Fix: ‘This Installation Package Could not be Opened’ issue

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This article will show you how to Fix ‘This Installation Package Could not be Opened’ issue. Installing programs in Windows is a very common job that we all do often. For example, you might install the driver for your smartphone, your favorite game, or some important programs. Most of the time, we run into regular installation problems. The Package Could Not Be Opened Error is one of these problems. There is a long message with the problem that says the installer package is not valid. Windows is one of the most well-known operating systems that Microsoft makes and sells.

The most recent version is Windows 11/10, which is much faster and safer than the ones that came before it. Users can add almost any app from a long list on their computers. But recently, a lot of people have been grumbling about an error that says “The Installation Package Could Not be Opened” when they try to install an app. Now, if you think the package is good and right, it should work! Well, this troubleshooting will tell you everything you need to know about this mistake and give you the best ways to Fix ‘This Installation Package Could not be Opened’ issue in minutes.

What is the “This Installation Package Could not be Opened” issue?

The “This Installation Package Could not be Opened” error usually happens when you try to run or open an installation package (also called an installer or setup file) for a software program, but the package runs into an error and doesn’t open or run properly. Most Windows working systems show this error message. If you want to know more information about this issue Visit Official Microsoft Website for further Support.

Causes of the “This Installation Package Could not be Opened” issue

1. Corrupted or incomplete installation package: The installation package you are trying to open or install may be corrupted or incomplete. This can happen due to errors during the download process or issues with the source from where you obtained the package.
2. Incompatibility: The installation package may not be compatible with your operating system or hardware configuration. Some software packages are designed specifically for certain operating systems or versions, and attempting to install them on an incompatible system can result in the error.
3. Insufficient privileges: You may not have the necessary administrative privileges to install software on your computer. In such cases, the operating system may prevent you from opening or installing the package.
4. Blocked by antivirus or security software: Antivirus or security software installed on your computer can sometimes mistakenly flag certain installation packages as potentially harmful and prevent their execution. This can lead to the “This Installation Package Could not be Opened” error.
5. File extension association: If the file extension associated with the installation package is not properly registered or associated with the correct software, it can cause issues when trying to open or install the package.

Ways to Fix ‘This Installation Package Could not be Opened’ issue

Run the Windows Installer Service

Windows Installer is a service that you need to install programs that come in MSI or MSP packages. Start the Windows Installer service to fix the “installation package could not be opened” problem. This is one of the most tried and true solutions. So, here’s how to make sure service is running:

1. First, press Win + S to open Windows Search.
2. Type “services,” then click on the result “Services” to open it.
3. If you double-click Windows Installer, the settings window for that service will open.
4. Click the Start button if Windows Installer isn’t already working.
5. To save the new service settings, click “Apply.”
6. Press the OK button on the service window.

Unregister and Reregister the Windows Installer Service

If you don’t register Windows Installer right, it won’t work right. So, some people might be able to get rid of the “installation package could not be opened” error by reregistering that service. Here’s how to unregister Windows Installer and sign up for it again:

1. Open the text box for searching, and then type “Command Prompt” into it.
2. Click on Run as administrator next to the app called “Command Prompt”
3. Type this code and hit Enter to unregister Windows Installer:
   • msiexec /unregister
4. Then run the following command to re-register Windows Installer:
   • msiexec /regserver

Install the Software in a New Admin Account

Some users have also fixed this problem by making new Windows admin accounts and loading the needed software packages from them. To do this, go to Settings and add a new local user account. Then, change the account type to “administrator.” Follow the steps in our guide on how to fix Windows problems by making a new account to try this possible fix.

1. Log in to the new admin account you’ve set up.
2. Try downloading and installing the software you need from there.
3. Then that software should also be available within the other user account you couldn’t install it in.

Temporarily Disable Your Antivirus Software Before Installing the Software

Antivirus software stops bad programs and files from starting on a user’s computer. But sometimes they can stop setup files that are safe. So, try briefly turning off your antivirus software on your PC before you try to open setup files that have been affected. After installing the program, you can turn the shield back on.

1. Windows Security is the antivirus app included with Windows. You can disable that app’s Microsoft Defender antivirus component by turning off its Real-time protection option.
2. If you’ve installed third-party security software, disable its antivirus component from the app’s settings tab or context menu.
3. How you can do that varies a little bit between apps, but most of them have context menus with options for disabling their antivirus shields.
4. Right-click the antivirus tool’s icon in the system tray and select an option for turning off its shield.

Edit the FileSystem Registry Key

The “installation package could not be opened” mistake is also said to be fixed by changing two DWORD values in the FileSystem registry key. If you want, you can make a copy of the Windows data or set a System Restore point before you start. To try this possible option, make the following changes to the registry:

1. Open Registry Editor to see the window for that app.
2. Then type this FileSystem key location into the address bar of Registry Editor and hit Return: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem
3. Click twice on the DWORD called NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation in the FileSystem key.
4. If the NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation DWORD is set to something else, put 0 in the Value box.
5. To close the Value box, click OK.
6. If you double-click Win31FileSystem, the Value text box will appear.
7. Set the Win31FileSystem number to 0 and click OK.
8. Click the “X” to close the Registry Editor, and then restart Windows.

Download the Affected Installation File Again

1. Downloaded setup file might not be compatible with your PC’s platform or could be corrupted.
2. Try downloading the setup wizard for the software you want to install again.
3. Choose a different folder path on the local drive for the new download.
4. Ensure that you download an installer for your Windows 11/10 platform (not Linux or Mac OS).
5. If there are alternative 64/32-bit versions, download the one that matches your platform’s architecture.

Check if the Setup File is Blocked

Windows will sometimes block’suspicious’ files that you download. If your setup file is blocked, the properties window for it will have a choice to Unblock it. This is how you can unlock a setup file:

1. Press the Win and X keys on your keyboard at the same time, then choose File Explorer.
2. Go to the place where you saved the software installation file that has a problem.
3. Right-click the software installation file in question and choose Properties.
4. If you see an Unblock box on the General tab, click it.
5. Click “Apply” to save the changes to the file’s settings.
6. Click OK to get rid of the file’s properties box.

Conclusion

With the new version of Windows 11/10, users can run any number of apps more quickly and safely. But a lot of users also said that they got an error that said “the installation package could not be opened” when they tried to load an app. In this guide to fixing errors, we looked at a number of ways to fix the mistake “The installation package could not be opened.” We also told you a little bit about why this problem is happening. We hope this guide will help you solve your problem.

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