Last month, Microsoft rolled out Windows 10 SDK Preview build 17682. The release made the usual widespread changes, but perhaps the most notable was support for the MSIX format. Now the company has released a MSIX Packaging Tool on the Microsoft Store.
MSIX is a new format that allows current Win32 application to run in a container on devices with Windows 10 17682 or higher.
The new Microsoft Store app allows developers to convert apps to MSIX without needing to download or use the full Windows 10 SDK. As this is a preview app, it is still only available to Microsoft Account holders who are members of the Windows Insider Program.
Microsoft has detailed all the requirements for being able to download the app:
However, there are a number of prerequisites, which include:
- Participation in Windows Insider fast or slow rings
- Minimum Windows 10 Build 17701 or later
- Administrator privileges on your PC account
- A valid MSA alias (to access the app from the Store)
Features
As with all preview apps and features in testing, the full functionality of the tool has not been realized. Microsoft is still working on the solutions and will add more features in time.
At the moment, the following core abilities are available:
- Package your favorite application(msi, exe, App-V 5.x and to MSIX format by launching the tool and selecting “Application package” icon.
- Create a modification package for a newly created Application MSIX Package by launching the tool and selecting “Modification package” icon. More detail on modification packages coming shortly.
- Open your MSIX package to view and edit its content/properties by navigating to “Open package editor” tab and browsing to the MSIX package and selecting open package.
Windows Insiders can check out the tool by downloading it from the Microsoft Store. As usual, Microsoft is asking users to provide feedback for the MSIX Packaging Tool to help improve its functionality.