Users often post about software installation issues on Windows support forums. One such reported issue is a Windows Installer error that sometimes occurs when users try to run program setup files. The Windows Installer error message says, “This installation package could not be opened.”

That error means you can’t install the software, but its message provides no clues for potential causes. The message only says to check if it’s a valid installer package, which it usually is. This is how you can fix the “installation package could not be opened” error in Windows 11/10.

1. Download the Affected Installation File Again

The setup file you’ve downloaded might not be compatible with your PC’s platform or could be corrupted. So, try downloading the setup wizard for the software you want to install again in a different folder path on the local drive. Make sure you download an installer for your Windows 11/10 platform (not a Linux or Mac OS). If there are alternative 64/32-bit versions, download the one that matches your platform’s architecture.

2. Check if the Setup File is Blocked

Windows sometimes applies blocks to ‘suspicious’ files downloaded. If your setup file is blocked, you’ll see an Unblock option within its properties window. You can unblock a setup file like this:

  1. Simultaneously press the Win + X keyboard keys and select File Explorer.
  2. Go to the folder you’ve downloaded an affected software setup file to.
  3. Right-click the affected software setup file and select Properties.
  4. Click the Unblock box on the General tab if you can see one.
    The Unblock checkbox
  5. Select Apply to save the file’s new properties.
  6. Click OK to close the properties window for the file.

3. Scan Your System's Files for Corruption

Don’t rule out the possibility of system file corruption causing this installation issue. It’s easy to scan and repair system files with the System File Checker command-line utility. Check out our how-to-run SFC guide for full instructions about applying this potential fix.

The SFC command

4. Run the Windows Installer Service

Windows Installer is a service needed for installing programs with MSI and MSP packages. Starting the Windows Installer service is among the most widely confirmed fixes for the “installation package could not be opened” error. So, check that service is running like this:

  1. First, bring up Windows Search with Win + S.
  2. Type in services,, then click the Services result to open it.
  3. Double-click Windows Installer to open that service’s properties window.
    The Service window
  4. If Windows Installer isn’t running, click its Start button.
    The Start button for the Windows Installer service
  5. Select Apply to save the new service settings.
  6. Press the service window’s OK button.

5. Install the Software in a New Admin Account

Some users have also resolved this issue by creating new Windows admin accounts and installing the required software packages from them. To do that, you’ll need to add a new local user account via Settings and then set it to an administrator account type. You can apply this potential resolution by following the steps in our guide to fixing Windows issues by creating a new account.

The Add account button

However, there’s no need to switch to the new user account you’ve set up. Log in to the new admin account you’ve set up and try downloading and installing the software you need from there. Then that software should also be available within the other user account you couldn’t install it in.

6. Temporarily Disable Your Antivirus Software Before Installing the Software

Antivirus software packages block malicious programs and files running on users’ PCs. However, sometimes they can block legitimate setup files. So, try temporarily disabling antivirus software on your PC before attempting to open affected setup files. You can turn the antivirus shield back on after installing the software.

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. Our guide on how to disable disabling Microsoft Defender includes full instructions for how to do that.

The Real-time protection option

If you’ve installed third-party security software, disable its antivirus component from the app’s settings tab or context menu. 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. Right-click the antivirus tool’s icon in the system tray and select an option for turning off its shield.

7. Unregister and Reregister the Windows Installer Service

Windows Installer won’t work right if it’s not properly registered. So, reregistering that service could feasibly resolve the “installation package could not be opened” error for some users. This is how you can unregister and reregister Windows Installer:

  1. Open the search text box, and type Command Prompt inside it.
  2. Click on Run as administrator for the Command Prompt app found.
  3. Type in this command to unregister Windows Installer and hit Enter: 
            msiexec /unregister
    The unregister command
  4. Then reregister Windows Installer by executing the following command: 
            msiexec /regserver

8. Edit the FileSystem Registry Key

Changing two DWORD values within the FileSystem registry key is another reputed fix for the “installation package could not be opened” error. You can back up the Windows registry or set a System Restore point beforehand if preferred. To apply this potential solution, edit the registry as follows:

  1. Open Registry Editor to view that app’s window.
  2. Then input this FileSystem key location within Registry Editor’s address bar and hit Return: 
            Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem
  3. Double-click the NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation DWORD in the FileSystem key.
    The FileSystem key
  4. Input 0 in the Value data box for the NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation DWORD if set to anything else.
    The Edit DWORD window
  5. Click OK to close the Value box.
  6. Double-click Win31FileSystem to bring up its Value data box.
  7. Set the value to 0 for the Win31FileSystem and click OK.
  8. Click the X (Close) button on the Registry Editor and restart Windows.

Get Your Software Installed Again in Windows

Going through those troubleshooting methods will probably get the “installation package could not be opened” error fixed on Windows 11/10 PCs. Those possible solutions don’t come with a 100 percent guarantee, but some have worked for other users. So, try applying them before contacting any software publisher support service for programs you can’t install.