Deploying MSI Applications Using Intune (Multiple Options)
Updated: Aug 10
Before we learn the different methods available when deploying applications to Windows devices, remember that there are two primary file extension types for Windows application installers: .exe and .msi (both of which you can deploy with Endpoint Manager). You can also deploy Windows Store apps.
In this post, we'll learn the different options for deploying MSI files which is probably the easiest deployment method. If the application vendor offers an MSI installer file, use it!
Below are the different options for deploying MSI files. The majority of the time, you will use option 1.
Option 1: Upload the MSI using the "Line of Business" App Type
MSI application deployments through Endpoint Manager are often the easiest and most successful. Simply upload the MSI as a line of business (LOB) application, choose the rest of the deployment settings, and deploy.
Open the Endpoint Manager (Intune) portal.
Select Apps in the left-hand menu blade.
Select Windows.
Select + Add and choose Line-of-business app (see below).
Click here to view a more detailed step-by-step process from Microsoft.
Below are some tips for a couple of the properties that might be helpful when configuring the app information:
App Install Context:
When choosing the app install context, user and device-based contexts are NOT related to the user and device-based contexts of MSI files. When you assign an application in Endpoint Manager to a user group, you are simply telling the MSI to install to any device that the user is assigned to in Endpoint Manager (User Affinity); you are not telling Endpoint Manager to install the MSI for just the logged-in user of the machine.
The MSI will install using whichever install context was specified in the MSI’s property table.
Ignore App Version
Remember that MSI files contain property values such as ProductCode, UpgradeCode, and ProductVersion. Endpoint Manager will use this information to detect whether an application is installed and what version is installed. Knowing this:
Select YES if you want Endpoint Manager to ignore what version is installed and only reinstall the application if the application is uninstalled.
Select NO if you want Endpoint Manager to not only check if the application is installed but also what version it is. Endpoint Manager will reinstall the application if the current version is different than the version originally deployed.
Option 2: Deploy a PowerShell Script
If you prefer to use a script to install the application on end-user devices, then you can use a script similar to the one listed below:
Open the Endpoint Manager (Intune) portal.
Select Devices in the left-hand menu blade then select Windows.
Select Scripts and remediations then select the Platform Scripts tab.
Select + Add (see below).
Option 3: Use Winget
Winget is a command-line tool provided by Microsoft that allows you to install, uninstall, and update applications. To learn more about this tool and how to use it to deploy applications, click the link below!
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