A Guide to Deploying EXE Apps with Intune

Deploying applications through Microsoft Intune is typically straightforward when dealing with MSI installations. However, for EXE-based installations, it requires a bit of preparation. This post will guide you through the process of deploying EXE applications with Intune.

Deploying EXE Apps with Intune

To deploy EXE applications with Intune, we first need to package the application into the .intunewin format using a Microsoft tool known as Microsoft-Win32-Content-Prep-Tool.

Installing the Tool

Begin by downloading and installing the Microsoft-Win32-Content-Prep-Tool. You can find it on the relevant GitHub repository.

Creating the Package

Once the tool is installed, it’s time to create the intunewin package. Follow these steps:

1. Folder Structure: Create the following folder structure: Source, Output, and the Win32 prep tool.
2. Place the EXE: Put your EXE file inside the Source folder.
3. Using the Command Prompt: Open the command prompt and navigate to the Win32 Prep tool folder. Execute the tool using the following command:

   IntuneWinAppUtil.exe

Follow the prompts, providing the necessary information like source folder, setup file, and output folder. For example:

   Please specify the source folder: c:\intune\
   Please specify the setup file: setup.exe
   Please specify the output folder: C:\Intune\output
   Do you want to specify catalog folder (Y/N)? n

Once the packaging process is complete, you will receive a confirmation message.

Checking the Output

Navigate to the output folder, and you’ll find the .intunewin file.

This process prepares your EXE application for deployment through Intune. In the next post, we’ll explore how to deploy the packaged app to Windows machines using the EndPoint Manager portal.