Got it 👍
Below is a more detailed, document-style set of notes with deeper explanations, step-by-step clarity, example visuals, and a clear comparison table (Win32 vs Store vs MSIX).
This is written like official training material + real admin experience, not quick notes.
📘 Application Management with Microsoft Intune
1️⃣ Introduction to Application Management in Intune (Detailed)
Application Management in Intune is the process of packaging, deploying, managing, updating, and troubleshooting applications across managed devices.
Why Application Management Is Critical
In modern enterprises:
- Users work remotely
- Devices are cloud-managed
- Manual installs are not scalable
- Security must be enforced automatically
Intune solves this by providing:
- Centralized control
- Policy-based deployment
- User-based or device-based installs
- Integration with security and identity (Entra ID)
Core Capabilities
- Application deployment
- App updates & replacement
- Conditional access for apps
- App protection (MAM)
- Reporting and troubleshooting
2️⃣ Structure of Application Management in Intune
High-Level Architecture
Admin → Intune Portal → Policy + App Config
→ Entra ID Groups
→ Device / User
→ Intune Management Extension (IME)
Logical Components
- App Package
- Deployment Configuration
- Detection Logic
- Assignment
- Execution on Endpoint
- Monitoring & Reporting
3️⃣ Overview of Applications and Types in Intune
Windows Application Types Explained
| App Type | Description | Typical Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Win32 App | Traditional EXE/MSI apps | Enterprise apps |
| Microsoft Store (New) | Winget-backed Store apps | Common utilities |
| MSIX | Modern packaged apps | Clean installs |
| LOB (MSI) | Simple MSI apps | Legacy installs |
| Web App | URL-based apps | SaaS platforms |
| Microsoft 365 Apps | Office apps | Productivity |
| Microsoft Edge | Browser | Standardization |
4️⃣ Assignment Options for Applications (Deep Explanation)
Assignment Behavior
| Option | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Required | App installs automatically |
| Available | User installs from Company Portal |
| Uninstall | App removed if detected |
Assignment Targeting
- User groups → follows user across devices
- Device groups → fixed hardware targeting
- Filters → OS version, device ownership, SKU
Best Practices
✔ Use Required for security tools
✔ Use Available for optional apps
✔ Use Filters to reduce group sprawl
5️⃣ Creating & Deploying Windows Applications (Step-by-Step)
🔹 A. Win32 Applications (Most Important)
What Is a Win32 App?
A Win32 app is any traditional Windows installer:
.exe.msi- Scripts or custom installers
Step-by-Step Deployment
- Package app using IntuneWinAppUtil
- Upload
.intunewin - Configure:
- Install command
- Uninstall command
- Detection rules
- Define requirements
- Assign app
Detection Rule (Critical Concept)
Intune must detect the app to mark install as successful.
Detection methods:
- File existence
- Registry key/value
- MSI product code
- Custom script
⚠️ Wrong detection = endless reinstall loop
🔹 B. Microsoft Store Apps (New Experience)
Key Characteristics
- Uses Windows Package Manager (Winget)
- No packaging required
- Auto updates supported
- Cleaner than legacy Store apps
Limitations
- Limited customization
- Dependent on Microsoft Store availability
🔹 C. MSIX Applications
What Is MSIX?
MSIX is a modern Windows app packaging format that:
- Is containerized
- Has clean install/uninstall
- Supports version upgrades
Advantages
✔ No registry pollution
✔ Built-in detection
✔ Safe rollback
Disadvantages
❌ App compatibility issues
❌ Packaging complexity
6️⃣ Deep Dive Troubleshooting (Windows Applications)
Key Log Locations
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\IntuneManagementExtension\Logs
| Log File | Purpose |
|---|---|
| IntuneManagementExtension.log | Core engine |
| AppWorkload.log | App execution |
| Detection.log | Detection logic |
| AgentExecutor.log | Script execution |
Common Issues & Fixes
| Issue | Root Cause | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| App stuck installing | Detection fails | Fix detection rule |
| Error 0x80070001 | Installer failed | Test locally |
| Reinstall loop | Wrong detection | Use registry/file |
| App not visible | Assignment issue | Check group |
7️⃣ Other Application Types
Web Apps
- Simple URL shortcuts
- Can be pinned
- Used for cloud platforms
Mobile Apps
- iOS / Android managed apps
- Works with:
- App Protection Policies
- Conditional Access
- BYOD scenarios
8️⃣ Microsoft 365 Apps and Microsoft Edge
Microsoft 365 Apps
- Custom install
- App-level selection
- Channel control
- Shared device licensing
Microsoft Edge
- Automatic deployment
- Extension enforcement
- Security baseline integration
9️⃣ ⭐ Comparison Table: Win32 vs Store vs MSIX
🔍 Detailed Comparison
| Feature | Win32 App | Microsoft Store (New) | MSIX App |
|---|---|---|---|
| Packaging Required | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Installer Types | EXE / MSI | Store / Winget | MSIX |
| Detection Rules | Manual | Automatic | Built-in |
| Custom Install Cmd | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ Limited |
| Uninstall Control | ✅ Full | ⚠️ Limited | ✅ Clean |
| Supersedence | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Versioned |
| Updates | Manual | Automatic | Automatic |
| App Isolation | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Enterprise Flexibility | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Recommended Use | Complex apps | Common tools | Modern apps |
✅ When to Use What
- Win32 → Complex enterprise software
- Store (New) → Standard utilities
- MSIX → Modern, clean apps
🔚 Final Summary
✔ Win32 apps give maximum control
✔ Store apps offer simplicity & auto-updates
✔ MSIX provides modern, clean deployment
✔ Detection rules decide success or failure
✔ Logs are mandatory for troubleshooting
If you want next steps, I can:
- Convert this into a PDF / Word document
- Create hands-on lab exercises
- Add real interview questions
- Make flowcharts for troubleshooting
- Create a Win32 packaging checklist
Just tell me 👍
Perfect choice 👌
Below are clear, exam-ready troubleshooting flowcharts plus a practical Win32 packaging checklist that real Intune admins actually use in production.
I’ve written this so you can:
Follow it during a live issue
Memorize it for interviews
Use it as a build standard
---
🔧 Intune Application Troubleshooting – Flowcharts
🔁 Win32 App Installation Troubleshooting Flowchart
Step-by-Step Flow (Text Version)
App Deployment Fails
↓
Check Intune Portal Status
↓
Is status "Failed"?
↓ YES
Check Error Code
↓
Check IME Logs on Device
↓
Did install command run?
↓ YES ↓ NO
Check Detection Check Install Command
Rule (syntax, path, context)
↓
Is detection correct?
↓ YES ↓ NO
Check Requirements Fix Detection Rule
(OS, disk, user)
↓
Retry Deployment
---
🟡 App Stuck on "Installing" Flowchart
App shows "Installing"
↓
Wait > 30 minutes?
↓ YES
Check Detection Rules
↓
Does detection logic match reality?
↓ YES ↓ NO
Check Logs Fix detection
(AppWorkload.log)
↓
Is app actually installed?
↓ YES ↓ NO
Detection failure Install failure
↓ ↓
Fix detection Fix install command
💡 Most common root cause:
➡️ Detection rule checks the wrong file, registry, or version
---
🔴 App Reinstalling Repeatedly Flowchart
App installs → reinstalls → repeats
↓
Check Detection Rule
↓
Is detection static?
↓ NO ↓ YES
Fix detection Check context
(file/registry)
↓
User vs System mismatch?
↓
Align install + detection context
⚠️ Example mistake:
App installs to Program Files
Detection checks AppData
---
🔵 App Not Showing in Company Portal Flowchart
App not visible
↓
Is app assigned as "Available"?
↓ NO → Fix assignment
↓ YES
Is user licensed?
↓ NO → Assign license
↓ YES
Is device compliant?
↓ NO → Fix compliance
↓ YES
Sync device + restart portal
---
📦 Win32 Application Packaging Checklist (Production-Grade)
✅ Pre-Packaging Checklist
☐ Confirm installer type (.exe / .msi)
☐ Test manual install locally
☐ Identify silent install switches
☐ Identify silent uninstall command
☐ Confirm install context (System/User)
☐ Check app architecture (x64 / x86)
---
🧰 Packaging Checklist (IntuneWinAppUtil)
☐ Place installer + files in one folder
☐ Run IntuneWinAppUtil
☐ Confirm .intunewin file created
☐ Store source files securely
---
⚙️ App Configuration Checklist
App Information
☐ App name clear & versioned
☐ Publisher populated
☐ Category assigned
Program
☐ Install command tested
☐ Uninstall command tested
☐ Correct install behavior (System/User)
☐ Return codes validated
---
🔍 Detection Rule Checklist (MOST IMPORTANT)
☐ Detection method chosen:
☐ File
☐ Registry
☐ MSI product code
☐ Script
☐ Detection checks post-install state
☐ Detection is version independent (if possible)
☐ Detection matches install context
🚫 Avoid:
Temp folders
User paths for system installs
Version-specific EXE names
---
📋 Requirements Checklist
☐ OS version defined
☐ Architecture correct
☐ Disk space sufficient
☐ No conflicting requirements
---
🎯 Assignment Checklist
☐ Assigned to correct group
☐ Required vs Available correct
☐ Filters applied (if needed)
☐ Test group used first
---
📊 Post-Deployment Checklist
☐ App installs successfully
☐ App reports Installed
☐ No reinstall loop
☐ Logs clean
☐ User experience verified
---
🚀 Best Practices (Real-World)
✔ Always test on pilot group
✔ Prefer registry detection
✔ Keep install commands simple
✔ Use Win32 over LOB
✔ Document detection logic
---
🧠 Interview Tip (Bonus)
If asked:
> “Why do Intune app deployments fail?”
Correct answer:
> “Mostly because of incorrect detection rules or mismatched install context.”
---
If you want next, I can:
Turn these flowcharts into printable diagrams
Create a Win32 packaging template
Add real Intune error codes explained
Build a hands-on lab with test cases
Create interview Q&A based on these
Just say the word 👍
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