CODEWITHSUNDEEP
installationwixwindows-installerwix3
MX4399
MX4399

Reputation: 1519

How do I do a silent install and uninstall with WiX and MSI?

How can a silent installer be created in WiX that does not display any UI dialogs to the user and installs, upgrades and uninstalls with default settings?

Upvotes: 41

Views: 47213

Answers (4)

Kevin Kalitowski
Kevin Kalitowski

Reputation: 6989

Installer .exe's created with WiX can be run from the command line without requiring user input by using one of these command line parameters:

  • /quiet - Displays no UI whatsoever
  • /passive - Displays a UI but requires no user input. Essentially just displays an install progress bar

This answer is based on WiX 3.9.

Upvotes: 26

Christopher Painter
Christopher Painter

Reputation: 55620

Windows Installer (MSI) uses the following command line arguments to be silent:

Silent install or silent major upgrade:

msiexec.exe /i foo.msi /qn

Silent minor upgrade:

msiexec.exe /i foo.msi REINSTALL=ALL REINSTALLMODE=vomus /qn

Silent uninstall:

msiexec.exe /x foo.msi /qn

Executable path:

C:\Windows\system32\msiexec.exe

Upvotes: 78

Charles Gargent
Charles Gargent

Reputation: 1807

All MSI installers whether created by WiX or not can be controlled via command line arguments. So you can make an installer with UI and still install it silently, there is no need to remove the UI from the installer just suppress it on the command line. Remember, make sure you add the upgrade element in your first installer so subsequent ones will match

Upvotes: 5

saschabeaumont
saschabeaumont

Reputation: 22446

Just don't include any UI/UIRef elements and then no UI will be included :)

Upvotes: -3

Related Questions