Deploy MSI application on Windows using Intune

In this blog post, we will explore how to deploy the MSI application file using 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.

Line-of-business (LOB) app supports these file extensions for Windows apps including .msi, .appx, and .appxbundle. Now, Let’s check the steps.

Steps

Please follow below steps to create a Line-of-business app using Intune for the deployment of the MSI app.

  • Sign in to the Intune admin center
  • Go to Apps > All Apps > click on Add.
  • Using the App type drop-down, Select Line-of-business app option.
Microsoft Intune Line of Business App
  • Line-of-business app selected.
Deploying MSI Application on Windows 10 workstations using Microsoft Intune

App Information

  • Select the app package file. Browse to the MSI file of the app you want to deploy and select it.
Deploying MSI Application on Windows 10 workstations using Microsoft Intune
  • I am using Ring Central Phone Application MSI for this deployment, therefore I have selected this MSI file downloaded from the vendor website.
Ringcentral MSI Microsoft Intune
  • For Silent Install on the target machine, use the MSI Installer switches /norestart /qn. Select the App install context to either User Context or Device Context. If you need help in choosing this option, click on Microsoft Docs User Context / Device Context.

Provide Name, Description, and Publisher Information.

  • App Install Context – This will depend upon the application MSI Installer. If the app allows user based Installation then you will be able to 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 below criteria:
    • Select Ignore app version Yes If you want to app to be Installed when its 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 to app to be Installed when its not found on the target device or the app version you are deploying is different than the one already installed on the target device.
Ringcentral MSI Microsoft Intune

Assignments Tab

Add an Azure AD group containing users or devices. You can also click on Add all devices or Add all users.

Ringcentral MSI Microsoft Intune
  • On Review + create tab, review the application configuration and proceed.
  • MSI app deployment process will start now. It will first upload the MSI file to the cloud and then the deployment of the application will start.
Ringcentral MSI Microsoft Intune

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 either from the device itself or remotely through the Intune admin center.

Alternatively, you can use PowerShell to force the Intune sync on Windows devices. Another way to trigger the Intune device check-in process is by restarting the device.

End-user Experience

It didn’t take much time to deploy this application on target devices. I waited for less than 10 minutes and the app was deployed 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 app has created one) or by using Programs and features and finding your app in the list to confirm.

Below screenshot is from Programs and features on a windows 10 device which shows that the app has been installed successfully.

Ringcentral MSI Microsoft Intune

Monitoring the Installation Progress

To check the Installation status of the app, You can follow below steps:

  • From Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center, Click on Apps on the left hand side.
  • Click on All apps.
  • Search for the app and click on it.

From the Overview page of the application, you can check the status of Installation and Failures. To find more details on which devices the app is pushed successfully, you can also click on Device Install status or User Install status.

How to find MSI Installer command line Switches

To find Silent installation options for any MSI installer. You can download the msi Installer from vendors website and run it with /? switch from powershell console or windows command prompt. This will pop-up with all the parameters / switches which are available for use with this MSI file.

You can also refer to the blog post: Find silent command line Install switches of any EXE or MSI whch provides much more details on how you find silent command line parameters for any EXE or MSI based Installer.

For example: To find out MSI Installer parameters for Zoom MSI. You can browse to the path where you have copied the MSI file. Then Run below command:

.\ZoomInstallerFull.msi /?
How to find MSI Installer command line parameters / switches

You can also get a list of parameters for MSI files by using below command on Powershell Console or Windows command prompt.

msiexec.exe /?
How to find MSI Installer command line parameters / switches

Conclusion

As you have learned from this blog post, How you can easily deploy an MSI file using line-of-business app type from Microsoft Endpoint manager admin center.

If you need to access the MSI file after uploading it to Intune for deployment by a line-of-business app, you can refer to the blog post titled Retrieve Uploaded LOB MSI / Win32 App Setup Files From Microsoft Intune’ for guidance.

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