Set up MSIX app attach with the Azure portal

This article will walk you through how to set up MSIX app attach in a Azure Virtual Desktop environment.

Requirements

Here's what you need to configure MSIX app attach:

• A functioning Azure Virtual Desktop deployment. To learn how to deploy Azure Virtual Desktop (classic), see Create a tenant in Azure Virtual Desktop. To learn how to deploy Azure Virtual Desktop with Azure Resource Manager integration, see Create a host pool with the Azure portal.
• An Azure Virtual Desktop host pool with at least one active session host.
• The MSIX packaging tool.
• An MSIX-packaged application expanded into an MSIX image that's uploaded into a file share.
• A file share in your Azure Virtual Desktop deployment where the MSIX package will be stored.
• The file share where you uploaded the MSIX image must also be accessible to all virtual machines (VMs) in the host pool. Users will need read-only permissions to access the image.
• All MSIX application packages include a certificate. You're responsible for making sure the certificates for MSIX applications are trusted in your environment.

Turn off automatic updates for MSIX app attach applications

Before you get started, it is a best practice to disable automatic updates for MSIX app attach applications. To disable automatic updates, you'll need to run the following commands in an elevated command prompt, or you can also deploy the code to the session hosts through Group Policy:

rem Disable Store auto update:

reg add HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsStore /v AutoDownload /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f
Schtasks /Change /Tn "\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\Scheduled Start" /Disable

rem Disable Content Delivery auto download apps that they want to promote to users:

reg add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ContentDeliveryManager /v PreInstalledAppsEnabled /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ContentDeliveryManager\Debug /v ContentDeliveryAllowedOverride /t REG_DWORD /d 0x2 /f

Add an MSIX image to the host pool

Next you'll need to add the MSIX image to your host pool.

To add the MSIX image:

1. Open the Azure portal.

2. Enter Azure Virtual Desktop into the search bar, then select the service name.

3. Select the host pool where you plan to put the MSIX apps.

4. Select MSIX packages to open the data grid with all MSIX packages currently added to the host pool.

5. Select + Add to open the Add MSIX package tab.

6. In the Add MSIX package tab, enter the following values:

   • For MSIX image path, enter a valid UNC path pointing to the MSIX image on the file share. (For example, \\storageaccount.file.core.windows.net\msixshare\appfolder\MSIXimage.vhd.) When you're done, select Add to interrogate the MSIX container to check if the path is valid.

   • For MSIX package, select the relevant MSIX package name from the drop-down menu. This menu will only be populated if you've entered a valid image path in MSIX image path.

   • For Package applications, make sure the list contains all MSIX applications you want to be available to users in your MSIX package.

   • Optionally, enter a Display name if you want your package to have a more user-friendly in your user deployments.

   • Make sure the Version has the correct version number.

   • Select the Registration type you want to use. Which one you use depends on your needs:

   • On-demand registration postpones the full registration of the MSIX application until the user starts the application. This is the registration type we recommend you use.

   • Log on blocking only registers while the user is signing in. We don't recommend this type because it can lead to longer sign-in times for users.

7. For State, select your preferred state.

   • The Active status lets users interact with the package.
   • The Inactive status causes Azure Virtual Desktop to ignore the package and not deliver it to users.

8. When you're done, select Add.

Publish MSIX apps to an application group

Next, you'll need to publish the apps to an application group. You'll need to do this for both desktop and remote app application groups.

To publish the apps:

1. In the Azure Virtual Desktop resource provider, select the Application groups tab.

2. Select the application group you want to publish the apps to.

   Note

   MSIX applications can be delivered with MSIX app attach to both remote app and desktop app groups. When a MSIX package is assigned to a remote app group and desktop app group from the same host pool the desktop app group will be displayed in the feed.

3. Once you're in the app group, select the Applications tab. The Applications grid will display all existing apps within the app group.

4. Select + Add to open the Add application tab.

   

5. For Application source, choose the source for your application.

   • If you're using a Desktop app group, choose MSIX package.

     

   • If you're using a remote app group, choose one of the following options:

     • Start menu
     • App path
     • MSIX package

   • For Application name, enter a descriptive name for the application.

   You can also configure the following optional features:

   • For Display name, enter a new name for the package that your users will see.

   • For Description, enter a short description of the app package.

   • If you're using a remote app group, you can also configure these options:

     • Icon path
     • Icon index

6. When you're done, select Save.

Assign a user to an app group

After assigning MSIX apps to an app group, you'll need to grant users access to them. You can assign access by adding users or user groups to an app group with published MSIX applications. Follow the instructions in Manage app groups with the Azure portal to assign your users to an app group.

Change MSIX package state

Next, you'll need to change the MSIX package state to either Active or Inactive, depending on what you want to do with the package. Active packages are packages your users can interact with once they're published. Inactive packages are ignored by Azure Virtual Desktop, so your users can't interact with the apps inside.

Change state with the Applications list

To change the package state with the Applications list:

1. Go to your host pool and select MSIX packages. You should see a list of all existing MSIX packages within the host pool.

2. Select the MSIX packages whose states you need to change, then select Change state.

Change state with update package

To change the package state with an update package:

1. Go to your host pool and select MSIX packages. You should see a list of all existing MSIX packages within the host pool.

2. Select the name of the package whose state you want to change from the MSIX package list. This will open the Update package tab.

3. Toggle the State switch to either Inactive or Active, then select Save.

Change MSIX package registration type

To change the package's registration type:

1. Select MSIX packages. You should see a list of all existing MSIX packages within the host pool.

2. Select Package name in the MSIX packages grid this will open the blade to update the package.

3. Toggle the Registration type via the On-demand/Log on blocking button as desired and select Save.

Remove an MSIX package

To remove an MSIX package from your host pool:

1. Select MSIX packages. You should see a list of all existing MSIX packages within the host pool.

2. Select the ellipsis on the right side the name of the package you want to delete, then select Remove.

Remove MSIX apps

To remove individual MSIX apps from your package:

1. Go to the host pool and select Application groups.

2. Select the application group you want to remove MSIX apps from.

3. Open the Applications tab.

4. Select the app you want to remove, then select Remove.

Next steps

Ask our community questions about this feature at the Azure Virtual Desktop TechCommunity.

You can also leave feedback for Azure Virtual Desktop at the Azure Virtual Desktop feedback hub.

Here are some other articles you might find helpful:

• MSIX app attach glossary
• MSIX app attach FAQ