If you run a setup file to install a program on your Windows 11 or Windows 10 computer and you receive a message – This installation package could not be opened, Contact the application vendor to verify that this is a valid Windows Installer package, then this post may be able to help you.
This installation package could not be opened
If you receive a “This installation package could not be opened” message, here are a few things you can do to fix this error:
- Check the setup file
- Re-download the setup file
- Unblock the file
- Temporarily disable security software
- Change the download location
- Use an Admin account
- Check for Windows Update
- Re-register the Windows Installer engine
- Check the status of the Windows Installer Service.
Let us take a look at these suggestions.
1] Check the setup file
Check if the setup file is meant for your system architecture – 32-Bit or 64-Bit. You can check your system architecture by following the steps provided below:
- Open your system settings.
- Go to System > About.
- Expand the Device Specifications tab.
You will see your system architecture there.
2] Re-download the setup file
Maybe the download was interrupted or got corrupted. Clear your browser cache, re-download the setup, and see if it works. You can clear your web browser cache by pressing the Ctrl + Shift + Delete keys. This will open the Clear browsing data window in your web browser, where you can easily delete the cache and cookie data.
3] Unblock the file
Right-click on the .exe file, select Properties, and then select the Unblock checkbox – if the file has been blocked, to unlock the file. You will find the Unblock option under the General tab. After selecting the Unblock checkbox, click Apply and then click OK.
4] Temporarily disable security software
It is possible that your security software is conflicting with the installer file and preventing your system from installing the software. We suggest you disable your security software temporarily and see if that helps. Sometimes, antivirus software generates false positive flags and blocks the genuine files. This can be the case with you.
This action will make your computer vulnerable to threats. Therefore, there is a risk of malware infection. So do this only if you totally trust the downloaded package. Or, you can scan the installer file with your antivirus software. If the file is clean, you can continue with this fix. Additionally, you can also scan the installer file on free cloud antivirus programs, such as VirusTotal.
If you are using Microsoft Defender, either turn it off or disable its Controlled Folder Access feature. The Controlled Folder Access feature in Microsoft Defender protects your system against Ransomware. Therefore, whether turning this feature off resolves the issue or not, do not forget to enable this feature again.
5] Change the download location
If you saved the setup file on a Network, you may get to see this message. Save it to your local computer and run and then run the installer file. Now, check if the error occurs this time.
6] Use an Admin account
Maybe Administrator rights are required for the installation of that software. So, then either log in to an Administrator account or create a new Administrator account. Log into the Administrator account, and then run the Installer package.
We also suggest you run the installer file with administrative privileges. To do so, right-click on the installer file and select Run as administrator.
7] Check for Windows Update
Microsoft recommends users to keep their systems up to date. This is because the latest Windows Update not only contains fixes for bugs but also contains the latest security patches. We suggest you check for Windows Update manually. If an update is available, download and install it.
8] Re-register the Windows Installer engine
You may also want to consider re-registering the Windows Installer engine. To do so, open Command Prompt, type the following, and hit Enter:
msiexec /unregister
Now to register it again, type the following and hit Enter.
msiexec /regserver
9] Check the status of the Windows Installer Service
Run services.msc to open the Services Manager and check the status of the Windows Installer Service or msiexec.exe process. Its Startup style should be set to Manual, by default.
Windows Installer Service Adds, modifies, and removes applications provided as a Windows Installer (*.msi, *.msp) package. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Double-click on Windows Installer to open its Properties box and then click on the Start button to start the service. Click on the Start button Now run the setup and see if that helps.
If the Windows Installer Service is already running, its status will show you Running. In this case, you can restart the service and see if it helps. To do so, right-click on the Windows Installer service and select Restart.
That’s it. I hope this helps.
Why is Windows 11 not installing anything?
Sometimes, a minor glitch causes installation issues on Windows 11. You can restart your system and see if it works. In some cases, the security software prevents Windows 11 from installing software. You can turn off your security software temporarily and see if you can install the software this time. You can also try running the affected installer file with administrative rights.
How do I allow Windows 11 to install software?
If Windows 11 is not installing software, make sure that the installer file is not corrupted, We suggest you download the installer file again from its official website. Also, check Windows 11 Settings. Open your system settings and go to Apps > Advanced app settings. Select Anywhere in the Choose where to get apps drop-down.
See this post if Windows Installer Service can not be accessed and this one if you receive Windows might be installed in an unsupported directory message.
Related reads:
- There is a problem with this Windows Installer package
- Please wait until the current program is finished uninstalling or being changed
- Another installation is already in progress.
Let us know if anything worked for you or if you have other suggestions.
