WebView2 external dependency cannot be installed from an MSIX package on a Windows 10 target machine

[Daniel1175]

Hi,

I have built an MSIX package that includes WebView2 added as an external dependency using Microsoft Packaging Tool (also tried to build same MSIX with Advanced Installer too).

When trying to install the MSIX on a Windows 10 machine (v21h2) I get the following WebView error: There was a problem installing. Error code: 0x80040c01

Is there any known issue with WebView2 external dependency installation from an MSIX on Windows 10 machines? How can I troubleshoot this issue?

Here it is the full manifest of the sample MSIX I have built:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Package xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/appx/manifest/foundation/windows10" xmlns:win32dependencies="http://schemas.microsoft.com/appx/manifest/externaldependencies" xmlns:build="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/appx/2015/build" xmlns:uap="http://schemas.microsoft.com/appx/manifest/uap/windows10" xmlns:rescap="http://schemas.microsoft.com/appx/manifest/foundation/windows10/restrictedcapabilities" IgnorableNamespaces="uap rescap build win32dependencies">
  <Identity Name="YourCompany.YourApplication" ProcessorArchitecture="x64" Publisher="CN=TestCert_2022-3-30_10-31-15" Version="1.0.1.0" />
  <Properties>
    <PublisherDisplayName>Your Company</PublisherDisplayName>
    <DisplayName>Your Application</DisplayName>
    <Logo>Assets\Store50x50Logo.png</Logo>
  </Properties>
  <Resources>
    <Resource Language="en-US" />
    <Resource uap:Scale="100" />
  </Resources>
  <Dependencies>
    <TargetDeviceFamily MaxVersionTested="10.0.22000.0" MinVersion="10.0.17763.0" Name="Windows.Desktop" />
    <win32dependencies:ExternalDependency Name="Microsoft.WebView2" Publisher="CN=Microsoft Windows, O=Microsoft Corporation, L=Redmond, S=Washington, C=US" MinVersion="1.1.1.1" Optional="true" />
  </Dependencies>
  <Applications>
    <Application EntryPoint="Windows.FullTrustApplication" Executable="AI_STUBS\AiStub.exe" Id="updater.exe">
      <uap:VisualElements BackgroundColor="transparent" Description="Advanced Updater" DisplayName="updater.exe" Square150x150Logo="Assets\updater.exeSquare150x150Logo.png" Square44x44Logo="Assets\updater.exeSquare44x44Logo.png">
        <uap:InitialRotationPreference>
          <uap:Rotation Preference="portrait" />
          <uap:Rotation Preference="landscape" />
        </uap:InitialRotationPreference>
      </uap:VisualElements>
    </Application>
  </Applications>
  <build:Metadata>
    <build:Item Name="OperatingSystem" Version="10.0.22000.708" />
    <build:Item Name="AdvancedInstaller" Version="19.6 (bf52c98e)" />
    <build:Item Name="ProjectLicenseType" Version="architect" />
    <build:Item Name="SignTool.exe" Version="10.0.20348.1" />
    <build:Item Name="MakePri.exe" Version="10.0.20348.1" />
  </build:Metadata>
  
  <Capabilities>
	<rescap:Capability Name="runFullTrust" />
  </Capabilities>
</Package>

Thanks,
Daniel

[#2]

Can you please submit a Feedback hub? It's the best way for our team to get logs and troubleshoot.

[#3]

@Aditi_Narvekar I really think there is no other proper channel than the current one to submit this issue. It's an MSIX deployment issue and this is why I have posted it on MSIX community.

In case this helps, here it is a download link for an MSIX package that easily replicate this problem.

YourCompany.YourApplication_1.0.1.0_x64__m1gzpmna9bk94.msix 

You should just try to install it on a Windows 10 test machine with no WebView previously installed. Also do not forget to manually install the certificate the sample MSIX is signed with under the "Trusted Root Certification Authorities" store on your local machine. Same steps like the ones exposed here:

https://www.advancedinstaller.com/install-test-certificate-from-msix.html 

I think this is all you need to replicate and investigate the issue, generate whatever logs do you need, etc.

Let me know if you can have a look on this.

[#4]

@Daniel1175 This error can happen if you re-sign the installer or pass incorrect parameters to it. See:

https://github.com/MicrosoftEdge/WebView2Feedback/issues/1582

Are you re-signing the installer with your own certificate?

[#5]

@MikeH Mike, I am not re-signing the WebView2 installer nor do I pass any command line arguments to it.

To recap, the WebView2 is specified in the manifest of an MSIX package as a dependency. This means that when the MSIX package is installed the Microsoft's App Installer tool will download the WebView2 installer (from Microsoft's hosted repository) and launch it for installation.

The WebView2 installer download and install operation is solely handled by the Microsoft App Installer app. So I think this issue is on the Microsoft App Installer app side.

Once again the MSIX package (you can download and test it from my previous post) is built as per the specs of Microsoft docs.