In this blog post, we will explore how to deploy the MSI application file using the Intune admin center. Intune provides a Line-of-business app option to deploy MSI files. We will use it to deploy a sample MSI file.
The line-of-business (LOB) app supports these file extensions for Windows apps, including .msi, .appx, and .appxbundle. Now, Let’s check the steps.
Step-by-Step guide
Table of Contents
STEP 1 – Download the MSI Installer file
The first step is downloading the MSI installer file from the Software vendor’s website. I will be taking an example app called Ring Central. However, the steps below will work for any MSI file.
STEP 2 – Deploy MSI file using Intune
You can follow the below steps to add and deploy the MSI app from the Intune admin center.
- Sign in to the Intune admin center.
- Go to Apps > All Apps > click on Add.
- Using the App type drop-down, Select the Line-of-business app option.
- Browse the downloaded MSI file by clicking on the Icon folder.
App Information
- Provide Name, Description, and Publisher Information.
- App Install Context – This will depend upon the application’s MSI Installer. If the app allows user-based Installation, you can select this option. Otherwise, it will be pre-selected and greyed out.
- Ignore App version: Select Ignore app version to Yes or No based on the below criteria:
- Select Ignore app version Yes, if you want the app installed when it’s not found on the target device. If the app is already there but the version number is different, it will be ignored, and the app will not be deployed.
- Select Ignore app version No if you want the app installed even if it’s not found on the target device or if the app version you are deploying differs from the one already installed on the target device.
- Command-line arguments: Provide the command-line switches you want to execute during app installation. For example, when installing the RingCentral application, you can use the switches
/norestartand/qn. This ensures that the device is not restarted after the application is installed and the installation process runs silently.
Assignments
You can add an Entra security group containing users or devices to deploy this app. You can also click Add all devices or Add all users.
Review + Create
Review the app deployment on the Review + create tab and click Create.
Sync Intune Policies
The device check-in process might not begin immediately. If you’re testing this policy on a test device, you can manually kickstart Intune sync from the device itself or remotely through the Intune admin center.
Alternatively, you can use PowerShell to force the Intune sync on Windows devices. Restarting the device is another way to trigger the Intune device check-in process.
STEP 3 – Monitoring of MSI app deployment
You can check the status of MSI app deployment from the Intune admin center by following the below steps:
- Sign in to the Intune admin center.
- Click on Apps > All apps.
- Click on the app deployment and check the Overview tab to find the deployment status.
- Click on Device install status and User install status under monitor to get the status of app deployment per device and user.
End-user Experience
It didn’t take much time to deploy this application on target devices. I waited less than 10 minutes, and the app was installed on my device. It was really quick and easy. Once the app is deployed, you can confirm the installation either by checking desktop shortcuts (if the app has created one) or by using Programs and Features and finding your app in the list to confirm.
The screenshot below is from Programs and Features on a Windows 10 device, which shows that the app has been installed successfully.
FAQs
Is there any other method to deploy the MSI application file using Intune?
Yes, you can use the Win32 app method for deploying MSI files. However, using the line-of-business app option is easier. If you have a complex app deployment, you can use the Win32 app method. Please refer to the link: Deploy MSI using Win32app for more Information.
I want to Uninstall the MSI app deployed via Intune
In the previous sections of this blog post, I provided the steps for deploying an MSI Installer-based application using Intune. Now, we will utilize the same application deployment and add devices under the Uninstall assignment section.
Let’s check the steps:
– Sign in to the Intune admin center.
– Go to Apps > All Apps > Click on your created app deployment.
– Click on Properties under Manage.
– Click on Edit next to Assignments.
– Target the users or devices under the Uninstall assignment section. [Refer to the screenshot below].
Do not include the same device in both the Uninstall and Required assignments. This could cause the app to install and uninstall, wasting resources repeatedly.
Is there any way to retrieve the uploaded MSI file on Intune
After creating an app deployment package in the Intune admin center and uploading an application MSI Installer or exe Installer file, you can’t download it directly from the Intune admin center.
However, you can retrieve it from the client device. In another blog post, Retrieve MSI/Win32 app setup files uploaded on Intune, I outlined the steps for retrieving them from a client device.
How do you find silent switches for any MSI installer?
To find silent installation switches for any MSI installer, download the installer from the vendor’s website and run it with the /? switch from a PowerShell console or the Windows command prompt. This action will display a list of all the available parameters and switches that can be used with this MSI file.
For example:
ZoomInstallerFull.msi /?
How do you find Intune logs for MSI app deployment?
You will need to check the logs for troubleshooting for any application deployment issues. The app deployment logs are stored in a file called IntuneManagementExtension.log, which is stored at C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\IntuneManagementExtension\Logs location. Please sort the most recent log file using the Date Modified column. The best way to read any .log file is to use CMTrace tool.
