How to integrate UWP apps from the Microsoft Store in the ISO image file for Windows and make them available to all users as system pre-installed apps?

Question

For example, integrate the UWP application of Microsoft Remote Desktop into a system pre-installed application?

Answer 1

Hi,

As of my knowledge, there was no built-in or officially supported way to directly integrate UWP apps from the Microsoft Store into the ISO image for Windows and have them installed as system pre-installed apps for all users during the initial Windows setup. However, I can guide you on how to deploy UWP apps for all users after installing Windows.

To achieve this, you can create a custom Windows image with the UWP apps you want pre-installed and then deploy that image to multiple devices. Here's a high-level overview of the process:

Prepare the UWP App for Deployment:

• You'll need the .appx or .appxbundle package of the UWP app you want to include in the image. You can obtain this package by downloading the app from the Microsoft Store using the Microsoft Store for Business or Developer account.

Create a Custom Windows Image:

• Use Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (Windows ADK) to create an answer file (unattend.xml) that includes the commands to install the UWP app during the Windows setup process.
• Use the Deployment Image Servicing and Management Tool (DISM) to mount a Windows image and add the UWP app package to it.

Apply the Custom Image:

• Use the customized Windows image (install.wim) to deploy Windows to your target devices. You can use tools like Windows Deployment Services (WDS) or Windows Imaging and Configuration Designer (ICD) for this purpose.

1. App Provisioning (Optional):

• If you want the UWP app to be automatically installed for all users when they first sign in, you can use the "Provisioned apps" feature. You need to create a provisioning package (using Windows Configuration Designer) and include the UWP app in it.

Answer 2

Certainly! Below is a detailed step-by-step process to integrate a UWP app into a custom Windows image and deploy it to target devices.

Step 1: Prepare the UWP App for Deployment

Obtain the UWP app package:

Sign in to the Microsoft Store for Business or the Microsoft Store for Developers.

Search for the UWP app you want to include in your custom image.

Click on the app, and in the app details page, click on "Get the app" to obtain the .appx or .appxbundle package.

Step 2: Create a Custom Windows Image

Download and install Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (Windows ADK) for Windows 10:

Download link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/get-started/adk-install

Create an answer file (unattend.xml) using Windows System Image Manager (SIM):

Launch Windows SIM from the Windows ADK installation directory.

Create a new answer file (File > New Answer File).

Add the necessary components to the answer file (e.g., product key, language settings, user accounts, etc.). You can also specify the UWP app installation settings.

Mount a Windows image using Deployment Image Servicing and Management Tool (DISM):

Open a Command Prompt as an administrator.

Mount the Windows image from the installation media or an existing .wim file. Replace "C:\Path\to\Install.wim" with the path to your Windows image file, and "X" with the index of the image you want to modify (usually 1).

dism /mount-wim /wimfile:C:\Path\to\Install.wim /index:X /mountdir:C:\Mount

Add the UWP app package to the Windows image:

Copy the .appx or .appxbundle package of the UWP app to a location within the mounted image (e.g., C:\Mount\MyApps).

Install the UWP app into the Windows image using the following command:

dism /image:C:\Mount /Add-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackagePath:C:\Mount\MyApps\YourUWPApp.appx

Step 3: Apply the Custom Image

Use the customized Windows image (Install.wim) to deploy Windows to target devices using your preferred deployment method (e.g., Windows Deployment Services, USB installation, etc.).

Step 4: App Provisioning (Optional)

If you want the UWP app to be automatically installed for all users when they first sign in, create a provisioning package using Windows Configuration Designer:

Download and install Windows Configuration Designer: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/configuration/provisioning-packages/provisioning-install-icd

Launch Windows Configuration Designer (ICD).

Create a new provisioning package project.

In the "Common" section, select "Provisioned Apps."

Click the "+" button and add the UWP app you want to provision.

Export the provisioning package (.ppkg).

Apply the provisioning package during the Windows setup process or after deployment using tools like DISM or Windows Configuration Designer.