging tool and its features by sharing your feedback and reporting bugs.
How to use Package Support Framework to apply runtime fixes to packaged apps
Sometimes, you may encounter some issues or errors with your packaged apps after converting them to MSIX format. For example, your app may not launch properly, display an error message, or behave differently than expected. This may happen because some of your app's features or functionalities are not compatible with MSIX format or Windows 10 platform.
In such cases, you can use Package Support Framework (PSF) to apply runtime fixes to your packaged apps. PSF is a toolkit that helps you fix common compatibility issues in your desktop applications when you don't have access to the source code. PSF works by injecting a custom library into your app's process at runtime and modifying its behavior according to your configuration.
You can use PSF to apply runtime fixes to your packaged apps by following these steps:
Download PSF from GitHub:
Extract the PSF files to a folder on your machine.
Open your MSIX package with the package editor feature of MSIX packaging tool.
Add the PSF files (such as PsfLauncher32.exe, PsfLauncher64.exe, PsfRuntime.dll, etc.) to your package's root folder.
Edit your package's AppxManifest.xml file and change the Executable attribute of the Application element to point to PsfLauncher32.exe or PsfLauncher64.exe depending on your app's architecture.
Add a new element named Extensions under the Application element and add a new element named DesktopAppMigration under Extensions. Set the Executable attribute of DesktopAppMigration element to point to your original app's executable file.Create a new file named config.json in your package's root folder and add the PSF configuration settings for your app. You can use the PSF documentation and samples to learn how to configure PSF for different scenarios.
Save and close your package's AppxManifest.xml and config.json files.
Re-sign your package with a valid certificate.
Test your package and see if the PSF fixes have resolved the issues or errors with your app.
By using PSF, you can apply runtime fixes to your packaged apps and make them compatible with MSIX format and Windows 10 platform.
Conclusion and FAQs
In this article, we have learned what MSIX packaging tool is and why you need it, how to set up your environment for MSIX packaging, how to use Hyper-V Quick Create to create a virtual environment for MSIX packaging, and how to troubleshoot and optimize your MSIX packaging process. We hope that this article has helped you understand how to use MSIX packaging tool and Hyper-V Quick Create to convert your desktop applications to MSIX packages.
Here are some frequently asked questions about MSIX packaging tool and Hyper-V Quick Create:
Q: What are the system requirements for MSIX packaging tool?
A: To use MSIX packaging tool, you need a Windows 10 machine with version 1809 or later, 4 GB of RAM, 10 GB of free disk space, and an internet connection. You also need to enable the Windows optional features: Windows Developer Mode, Windows Hypervisor Platform, and Containers.
Q: What are the advantages of using Hyper-V Quick Create over other VM software?
A: Hyper-V Quick Create is a fast, easy, and free way to create a VM with MSIX packaging tool environment pre-installed and configured. You don't need to download or install any additional software or files. You can also access the latest version of MSIX packaging tool and its updates without having to manually update the VM.
Q: How can I update the MSIX packaging tool on the VM created by Hyper-V Quick Create?
A: You can update the MSIX packaging tool on the VM by following these steps:
Start the VM and sign in with the Administrator account.
Open the Microsoft Store app on the VM.
In the search box, type "MSIX packaging tool" and press Enter.
Click on the app that appears in the search results. It should have a blue icon with a white box.
If there is an update available for the app, you will see an Update button. Click on it to download and install the update.
Wait for the update process to complete. You may need to restart the app or the VM.
Q: How can I transfer files between my host machine and the VM created by Hyper-V Quick Create?
A: You can transfer files between your host machine and the VM by using one of these methods:
<ul Using the clipboard. You can copy and paste text or files between your host machine and the VM using the clipboard. To do so, you need to enable the Enhanced Session Mode on your Hyper-V settings and on the VM settings.
Using a shared folder. You can create a shared folder on your host machine or on a network location and access it from the VM. To do so, you need to enable the Guest Services on the VM settings and add a shared folder on the VM settings.
Using a USB drive. You can connect a USB drive to your host machine and attach it to the VM. To do so, you need to enable the Enhanced Session Mode on your Hyper-V settings and on the VM settings, and select the USB device from the VM window toolbar.
Q: How can I delete the VM created by Hyper-V Quick Create?
A: You can delete the VM created by Hyper-V Quick Create by following these steps:
Open the Hyper-V Manager app from the Start menu or the Control Panel.
In the left pane, select your host machine name.
In the right pane, select the VM that you want to delete. It should have a name that starts with "Quick Create -".
Right-click on the VM and select Delete.
Confirm that you want to delete the VM and its associated files.
Wait for the deletion process to complete.
You have successfully deleted the VM created by Hyper-V Quick Create. 44f88ac181
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