Package and deploy

For guidance about packaging and deploying different types of Windows apps, see the following articles. Generally we recommend using MSIX for a modern and reliable deployment experience for your customers. However, you can also deploy your apps using other installation technologies.

Key concepts

  • Packaged apps: Packaged apps are packaged using MSIX. MSIX is a package format that gives end-users an easy way to install, uninstall, and update their Windows apps using a modern UI.
  • Unpackaged apps: Unpackaged apps don't use MSIX. They're typically installed and updated using .exe or .msi files. Many unpackaged apps walk end-users through an installation wizard using a classic UI.

Apps that use the Windows App SDK

Before configuring your apps for deployment, review the Windows App SDK runtime architecture to learn more about the dependencies your app takes when it uses the Windows App SDK.

Packaged apps

If you build an app that uses the Windows App SDK (either a WinUI 3 app or a different type of app that uses the Windows App SDK NuGet package), you can package and deploy your app using MSIX.

For instructions on how to deploy the Windows App SDK runtime with your packaged app, see these articles:

Unpackaged apps

For instructions on how to deploy the Windows App SDK runtime with your unpackaged app, see these articles:

Win32 and .NET desktop apps

If you build a Win32 desktop app (also sometimes called a classic desktop app) or a .NET app (including WPF and Windows Forms), you can package and deploy your app using MSIX.

You can also package and deploy these types of apps using other installation technologies.

UWP apps

UWP apps are packaged and deployed using MSIX.