MSIX Core - Bringing Modern MSIX Packaging to Legacy Windows Systems
For those working with application packaging or deployment, MSIX is a name that keeps cropping up. It's Microsoft’s modern packaging format designed to streamline app deployment, improve updates, and enhance security.
But what happens if you're still using older systems like Windows 7, Windows 8.1, or early builds of Windows 10, which don't natively support MSIX?
Enter MSIX Core—a compatibility tool that bridges the gap between legacy systems and modern packaging.
In this article, we'll explore MSIX Core in depth. We'll discuss:
- What MSIX Core is and why it exists
- How to install MSIX Core
- How to check if it’s installed on your system
- The limitations of MSIX Core compared to full MSIX support in modern Windows versions.
If you’ve ever been curious about integrating MSIX into older environments, this is your complete guide.
What is MSIX Core?
MSIX Core is Microsoft's solution for making MSIX packages work on older Windows operating systems.
MSIX itself is a powerful packaging technology that provides a lot of benefits:
- Simplified application installation and updates,
- Improved app isolation
- Enhanced security features.
However, these features rely on APIs and system components that are only available in Windows 10 and 11.
MSIX Core addresses this limitation by providing a runtime that enables MSIX packages installation on legacy systems, such as Windows 7 Service Pack 1,Windows 8.1, and some earlier builds of Windows 10.
MSIX Core doesn’t bring the full feature set of MSIX to these systems.
Instead, it offers enough functionality to install and run MSIX applications, allowing developers to reach a broader audience without requiring all users to upgrade their systems.
How to install MSIX Core?
Installing MSIX Core is straightforward. You must download the necessary runtime from Microsoft's official resources or GitHub repository.
Once downloaded, run the installer on the target system and follow the on-screen prompts.
Installation steps:
- Verify system requirements for MSIX Core: Ensure the system is running an up-to-date version of Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1 with the latest updates installed.
- Download the MSIX Core setup file, and double-click it to run the installer.
- Follow the installation wizard: Accept the license agreement and proceed through the setup steps.
- Complete the installation: Once finished, the system will recognize and install MSIX packages.
How to check if MSIX Core is installed?
There are several ways to verify if MSIX Core is installed on your system.
Checking if MSIX Core is installed with PowerShell
The simplest approach is to use PowerShell, which allows for both a visual confirmation and a programmatic check.
You can check programmatically using PowerShell, by querying the list of installed applications using the Get-WmiObject cmdlet or the newer Get-CimInstance cmdlet.
Here’s how a script would look:
$appName = "MSIX Core"
$installedApps = Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product
$msixCoreInstalled = $installedApps -match $appName
if ($msixCoreInstalled) {
Write-Output "$appName is installed."
} else {
Write-Output "$appName is not installed."
}
PowerShell and .NET updates may not be available by default on older Windows systems. In such cases, we recommend using the Get-WmiObject cmdlet since Get-CimInstance might not be available by default.
This script queries the system for installed applications and checks for any program with "MSIX Core" in its name. If it finds a match, it outputs the version of MSIX Core installed; otherwise, it notifies you that MSIX Core isn’t present.
Checking if MSIX Core is installed via Control Panel
You can also confirm MSIX Core is installed by checking the Control Panel under "Programs and Features." Search the list for "MSIX Core" to confirm its installation.
MSIX Core limitations
While MSIX Core is incredibly useful for enabling MSIX installations on older systems, it's important to understand that it doesn’t provide the full capabilities of MSIX.
Many advanced MSIX features rely on system components and APIs available only in Windows 10 and later.
Key limitations of MSIX Core
- No app containerization – MSIX applications on Windows 10 and 11 run in a containerized environment, providing isolation from the system and other apps. This helps prevent conflicts between applications and enhances security. MSIX Core lacks this functionality, meaning applications installed via MSIX Core behave like traditional non-containerized applications.
- No seamless updates - Full MSIX implementations on modern systems enable differential updates, where only changed parts of an application are downloaded during an update. This reduces bandwidth and speeds up the update process. In MSIX Core, updates require reinstalling the entire application package.
- No state separation - In full MSIX environments, the app’s runtime state and data are stored separately from the system, which simplifies troubleshooting and app migration. With MSIX Core, this separation does not occur, and app state is managed in a less controlled manner.
- No Microsoft Store integration - Applications must be manually sideloaded or through other distribution mechanisms. This reduces the convenience of centralized app deployment and management that modern Windows users enjoy.
Why MSIX Core matters?
Despite its limitations, MSIX Core is an essential tool for organizations relying on legacy systems. Many businesses cannot upgrade their infrastructure immediately but still want to leverage modern packaging technology.
Key benefits:
- MSIX Core enables gradual adoption of MSIX without requiring a complete system overhaul.
- Expands application reach by allowing developers to support both modern and legacy systems.
- Simplifies development workflows by providing a consistent experience for users, regardless of their operating system.
A Practical Example
Let’s imagine you have an MSIX package ready to deploy on a system with MSIX Core installed.
- Download the MSIX package and place it in a known location, such as `C:\Packages\MyApp.msix`.
- Open PowerShell with administrative privileges and run the following command:
Add-AppxPackage -Path "C:\Packages\MyApp.msix"
For more PowerShell cmdlets, check out our article or browse on Microsoft Documentation.
If the installation fails, the error message will likely indicate that MSIX Core is missing or that the package is incompatible with the runtime.
Conclusion
MSIX Core is a great tool for connecting modern MSIX packaging with older Windows systems.
While it doesn’t include all the features available in Windows 10 and 11, it still provides enough functionality to make MSIX a practical option for legacy environments.
By understanding its capabilities and limitations, IT professionals and developers can decide if MSIX Core is the right solution for their needs.
As organizations continue to modernize their infrastructures, MSIX Core serves as a stepping stone, enabling gradual adoption of the MSIX ecosystem.
Whether you’re deploying apps on Windows 7 or planning for the future with Windows 11, MSIX Core is a powerful addition to your toolkit.
Written by
Alex Marin
Application Packaging and SCCM Deployments specialist, solutions finder, Technical Writer at Advanced Installer.