The MSIXbundle comes with great benefits over having different MSIX packages for specific architectures. It is a more scalable way to distribute your applications. One way to install MSIXBundle is by using Windows PowerShell. The bundle allows PowerShell to install the resources compatible with and targeted for your PC’s specific system architecture. Once the MSIX packages are bundled together, you only need to specify the location or path of your distribution, and PowerShell will handle the rest.
In this article, we discuss how to install MSIXBundle using Windows PowerShell. Like Appx and AppxPackage, you can use MSIXBundle to sideload or install Windows apps from third-party clouds on your Windows computer. This is quite helpful for some apps not in the Microsoft Store. You can also use MSIXBundle to install Windows apps that show errors or when the servers are not responding.
What is an MSIXBundle and how do you open it?
An MSIXBundle is a Windows app package format used to distribute Universal Windows Platform (UWP) and desktop applications for Windows 11/10. It consists of various MSIX packages bundled together and can support specific architectures in your systems, such as x64, ARM, or x86. For instance, the MSIXBundle format allows users to have one MSIX package for two installer versions, x86, and x64; these are put together in one package called a bundle.
Users can open the MSIXBundle by decompressing the file using a PKZip utility program. Like other MSIX package formats, MSIXBundle is compressed in a PKZip file. Once you decompress the file, the MSIXBundle package resources are replaced by MSIX packages that are put together in a bundle. Let us now see how you can install the MSIX bundle using Windows PowerShell.
How to install MSIXBundle using PowerShell
If you continuously get errors when you try to install and run MSIXBundle on Windows, or you want to sideload MS Store apps on several computers, you can use PowerShell to run some commands as an administrator. To install MSIXBundle using PowerShell, use the following easy steps:
- On the Windows search box, type PowerShell and select Run as administrator.
- Copy and paste the following PowerShell command and then hit Enter to initiate app installation:
Add-AppxPackage -Path $AppFilePath
- Replace the AppFilePath with the MSIXBundle file path. You can get the file path by navigating to the MSIXBundle location, right-clicking on it, and then choosing Copy as path. An example will be like this:
Add-AppxPackage -Path C:\temp\filename.msixbundle
- Wait until the Windows PowerShell finishes the process, it will indicate the progress.
- You can now go to the Start menu and launch the app.
Earlier, we said that you could use the MSIX bundle to install third-party apps that are not in the Microsoft Store. You can follow the steps above, but you must first enable Developer Mode to allow you to install UWP programs from non-MS sites. Follow the steps below to enable the Developer Mode option:
- Go to the Windows Settings app and then select Privacy & Security.
- Select For Developers and toggle on the button next to Developer Mode.
We hope you can now install the MSIX bundle using Windows PowerShell.
Read: How to install unsigned .Appx app package using PowerShell
How do I install the MSIX packaging tool?
If you want to install the MSIX packaging tool, go to the Microsoft Store and then head to the description page, then select Install to start the process. However, ensure that the Microsoft account you are using is the same as the one for the Windows Insider Program. You can also download the MSIX packaging tool in the enterprise for offline use in the Microsoft Store for Business.
Read: The ms-appinstaller protocol has been disabled
How to install MSIX without the Microsoft Store?
To install an MSIX package without the Microsoft Store, you can use third-party sources like GitHub and then use Windows PowerShell to install it using the steps we discussed above. However, unless the app you want to install is completely missing from the store, installing MSIX from the MS Store is the best way to go.
