Installing Setup executables files silently
Use the Help Switch: The most common first step is to run the executable with a standard help switch, which may display a dialog box listing supported command-line options. Common help switches include:
setup.exe /?
setup.exe /help
setup.exe /h
Use code with caution.
Check Vendor Documentation: Access the software vendor's official support documentation or website. They often provide instructions for silent or unattended installations.
Use Common Silent Switches: If no documentation or help switch is available, you can try common silent install switches used by various installer makers:
setup.exe /S (uppercase S is often for silent install)
setup.exe /s
setup.exe /silent
setup.exe /quiet
setup.exe /q
setup.exe /verysilent (common for Inno Setup)
To install an MSI package from the command line, the msiexec.exe utility is used. This utility is the Windows Installer engine and provides various options for managing MSI packages.
Basic Installation:
The most common command for a standard installation is:
msiexec /i "path\to\your\package.msi"
Replace "path\to\your\package.msi" with the actual path to your MSI file. It is recommended to enclose the path in double quotes, especially if it contains spaces.
Silent Installation:
For a silent installation without any user interface, which is useful for scripting or automated deployments, use the /qn switch:
msiexec /i "path\to\your\package.msi" /qn
Silent installation for all users:
msiexec.exe /i "C:\Path\to\your\package.msi" /qn ALLUSERS=1
Other Useful Switches:
/norestart: Prevents the system from automatically restarting after the installation, even if required.
/L\*V "path\to\log.log": Creates a verbose log file of the installation process, which can be helpful for troubleshooting.
/x: Uninstalls an MSI package.
/qb: Displays a basic user interface with a progress bar, but no user interaction is required.
Example with Logging and No Restart:
msiexec /i "C:\Installers\MyApplication.msi" /qn /norestart /L*V "C:\Logs\MyApplication_Install.log"
Important Notes:
Administrator Privileges: To install most MSI packages, you will need to run the command prompt or PowerShell with administrator privileges.
Public Properties: Many MSI packages allow you to set specific installation properties (e.g., installation directory, features to install) directly from the command line. These are referred to as "public properties" and are specific to each MSI. You can often find information about these properties in the documentation for the software you are installing or by examining the MSI package with tools.
Uninstalling: To uninstall an MSI package, use the /x switch instead of /i. You will typically need the product code of the installed application, which can be found in the registry or by using tools like wmic.
Important Considerations for ALLUSERS=1
Administrator Privileges: Installations with ALLUSERS=1 generally require elevated administrator privileges to modify system-wide settings and the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE registry hive. You must run your Command Prompt or PowerShell session as an administrator.
Property Placement: Public properties like ALLUSERS=1 must follow the command-line switches (/i, /qn, etc.).
MSI Package Compatibility: While ALLUSERS=1 is a standard Windows Installer property, the specific behavior might depend on how the MSI package itself was authored by the software vendor. Most well-behaved MSIs respect this property to install shortcuts and settings for all users.
Default Behavior: If ALLUSERS is not explicitly set, the Windows Installer typically defaults to installing per-user if the security permissions allow it, or prompts for elevation if system changes are required. Setting it explicitly to 1 forces a per-machine installation.
To install an MSIX package from the command line, there are primarily two methods: using PowerShell cmdlets or using the msixmgr.exe tool.
1. Using PowerShell Cmdlets:
This is the recommended method for most users and administrators.
Add-AppxPackage -Path "C:\Path\To\Your\Package.msix"
Replace "C:\Path\To\Your\Package.msix" with the actual path to your MSIX package file.
For MSIX bundles, use the same Add-AppxPackage cmdlet and provide the path to the .msixbundle file.
2. Using msixmgr.exe:
This tool is part of MSIX Core and is intended for system administrators.
msixmgr.exe -AddPackage C:\Path\To\Your\Package.msix -quietUX
Navigate to the directory containing msixmgr.exe before running this command, or provide the full path to msixmgr.exe.
The -quietUX parameter can be added to suppress the installer's user interface during installation.
Note: When using either method, ensure you run the command prompt or PowerShell with administrative privileges if necessary for the installation.
Download and install Teams using an offline installer
Admins can also use a local teams MSIX to provision Teams. This option minimizes the amount of bandwidth used for the initial installation. The MSIX can exist in a local path or UNC.
Download the .exe installer.. If you downloaded this file previously, compare the properties on each file to confirm you have the latest version.
Open the PowerShell Command Prompt as an Admin.
mkdir C:\AppDrivers\
Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://statics.teams.cdn.office.net/production-windows-x64/enterprise/webview2/lkg/MSTeams-x64.msix" -OutFile "C:\AppDrivers\MSTeams-x64.msix"
Add-AppxPackage -Path "C:\AppDrivers\MSTeams-x64.msix"
Other commands
iwr -Uri "https://statics.teams.cdn.office.net/production-windows-x64/enterprise/webview2/lkg/MSTeams-x64.msix" -OutFile "C:\Apps\MSTeams-x64.msix"
Add-AppxPackage -Path "C:\Apps\MSTeams-x64.msix"
teamsbootstrapper.exe -p -o "C:\Apps\MSTeams-x64.msix"
https://statics.teams.cdn.office.net/production-teamsprovision/lkg/teamsbootstrapper.exe
msixmgr.exe -AddPackage "C:\Apps\MSTeams-x64.msix"
DISM /Online /Add-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackagePath:"C:\Apps\MSTeams-x64.msix" /SkipLicense
Guide Bulk deploy the Microsoft Teams client :
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/teams-client-bulk-install
iwr -Uri "https://statics.teams.cdn.office.net/production-windows-x64/enterprise/webview2/lkg/MSTeams-x64.msix" -OutFile "C:\Apps\MSTeams-x64.msix"
Add-AppxPackage -Path "C:\Apps\MSTeams-x64.msix"
iwr -Uri "https://statics.teams.cdn.office.net/production-teamsprovision/lkg/teamsbootstrapper.exe" -OutFile "C:\Apps\teamsbootstrapper.exe"
teamsbootstrapper.exe -p -o "C:\Apps\MSTeams-x64.msix"
Guide > https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/teams-client-bulk-install
File download https://statics.teams.cdn.office.net/production-teamsprovision/lkg/teamsbootstrapper.exe
DISM /Online /Add-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackagePath:"C:\Apps\MSTeams-x64.msix" /SkipLicense