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We deploy our software in MSIX format and use the ms-appinstaller protocol to provide a one click install & configure link to our customers.
The link uses the documented format ms-appinstaller:?source=<download uri to msix>&activationUri=<configuration parameters>
This has been working well in Windows 10 22H1 and Windows 11.
The protocol appears to have been disabled without any announcement from Microsoft since 13th December 2023.
The app installer shows reason: "The ms-appinstaller protocol has been disabled. Please ask the vendor to update the weblink."
Why has this feature been disabled & when will it be restored?
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I opened an issue here on Dec 14, 2023, to report this, since it has a huge impact on enterprise use:
https://github.com/microsoft/winget-cli/issues/3976
The cause is update 1.21.3421.0 of Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller from Dec 12, 2023, which disables the protocol without apparent reason.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(70.4, 54%, 16%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EFK%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Fix when Microsoft pls. At least a statement...
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"Note: (not recommended) Customers that must use the ms-appinstaller protocol can still use the App Installer by setting the Group Policy Enable MSAppInstallerProtocol to ENABLED."
You will need to download and install the group policy here:
https://download.microsoft.com/download/d/3/5/d35c060c-d402-4a9c-ad40-234ad5e4d2e8/DesktopAppInstallerPolicies.zip
See: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/microsoft-now-lets-you-enable-the-windows-app-installer-again-heres-how/
This is an apparently older policy that MS claims is the current one, but it's missing the MSAppInstallerProtocol (Microsoft Mistake...?):
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=103034
Finally, also Critical TYPO on this page: https://msrc.microsoft.com/blog/2023/12/microsoft-addresses-app-installer-abuse/
TYPO / ERROR: "Note: (not recommended) Customers that must use the ms-appinstaller protocol can still use the App Installer by setting the Group Policy EnableMSAppInstallerProtocol to Disabled."
REQUIRED CORRECTION: "Note: (not recommended) Customers that must use the ms-appinstaller protocol can still use the App Installer by setting the Group Policy EnableMSAppInstallerProtocol to ENABLED."
I reported the errors to Microsoft.