Scenario: A legacy Java desktop application works when installed using a classic MSI setup. When repackaged as an MSIX, it installs successfully but fails at application runtime with a “Failed to load the JNI shared library” error.

Starting with Advanced Installer 24.0, you can add application prerequisites directly from the WinGet repository.

Let’s say you have an application that has multiple features, and you want to give the end user the option to select which one to get installed.

The user interface is a key part of any application, and the same applies to its installer.

Secure software distribution depends on digital certificates. They validate applications and guarantee that users receive software from trusted publishers.

At first glance, signing installers seems easy, and nothing could go wrong.

Flutter has rapidly become a popular framework for building cross-platform applications.

Most Windows applications include one or more embedded icons in their installer files. These icons are used throughout the Windows operating system to help users quickly identify applications in locations such as desktop shortcuts, the Start Menu, taskbar pins, file associations, and application listings.

If you’ve been around the Windows application packaging scene for a while, you probably know that VBScript has been on its way out for some time.

Many applications rely on INI files for configurations. In some scenarios, you may want to allow users to define specific configuration values during the installation process and automatically write them inside the INI file.

I remember when Microsoft released the MSIX technology in 2018, and Advanced Installer was the first application packaging tool to support it.

Every application needs a way to store its settings, which exist outside of the application’s code.

Although rarely considered, a cfg file is an essential component that keeps software running as expected by users.

Group Policy is a powerful tool for managing Windows Environments, and we’ve previously discussed how you can deploy an MSI using GPOs.

Digital signatures have grown in popularity and acceptance in the industry and are now required in some cases, such as with MSIX packages. This ensures that the software delivered is secure and trustworthy.

In 2018, Microsoft announced MSIX as the next big thing: a single installer that will replace MSI, EXE, and APP-V.

Digital Signing should be a formality for professionals. It’s been almost 30 years since the first software was digitally signed but we still have many users who don’t know how or why they should use a code signing certificate. We need it to protect their intellectual property and enhance the cybersecurity of their end-users.

Have you recently noticed unexpected User Account Control (UAC) prompts when launching MSI-installed applications, especially when using advertised shortcuts or opening associated files?

In a previous blog article, we discussed what an EXE setup file is, the difference between EXE and MSI installers, and other general details related to Windows’ setup.exe.

In April 2025, version 6.0.0 of WiX Toolset introduced the Open Source Maintenance Fee (OSMF), and since then, IT professionals have been reviewing and reassessing how they build and maintain their installers, as well as how they budget for their infrastructure.