MSIX : The Future of Universal App Format and Application Management — In Depth (Part 2)
Practical Approach
If you have not yet read Part 1 of this series, I recommend to go through it here.
In this article we will be learning about below topics :
· Pre-requisite before installing MSIXPackaging Tool
· Installing and Creating MSIXformat packages with MSIxPT.
· Learning about MSIX formatted application Behaviors.
· Questions you need to think and seek answer.
Pre-requisites :
Windows 10 with Developer Mode checked(Screenshot below)

Certificate to sign the MSIx Formatted Application. This can be realized by creating a self-signed certificate through PowerShell.
Use below PowerShell cmdlet to create a new certificate, then create password and export the Certificate that we register for the users to whom the application would be deployed.
Step 1 : Create Certificate
New-SelfSignedCertificate -Type Custom -Subject “CN=Contoso Software, O=Contoso Corporation, C=US” -KeyUsage DigitalSignature -FriendlyName <Your Friendly Name> -CertStoreLocation “Cert:\LocalMachine\My”

Step 2 : Create Password and Export the Certificate
$pwd = ConvertTo-SecureString — String Aman123 — Force — AsPlainText
Export-PfxCertificate -cert “Cert:\LocalMachine\My\<Certificate Thumbprint>” -FilePath AmanPackaging.pfx -Password $pwd

After exporting the certificate to PFX import this one also in the Trusted Root Certification Authorities. This is needed on the MSIX machine to package the software if you are not deploying via intune or SCCM.

Step 3 : Download and install MSIX from Windows Store

New features:
- Device Guard signing is now available. This signing option requires an active Microsoft Azure Active Directory account configured for the Microsoft Store for Business. For more information, see this article.
- The Package editor now supports the ability to select multiple items on which to perform an action.
- Right-click to edit an MSIX package is now supported.
- Ux improvements for the packaging workflow.
After installation Launch the MSIX Packaging Tool and below Windows Box will appear

Step 4 : Create MSIx Package
Select Application Package and check create package on this computer

Click Next

At this Step MSIX tool will install required Drivers if not already installed and Disable Windows Update if not already Disabled to make the system as clean as possible during the Packaging Process.
Click Next

We have downloaded a Google Chrome msi for this tutorial to package it into msiX Format.
Also note the Signing Preference, We will be using our Self-Singed Certificate here to Sign the MSIx Application.
Fill the Required options and Click Next.


Click Next

- This is installation phase where the tool is monitoring and capturing the application install operations.
- The tool will launch the installer in the Virtual Machine Window that it opened in an earlier stage and you’ll need to go through the installer wizard to install the application.
- Make sure the installation path matches what was defined earlier in the package information page.
- You’ll need to create a shortcut in desktop for the newly installed application.
- Once you’re done with the application installation wizard, make sure you finish or close on the installation wizard.
- If you need to run multiple installers you can do that manually at this point.
- If the app needs other pre-reqs, you need to install them now.
- If the application needs .Net 3.5/20, add the optional feature to Windows.
- When you’ve completed installing the application, click Next.

Entry points are basically referring to the shourtcut created through which application runs.


The Tool will examine the Changes from initial State to Final State of the OS and Create the MSIx Package.

Let’s Uninstall msi and Install Google Chrome MSIx.

Click on MSIx package to launch and Click Install



This is pretty much straight forward process of creating package with msiX.
Learning about MSIX formatted application Behaviors
MSIx Application Don't Create Entries in Add and Remove Program like earlier Applications used to do.
MSIx applications Creates Entry under APP and Features.

To Uninstall MSIx Packages we can do it from APPs and Features or from the Entry Point as shown below

App-V/Msi Package contains desktop shortcut but once converted to MSIX, shortcut does not appear.
Not much info is available as of now on Silent install/Uninstall Switches but the Package is itself very silent and a One Click Installer.
Let me know in comment section if you have found more Behaviors that needs to be included in your testings.
When Will I Start Seeing MSIX Files?
It might be a while before you see an MSIX file. Microsoft is still fine-tuning some of the promised capabilities and, until recently, only Insider builds of Windows 10 could create an MSIX package.
Even after fine tuning, developers and the installer technology providers they rely on will need to embrace, learn, and deploy the new package. That’s if they choose to at all; developers are free to continue creating EXE and MSI installers if they prefer. Adoption of a new format comes with risk and cost, so developers must weigh that against the benefits.
Always Remember, “Change is the only constant thing that has happened to this world so far”
Questions you need to think and answer
We don’t see the MSIX package in Programs and Features. Does that mean sooner or later Microsoft is going to purge Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features ?
How to handle plugins in MSIX (e.g. Office plugins, IE plugins)? Should it always be bundled with the core package?
Comment what you would like to see in Third part of the series. Till then, have an Awesome Day ahead!
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