Tips to open MSI file

Can't open the MSI file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open MSI files as well as a list of programs that support MSI files.

MSI file extension

File Name Windows Installer Package
File Developer Microsoft
File Category Misc Files

The MSI file is supported on 1 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the MSI files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the MSI file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 4
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is MSI file?

The file with the extension MSI is the Misc Files file type. The creator of this file is Microsoft. Additionally, the Misc Files category contains 6033 of other files. Windows Installer Package is most often found on 1 operating systems. The file will work on Windows systems, unfortunately not on others. The main program that supports this format is Windows Installer. This was created by Microsoft Corporation. Alternatively, you can use 3 other programs. The Microsoft Windows, 7-Zip, Windows Installer XML programs will also handle the file when the Windows Installer program does not fulfill its role.

How to open MSI file?

The most common problem when using Windows Installer Package is that a specific MSI is not associated with the program. This is manifested by the fact that MSI files open in unusual applications or do not have an assigned program. This can be quickly resolved by following the instructions below.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the MSI file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install Windows Installer

An often overlooked issue is to make sure that Windows Installer is installed on the computer. This can be achieved by typing Windows Installer into the operating system search engine. If we do not have this program, it is worth installing it, as it will help you automatically associate the file MSI with Windows Installer. Below you will find a list of applications that support MSI files.

Step 2. Create association of Windows Installer with MSI files

If, despite the installed application, the MSI file does not start in the Windows Installer application, you must create a file association. It is most convenient to call the context menu with the right mouse button and select Properties. The window will show, among other things, the type of the file and the information by which the program is used to launch the file. Using the "Change" button we can select the desired program. If there is no software on the list, simply select "Browse" and manually select the directory where the application is installed. The "always use the selected program ..." field will set the Windows Installer application as the default for handling the MSI file.

Step 3. Update Windows Installer to the latest version

If, however, after binding Windows Installer with Windows Installer Package there were still problems, you should update the program to the latest version. In this case, use the Microsoft Corporation website or update the program from the application.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the MSI file

If the above steps do not help, you can assume that the file itself is not correct. File problems can be divided into the following:

Very often, the file may be size 0 or incomplete. This suggests truncating the MSI file contents when downloading or copying. The only repair option is to download the file again.
The operating system may be infected with a computer virus. Perform a virus scan using available and up-to-date anti-virus software. Alternatively, you can use the scanners available online. The scan should cover the entire computer, not only the MSI file that we want to open. As a result of the scan, sometimes it is not possible to recover MSI files, which are deleted if there is a backup of this file, then after restoring it, it must also be scanned.
This can happen especially when the program is dynamically developed and the structure of the MSI files changes over time. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for this. The repair method must be adapted to the type of file and damage. Some programs offer the ability to automatically repair MSI file corruption. The easiest way to restore the file is from a backup or by contacting Microsoft, but this one can be expensive. Not all damage can be reversed.
The program indicates that the file is encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted file MSI except for the special designation, works normally, but only on the device where it was encrypted, before transferring it to another machine, decryption is required.
Some of the system directories are excluded from modification. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. If possible, you can try to move the MSI file to another location.
This problem usually affects more complex files. In this case, the MSI file is blocked by the first application to open it. Just close unnecessary programs. If the error persists after closing other programs, wait for a while. Some anti-virus or backup software may occupy the MSI file for a certain period of time. If this does not work either, restart the device.