How do I check that a browser has ClickOnce enabled?

Question

How do I check that a browser has ClickOnce enabled?

Robert Barnes 101

My software, [https://jazzsoftware.co.nz/], is written with VB.Net, and is delivered with ClickOnce. I've tried to make it very clear in the relevant web pages and the setup instructions [https://www.jazzsoftware.co.nz/Docs/JazzSetup.htm] that users wanting to download MUST use a browser enabled for ClickOnce, and Setup includes instructions on how to enable this in Edge. Yet it is very common for users to require several download attempts before they succeed (or give up?)

How can I check that the user's browser has ClickOnce enabled? If I could do this as the first step when they clicked [Download] I could provide a better experience and hopefully a higher success rate.

Thank you, Robert

Albert Kallal 5,591 Reputation points

2024-10-12T16:46:24.55+00:00

You really can't know or mess or determine much at all in regards to what computer the user has, what OS or even what browser. All of these things are by design for security sandboxed from a web server. Web servers can't determine my computer, what folders or even what files I have. So, really, you don't have any kind of control over this issue. If a browser could poke around and determine settings on my computer, then I would not use that browser, nor would anyone else. I would consider setting up and building a installer for the application. And I would add a wee bit of code that on startup of the application, it could check for updates. Of course, using click-once suggests this is some type of locked down corporate environment, but without additional details, I would be guessing here. I thus would consider creating a install package - even a free one like Inno installer can handle most typical software installs for you, and thus they would have a single download location - even a web based download. So, trying to determine what browser, what os, what settings on a end user's computer? From a browser you simply don't have such options - and as noted, if you did, then few if anyone would adopt and use such a browser.
Lan Huang-MSFT 30,206 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2024-10-28T02:24:50.5933333+00:00

Hi @Robert Barnes,

May I know if you have got any chance to check my reply? It will be great if you can share more detailed information for us to better investigate this issue. Thanks for your cooperation.

2 answers

Your answer

Albert Kallal 5,591 Reputation points

2024-10-12T16:46:24.55+00:00

You really can't know or mess or determine much at all in regards to what computer the user has, what OS or even what browser. All of these things are by design for security sandboxed from a web server. Web servers can't determine my computer, what folders or even what files I have. So, really, you don't have any kind of control over this issue. If a browser could poke around and determine settings on my computer, then I would not use that browser, nor would anyone else. I would consider setting up and building a installer for the application. And I would add a wee bit of code that on startup of the application, it could check for updates. Of course, using click-once suggests this is some type of locked down corporate environment, but without additional details, I would be guessing here. I thus would consider creating a install package - even a free one like Inno installer can handle most typical software installs for you, and thus they would have a single download location - even a web based download. So, trying to determine what browser, what os, what settings on a end user's computer? From a browser you simply don't have such options - and as noted, if you did, then few if anyone would adopt and use such a browser.
Lan Huang-MSFT 30,206 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2024-10-28T02:24:50.5933333+00:00

Hi @Robert Barnes,

May I know if you have got any chance to check my reply? It will be great if you can share more detailed information for us to better investigate this issue. Thanks for your cooperation.

Answer 1

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Answer 2

Lan Huang-MSFT 30,206 Microsoft External Staff

Hi @Robert Barnes,

For all Windows users, ClickOnce is supported out of the box.

To check whether ClickOnce is enabled, go to edge://flags/#edge-click-once and select Enable from the drop-down list. You must restart the browser.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/deployedge/edge-learn-more-co-di User's image

Best regards,
Lan Huang

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Robert Barnes 101 Reputation points

2025-07-24T19:32:47.9933333+00:00

I know how to do this with my own browser, and my setup instructions give instructions about how a user can do this for themselves. What I want to do is to detect that the user's browser is not ClickOnce enabled, and produce and appropriate message directing them to the appropriate setup instructions.

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How do I check that a browser has ClickOnce enabled?

2 answers

Your answer