Microsoft Standard Installer Command-Line Options
Here are standard command-line options for the Microsoft Standard Installer (Msiexec.exe), the executable used to interpret packages and install products.
Command-line options are case insensitive.
Msiexec sets an error level on return that corresponds to System Error Codes.
Note
The command-line options that are identified in this topic are available beginning with Windows Installer 3.0. The Windows Installer Command-Line Options are available with Windows Installer 3.0 and earlier versions.
/help
Help and quick reference option. Displays the correct usage of the setup command including a list of all switches and behavior. The description of usage can be displayed in the user interface. Incorrect use of any option invokes this help option.
The equivalent Windows Installer Command-Line Option is: /?
.
Examples
Msiexec /help
.
/quiet
Quiet display option. The installer runs an installation without displaying a user interface. No prompts, messages, or dialog boxes are displayed to the user. The user cannot cancel the installation.
Use the /norestart
or /forcerestart
standard command-line options to control reboots. If no reboot options are specified, the installer restarts the computer whenever necessary without displaying any prompt or warning to the user.
The equivalent Windows Installer Command-Line Option is: /qn
.
Examples
Msiexec /package Application.msi /quiet
Msiexec /uninstall Application.msi /quiet
Msiexec /update msipatch.msp /quiet
Msiexec /uninstall msipatch.msp /package Application.msi / quiet
/passive
Passive display option. The installer displays a progress bar to the user that indicates that an installation is in progress but no prompts or error messages are displayed to the user. The user cannot cancel the installation.
Use the /norestart
or /forcerestart
standard command-line options to control reboots. If no reboot option is specified, the installer restarts the computer whenever necessary without displaying any prompt or warning to the user.
The equivalent Windows Installer Command-Line Option is: /qb!
- with REBOOTPROMPT=S
set on the command line.
Examples
msiexec /package Application.msi /passive
/norestart
Never restart option. The installer never restarts the computer after the installation.
The equivalent Windows Installer command line has REBOOT=ReallySuppress
set on the command line.
Examples
msiexec /package Application.msi /norestart
.
/forcerestart
Always restart option. The installer always restarts the computer after every installation.
The equivalent Windows Installer command line has REBOOT=Force
set on the command line.
Examples
msiexec /package Application.msi /forcerestart
/promptrestart
Prompt before restarting option. Displays a message that a restart is required to complete the installation and asks the user whether to restart the system now. This option cannot be used together with the /quiet
option.
The equivalent Windows Installer command line has REBOOTPROMPT = ""
set on the command line.
/uninstall (product)
Uninstall product option. Uninstalls a product.
The equivalent Windows Installer Command-Line Option is /x.
Parameters
<Package.msi|ProductCode>
/uninstall (patch)
Uninstall update option. Uninstalls an update patch.
The equivalent Windows Installer Command-Line Option is: /I
with MSIPATCHREMOVE=Update1.msp | PatchGUID1[;Update2.msp | PatchGUID2]
set on the command line.
Parameters
/package <Package.msi | ProductCode> /uninstall [;Update2.msp | PatchGUID2]
/log
Log option. Writes logging information into a log file at the specified existing path. The path to the log file location must already exist. The installer does not create the directory structure for the logfile.
For more information about all the methods that are available for setting the logging mode, see Normal Logging Windows Installer.
The equivalent Windows Installer Command-Line Option is: /L*
.
The following information is entered into the log:
- Status messages
- Nonfatal warnings
- All error messages
- Start up of actions
- Action-specific records
- User requests
- Initial UI parameters
- Out-of-memory or fatal exit information
- Out-of-disk-space messages
- Terminal properties
/package
Install product option. Installs or configures a product.
The equivalent Windows Installer Command-Line Option is: /I
.
Parameters
<Package.msi|ProductCode>
/update
Install patches option. Installs one or multiple patches.
The equivalent Windows Installer command line has PATCH = [msipatch.msp]<;PatchGuid2> set on the command line.
Parameters
[;Update2.msp]