What is the difference between Windows Installer types and which one should I use?

[Dan C]

Following the release of Affinity v2.5 we now support Windows ARM native builds, meaning users are now offered 4 different download choices for Affinity on Windows. These choices are as follows:

MSIX (X64)
MSI/EXE (X64)
MSIX (ARM64)
MSI/EXE (ARM64)

If you're unsure which version to download, please see below - 

 

Should I choose an (x64) or an (ARM64) installer?

Intel/AMD-based Windows devices, must use (x64) installers at this time. If in doubt these are likely the ones you are looking for.

ARM-based Windows devices, should use (ARM64) installers. If you have a supported ARM device (e.g., based on Snapdragon X Elite), we recommend you download the MSIX (ARM64) build; the Windows installation guide is still relevant if you need the MSI/EXE (ARM64) build.

 

How to tell if my Windows PC is (x64) or (ARM)?

1. Open Windows Settings by clicking the Start Menu, then the Cog Icon
2. Select System from the list / grid (Win11 / Win10)
3. Scroll to the bottom of this list and select About
4. You should now see Device Specifications, under System Type you will see the type of processor your PC uses.

Windows 10 (x64) -

Windows 11 (x64) -

Windows 11 ARM - 

 

Should I choose an MSIX or an MSI/EXE installer?

We recommend you use the MSIX installer version of our apps for the best experience as this supports in-app updating.
However, if you are experiencing issues and our Troubleshooting Windows MSIX FAQ hasn’t solved your issue, or you wish to install on a corporate network, please try the MSI/EXE installer version.

You can find out more about why we use MSIX as the default option here.

Installing a mixture of MSIX and MSI/EXE installers on the same device is not recommended and is unsupported. Using the same installer type also ensures Affinity Publisher’s StudioLink feature works correctly so please be sure you download all Affinity apps using the same installer type.

 

I have an ARM PC, do I have to use the (ARM64) installers?

As Windows ARM PCs support x64 emulation, you can install either the (ARM64) or (x64) versions on ARM devices.
We recommend the native ARM builds for all supported devices, however if you're having issues with this version on ARM, you may want to try the emulated x64 version and report the bug to our team.

Note that when installing the MSIX (x64) version on ARM machines, the app will simply install as normal due to Windows not providing developers customisation checking during MSIX installations.
However MSI/EXE (x64) installers will show the following warning during installation, to inform the user of the native ARM option.
As above this can be Ignored if you wish to install the (x64) version on ARM:

 

I'm seeing the 'Installation Failed' or 'Wrong installer type' error when installing - why?

This indicates the Affinity installer you have downloaded is the incorrect version for your system, please use the above steps to check your system version and then download the correct installer. This error can appear as follows:

MSIX -

EXE-

 

I'm still having trouble understanding which version to use, or receiving a different installation error message?

Please check our Windows installation guide and our Troubleshooting Windows MSIX FAQ for further support with other Windows installer error messages.

If you require further support or help in choosing your installer version, please create a new thread or email affinitysupport@serif.com directly.