Windows Installer May 2026

When authoring an installation package , developers define features in the Feature Table of the MSI database. This allows for:

: Letting users skip unnecessary tools to save disk space.

: Reinstalling or repairing specific features rather than the entire application if files become corrupt. Windows Installer

: Installing certain features only if specific launch conditions (like a specific OS version) are met.

: Developers can author packages that allow features to be "advertised" but not fully installed until the user attempts to use them for the first time. Common Use Cases for Developers When authoring an installation package , developers define

: Features can have a parent-child relationship. If a child feature is selected for installation, its parent feature is automatically included.

: While users see features, the installer actually manages components . One feature can consist of multiple components, which are the smallest coherent units (files, registry keys, etc.) that the installer installs or removes together. : Installing certain features only if specific launch

For managing built-in (like Hyper-V or WSL) rather than application features, administrators typically use tools like DISM or PowerShell cmdlets like Install-WindowsFeature . Windows Installer Features - Win32 apps - Microsoft Learn