The Microsoft Store source is added even if the Microsoft Store isn't available.

[jedieaston]

Brief description of your issue

If you're on a version of Windows that doesn't have the Microsoft Store (LTSC, Server, the weird build Sandbox runs), winget adds the Microsoft Store source even though you can't use it since you can't sign in.

Steps to reproduce

1. Install winget on Windows Sandbox (or real LTSC).
2. Run winget install solitaire.
3. Note that it doesn't work since you aren't signed in.
4. Try to go sign in, and remember that you don't have the Microsoft Store so you can't do that.

Expected behavior

Either the Microsoft Store source won't be added at all so the searches make more sense, or it will do the install without auth (as that's the same behavior that the Microsoft Store app has for free apps).

Actual behavior

Environment

[winget --info]

Windows: Windows.Desktop v10.0.22000.194
Package: Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller v1.16.12653.0

Any other software?

[KevinLaMS]

Thanks for the report. I believe this is related to the user not being logged on to the store. Can you log into the store and retry? I suspect this will address the issue.

[jedieaston]

I can't log into the store because the store isn't installed on LTSC builds (or on Server, or in the Sandbox)¹. Therefore, I think the expected behavior here would be that the msstore source isn't available on systems that don't have the Microsoft Store installed.

Footnotes

1. explanation here, specifically "Features from Windows 10 that could be updated with new functionality, including Cortana, Edge, and all in-box Universal Windows apps, are also not included.". I can still install winget manually (or use the in-box App Installer eventually), but in that case the Microsoft Store still isn't available. ↩

[denelon]

It looks like we might need to expand on the scenario for purchased apps. We may need to add some kind of authentication method for the Windows Package Manager if/when the Microsoft Store isn't present.

• Add authentication support to REST source for purchased Microsoft Store Apps #1339

[KevinLaMS]

@jedieaston I need a head slap emoji. :) Thanks for clarifying.

[JohnMcPMS]

Due to architectural reasons, the msstore source is a combination of different catalogs internally. So there are some packages that will be able to install in your scenarios. I think the right answer is not to remove the source completely, but rather detect it and limit the available packages.

Even better if we can get anonymous installs to work where appropriate, but there may be legal hurdles there that we are not aware of. Additionally, I'm not sure if the OS components are even present in these cases.

[denelon]

We're working on enabling the anonymous scenario. Most free packages rated "e" for everyone should not require MSA authentication in the Microsoft Store source.

[denelon]

@jedieaston

Does this Issue look like it's resolved in your opinion? Since the bug has been fixed for anonymous install this might be resolved. Let me know what you think.