App Installer `1.27.350.0` fails to update via .appinstaller: "`The parameter is incorrect`"

[cilerler]

I am experiencing a regression in App Installer version 1.27.350.0. An application that successfully updates via .appinstaller on version 1.26.510.0 now fails on the latest version with the error: "App installation failed with error message: The parameter is incorrect."

I have verified that the MSIX package itself is valid and installs correctly when run directly. The issue only occurs when triggering the update/install via the .appinstaller file on the specific App Installer version.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Host an .appinstaller file and corresponding MSIX packages (XML provided below).

2. Ensure the client machine has App Installer version 1.27.350.0.

3. Attempt to launch/update the application via the .appinstaller URI.

4. Observer error: "App installation failed with error message: The parameter is incorrect."

Verification of Regression:

On a machine with App Installer 1.26.510.0, the exact same flow works successfully.

Warning

Once a machine updates to version 1.27.350.0, the issue persists even if we downgrade back to 1.26.510.0. In contrast, machines that have remained on 1.26.510.0 (and never received the update) function correctly. The failure occurs immediately upon upgrading.

Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller | Select-Object Version;
Add-AppxPackage -Path "https://github.com/microsoft/winget-cli/releases/download/v1.11.510/Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_8wekyb3d8bbwe.msixbundle" -ForceUpdateFromAnyVersion;
Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller | Select-Object Version;

Environment

App Installer Version (Broken): 1.27.350.0
App Installer Version (Working): 1.26.510.0
OS: Windows 10/11
Build SDK: .NET 9.0.308 (Pinned via global.json)
MAUI/Blazor Hybrid TargetFramework 8

.appinstaller file (sanitized)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<AppInstaller Uri="[http://RepoName-MyProject.svc.cluster.local/integration/MyCompany.MyProject_integration_x64.appinstaller](http://RepoName-MyProject.svc.cluster.local/integration/MyCompany.MyProject_integration_x64.appinstaller)" Version="2.1.1584.2" xmlns="[http://schemas.microsoft.com/appx/appinstaller/2021](http://schemas.microsoft.com/appx/appinstaller/2021)">
	<MainPackage Name="us.MyCompany.MyProject.integration" Version="2.1.1584.2" Publisher="CN=&quot;MyCompany, Inc.&quot;, O=&quot;MyCompany, Inc.&quot;, L=Boca Raton, S=Florida, C=US" Uri="[http://RepoName-MyProject.svc.cluster.local/integration/MyCompany.MyProject_integration_2.1.1584.2_x64_Test/MyCompany.MyProject_integration_2.1.1584.2_x64.msix](http://RepoName-MyProject.svc.cluster.local/integration/MyCompany.MyProject_integration_2.1.1584.2_x64_Test/MyCompany.MyProject_integration_2.1.1584.2_x64.msix)" ProcessorArchitecture="x64" />
	<Dependencies>
		<Package Name="Microsoft.WindowsAppRuntime.1.8" Publisher="CN=Microsoft Corporation, O=Microsoft Corporation, L=Redmond, S=Washington, C=US" ProcessorArchitecture="x64" Uri="[http://RepoName-MyProject.svc.cluster.local/integration/MyCompany.MyProject_integration_2.1.1584.2_x64_Test/Dependencies/x64/Microsoft.WindowsAppRuntime.1.8.msix](http://RepoName-MyProject.svc.cluster.local/integration/MyCompany.MyProject_integration_2.1.1584.2_x64_Test/Dependencies/x64/Microsoft.WindowsAppRuntime.1.8.msix)" Version="8000.675.1142.0" />
	</Dependencies>
	<UpdateSettings>
		<OnLaunch HoursBetweenUpdateChecks="0" ShowPrompt="true" UpdateBlocksActivation="true" />
		<ForceUpdateFromAnyVersion>true</ForceUpdateFromAnyVersion>
		<AutomaticBackgroundTask />
	</UpdateSettings>
</AppInstaller>

Logs

Path: ~\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\DiagOutputDir\AppInstaller-2025-12-04-15-54-50.223.log

[Thu Dec  4 15:54:51 2025]{27448} Retrieving installed application package for user with package name: [us.MyCompany.MyProject.integration] and publisher name: [CN="MyCompany, Inc.", O="MyCompany, Inc.", L=City, S=State, C=US] with package types: [33]
[Thu Dec  4 15:54:51 2025]{27448} GoToState -> LoadedState
[Thu Dec  4 15:54:51 2025]{27448} GoToState -> DisplayAppsInfoState
[Thu Dec  4 15:54:51 2025]{27448} GoToState -> LoadedState
[Thu Dec  4 15:54:51 2025]{27448} DisplayAppsInfoState -> DisplayAppsInfoSetDefaultsHelper
[Thu Dec  4 15:54:51 2025]{27448} DisplayAppsInfoState -> DisplayAppsInfoTopPartHelper
[Thu Dec  4 15:54:52 2025]{27448} DisplayAppsInfoState -> DisplayAppsInfoBottomPartForReadyStateHelper
[Thu Dec  4 15:54:53 2025]{27448} MainWindow -> Install button was clicked
[Thu Dec  4 15:54:53 2025]{27448} PackageDependencyInstaller -> Missing Dependency Packages count: 0
[Thu Dec  4 15:54:53 2025]{27448} PackageDependencyInstaller -> Required missing dependency packages count: 0
[Thu Dec  4 15:54:53 2025]{27448} PackageDependencyInstaller -> Required missing external dependencies count: 0
[Thu Dec  4 15:54:53 2025]{27448} GoToState -> GoToPreparingDeploymentState
[Thu Dec  4 15:54:53 2025]{27448} MainWindow -> Preparing for Main App Install
[Thu Dec  4 15:54:53 2025]{27448} MainWindow -> Installing Main App
[Thu Dec  4 15:54:53 2025]{27448} GoToState -> GoToDeployingState
[Thu Dec  4 15:54:53 2025]{27448} StartInstallOperation -> URI: file:///C:/Users/UserName/Downloads/backups/MyCompany.MyProject_integration_x64%20(1).appinstaller
[Thu Dec  4 15:54:53 2025]{27448} GetIsAddPackageOptionsExpectedDigestSupported -> True
[Thu Dec  4 15:54:53 2025]{27448} [InstallFromUriAsync] -> Setting AddPackageOptions: ForceTargetAppShutdown
[Thu Dec  4 15:54:53 2025]{27448} [InstallFromUriAsync] -> Setting AddPackageOptions: ExpectedDigests: [file:///C:/Users/UserName/Downloads/backups/MyCompany.MyProject_integration_x64%20(1).appinstaller] -> [EFFUNCPnnf0mwhn9ju0JZPaRUOclyRK3GQBvn2FgR1o=]
[Thu Dec  4 15:54:53 2025]{27448} [InstallFromUriAsync] -> Setting AddPackageOptions: ExpectedDigests: [[http://RepoName-MyProject.svc.cluster.local/integration/MyCompany.MyProject_integration_x64.appinstaller](http://RepoName-MyProject.svc.cluster.local/integration/MyCompany.MyProject_integration_x64.appinstaller)] -> [EFFUNCPnnf0mwhn9ju0JZPaRUOclyRK3GQBvn2FgR1o=]
[Thu Dec  4 15:54:53 2025]{27448} [InstallFromUriAsync] -> Setting AddPackageOptions: ExpectedDigests: [[http://RepoName-MyProject.svc.cluster.local/integration/MyCompany.MyProject_integration_2.1.1581.2_x64_Test/MyCompany.MyProject_integration_2.1.1581.2_x64.msix](http://RepoName-MyProject.svc.cluster.local/integration/MyCompany.MyProject_integration_2.1.1581.2_x64_Test/MyCompany.MyProject_integration_2.1.1581.2_x64.msix)] -> [EMslhvopfRPCwFI3g3Y+bQzxMyVGAqQzQo4gMPNscC8=]
[Thu Dec  4 15:54:53 2025]{27448} [InstallFromUriAsync] -> Deploying AppInstaller extension file
[Thu Dec  4 15:54:53 2025]{27448} [InstallFromUriAsync] -> Starting AddPackageByUriAsync()
[Thu Dec  4 15:54:53 2025]{27448} ERROR: StartInstallOperation -> Install Operation Failed: 0x80070057
[Thu Dec  4 15:54:53 2025]{27448} GetErrorMessageFromHResult -> Message: [The parameter is incorrect.]
[Thu Dec  4 15:54:53 2025]{27448} GoToState -> LoadedState
[Thu Dec  4 15:54:53 2025]{27448} GoToState -> BaseErrorState
[Thu Dec  4 15:54:53 2025]{27448} GoToState -> DeploymentErrorState
[Thu Dec  4 15:54:53 2025]{27448} Toaster->ShowToast [Error]
[Thu Dec  4 15:54:53 2025]{27448} Toaster->Toast payload [<toast launch="App Installer" activationType="background" duration="short"><visual><binding template="ToastGeneric"><text>MyCompany.MyProject (integration) installation failed</text><text>App installation failed with error message: The parameter is incorrect.</text></binding></visual></toast>]

[github-actions]

The following issues might be duplicates:

• Windows 10/11 - App installed via *.appinstaller wont start anymore under Windows 10/11 #5847

AI-generated content by genai-issue-dedup may be incorrect.

[cilerler]

This appears to be a separate, though potentially related, issue. In my specific case, the application starts up successfully.

[Xenogix]

We also get the same issue @cilerler mentioned, but bundling a WinForm app. This issue appeared today when publishing our application. We also have the version 1.27.350.0.

[rCartoux]

@cilerler Can you reproduce with the latest Windows security update 26200.7462 / 26100.7462 ? It seems to be solved

[cilerler]

I'm confirming that the issue has been resolved on 26200.7462.
Thank you very much for the quick turnaround.

[rCartoux]

@cilerler I am not from Microsoft, not sure if it was fixed intentionally 👀

[florelis]

Yes, this should be resolved now if you have the latest updates.