MSStoreHelper

Get Microsoft Store packages without the Store app.

MSStoreHelper gives Windows administrators one place to find Store apps and inspect the packages behind them. From there, it can stage a safe install. It is built for LTSC systems, damaged Store clients, restricted networks, and offline deployment work.

Download the portable Windows app or view the latest release.

Why MSStoreHelper

Most Store download tools stop after returning a list of links. MSStoreHelper carries the job through selection, trust review, staging, installation, and recovery.

Workflow	What MSStoreHelper does
Recover an LTSC or damaged PC	Finds missing essentials, stages dependencies, and offers inspected Store repair plans with reusable backups.
Prepare an offline machine	Builds a verified local cache or a restricted package mirror with a sanitized index.
Package apps for a fleet	Exports inspected plans for DISM, App Installer, IntuneWin, or WinGet.
Automate from an RMM tool	Searches, downloads, installs, or serves packages through a headless CLI with JSON output.

It does not bypass Microsoft Store licensing. Paid or account-bound apps still need the rights Microsoft requires.

See the workflow

Find apps without opening the Store	Inspect versions and dependencies

Stage a complete package set	Keep the queue visible while you work

Trust comes before automation

Before an AppX or MSIX package can move into an automated workflow, MSStoreHelper checks the artifact against its downloaded metadata and package manifest. The trust gate covers:

• Authenticode status, certificate chain evidence, and revocation state
• Package identity, publisher, version, architecture, and file type
• The expected Store product or dependency relationship
• A SHA-256 record that is rechecked before cache reuse or export

An identity-valid package with an unknown product binding goes into quarantine for review. A failed signature, manifest, chain, or identity check cannot be overridden.

Store repair follows the same rule. MSStoreHelper shows the planned changes first, records the backup, verifies it, and keeps that backup available for repeatable restore.

Quick start

Portable Windows app

1. Download MSStoreHelper-v3.36.2-windows-x64.zip from the latest release.
2. Extract the ZIP and run MSStoreHelper.exe.
3. Search or browse without elevation. Reopen as Administrator only when you are ready to install packages or run a repair.

The current portable build is unsigned because this project does not have a code-signing certificate. Windows may show a publisher warning. Check the file against SHA256SUMS.txt on the release before running it.

Run from source

git clone https://github.com/SysAdminDoc/MSStoreHelper.git
cd MSStoreHelper
py -3 -m pip install --require-hashes -r requirements.txt
py -3 MSStoreHelper.py

The source build supports CPython 3.11 through 3.14 on Windows x64, x86, and ARM64 through committed wheel locks. The packaged app in the current release targets Windows x64.

For a disconnected PC, build a wheelhouse on a connected machine first:

py -3 scripts\build_wheelhouse.py --output wheelhouse --test
py -3 -m pip install --no-index --find-links wheelhouse --require-hashes -r requirements.txt

Headless CLI

The CLI does not create a window. Use --json for RMM and deployment scripts.

# Search the Store catalog
py -3 MSStoreHelper.py --search terminal --json

# Download the recommended package set
py -3 MSStoreHelper.py --download Microsoft.WindowsTerminal --output C:\Packages --json

# Install from an elevated session
py -3 MSStoreHelper.py --install Microsoft.WindowsTerminal --output C:\Packages --json

# Inspect the plan without installing
py -3 MSStoreHelper.py --install Microsoft.WindowsTerminal --output C:\Packages --dry-run --json

To serve a cache on the same PC:

py -3 MSStoreHelper.py --mirror C:\MSStoreMirror --port 8765 --json

Loopback is the default. LAN mode requires an explicit acknowledgement and a short-lived bearer token. Use TLS when the mirror crosses a trusted machine boundary.

What is included

• Store search, curated LTSC presets, favorites, release notes, and localized ring controls
• Architecture-aware smart selection for bundles, frameworks, resource packages, and dependencies
• Resumable downloads with bounded sizes, disk reserve checks, atomic replacement, and URL refresh
• Current-version detection, keep-updated checks, rollback cache, and manifest diffing
• Shared offline cache plus a restricted local or LAN mirror
• DISM, WinGet, App Installer, and IntuneWin exports built from inspected package plans
• Store, provisioning, licensing, and cache repair with previewed changes and verified restore
• Redacted diagnostics, an operation journal, crash-safe state, and no telemetry

Requirements and limits

• Windows 10 or Windows 11. The current local release verification was performed on Windows 11 x64 with CPython 3.13.
• Administrator rights are needed for package installation and repair actions. Search, download, inspection, and export work without elevation.
• Search uses Microsoft's StoreEdgeFD endpoint. Direct package lookup currently uses RG-Adguard, and package files come from Microsoft delivery hosts. Source availability can change.
• Microsoft licensing, regional availability, device compatibility, and Store policy still apply.

Downloaded packages default to %USERPROFILE%\Downloads\MSStoreHelper. Local profile, queue, trust-review, and operation state is kept under %APPDATA%\MSStoreHelper.

Build and test

py -3 -m unittest discover -s tests -v
pwsh -File scripts\build_release.ps1

The release script creates a portable EXE, a ZIP, a Python wheel, an artifact manifest, and SHA-256 checksums. It signs the EXE automatically when a valid certificate is available in the current user's certificate store.

Responsible use

MSStoreHelper is an independent open-source project and is not affiliated with Microsoft. Use it for systems you own or administer. Review package and repair evidence before making changes to a production machine.

Contributions and reproducible bug reports are welcome. Include the redacted diagnostics preview when it helps explain a failure.

License

MSStoreHelper is available under the MIT License.