Rolling out software across an entire organization isn’t always straightforward. You want the process to be consistent, automated, and require as little input from end users as possible. That’s where Microsoft Intune comes in. With Intune, administrators can silently push applications to Windows devices and maintain centralized management. In this guide, I’ll show you how to package and deploy 7-Zip, a widely used open-source file archiver, using the Win32 app method in Intune. This approach provides more control than the basic line-of-business deployment, making it a solid choice for EXE installers and when custom detection rules or uninstall scripts are required.
1. Download the 7-Zip Installer
- Go to the 7-Zip official site.
- Download the 7-Zip EXE installer (for example,
7z2501-x64.exe).
(MSI will also work, but the Win32 packaging method works great for EXE too.)
2. Prepare the IntuneWin Package
- Download the Microsoft Win32 Content Prep Tool from Microsoft’s GitHub: Win32 Content Prep Tool.
- Extract the tool, and place 7-Zip’s installer in the folder you want to reference directly in the next steps, for example: C:\IntuneApps\7zip.
- Open PowerShell and run the IntuneWin tool:
IntuneWinAppUtil.exe -c "C:\IntuneApps\7zip" -s "7z2501-x64.exe" -o "C:\IntuneApps\output" - This creates
install.intunewinin the output folder C:\IntuneApps\output.
3. Upload App to Intune
- Go to Intune Admin Center.
- Navigate to Apps > All Apps > Add.
- Choose App type: Windows app (Win32).
- Upload your
install.intunewinfile.
4. Configure App Information
- Name: 7-Zip 25 (x64)
- Publisher: Igor Pavlov
- Category: Utilities
- Description: 7-Zip is a free and open-source file archiver.
Fill in other fields as needed.
5. Configure Program Commands
- Install command:
7z2501-x64.exe /S - Uninstall command (for EXE installs, you need the uninstall string from registry, for example):
"C:\Program Files\7-Zip\Uninstall.exe" /S
6. Detection Rules
This step ensures Intune knows if 7-Zip is already installed.
- Choose Manually configure detection rules.
- Select Rule type: File.
- Use the following: %ProgramFiles%\7-Zip
7. Requirements
- Operating system architecture: 64-bit (if you used the x64 version).
- Minimum OS: Adjust based on your environment.
8. Assign the App
- Under Assignments, choose the target group:
- Required = Auto-installs for users/devices.
- Available = Allows the user to install via Company Portal.
9. Monitor Deployment
- After saving, go to Apps > Monitor > Device install status.
- Check success or failure logs.
By the end of this process, you’ll have 7-Zip silently installing on your users’ devices with no extra clicks or manual work required. Using the Win32 app method in Intune also sets you up with more flexibility for future deployments, whether that’s handling EXE installers, applying detection rules, or customizing uninstall options. Once you’ve done it once, packaging and rolling out other applications becomes much easier, giving you a repeatable approach for keeping your environment consistent and secure.