Microsoft has just removed the "ms-appinstaller" protocol, which manages the installation of MSIX files.

[JpLaf]

Good evening,

I've just read in the IT press that Microsoft has just removed the "ms-appinstaller" protocol, which manages the installation of MSIX files.

Given that I installed my Affinity Photo 2 version using this file format, how will they manage the installation of future updates, which will then be in ".EXE" format ?

Thank you in advance for your reply.

Hervé Lafontaine

[walt.farrell]

What I am reading is that Microsoft disabled the protocol handler that allows direct installation via a web URI.  This does not stop users from manually downloading an MSIX file and installing it.

I don't know if this will have an effect on the current Update process, but I will try that later when I'm at my computer.

[Patrick Connor]

I think you have misunderstood the problem which lies with a particular protocol 

ms-appinstaller:?source=xxx

Which is included in some websites to distribute MSIX files. Serif don't use that protocol on our website.

This protocol has been stopped in the past also, see here

The MSIX installers themselves and the patching process are unaffected.

[v_kyr]

Affected is just the ms-appinstaller URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) scheme (protocol), and that URI scheme should as default either way be disabled. It was used in the pasts for an app installation directly from a web server (so a web page, see therefor also), before it has been misused by some cyber criminal elements.

The overall reason therefor Microsoft did so, is closing a possible security hole of misusing the Web App Installer by financially motivited threat actors.