Failing to add WinGet Source in non-interactive session

[jborean93]

Relevant area(s)

WinGet CLI

Relevant command(s)

winget list

Brief description of your issue

When running winget in a non-interactive session, like ssh/winrm, any operations that need to setup the winget source will fail. By default 2 sources seem to be available out of the box msstore and winget where msstore won't work until at least one interactive logon has happened for that user and winget which fails to register the Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe package.

On investigation I can see in the winget logs the following

2026-06-26 00:17:46.749 [CORE] WinGet, version [1.9.25200], activity [{A59ABDA5-31FD-4204-9549-A6D4D6A2DF85}]
2026-06-26 00:17:46.750 [CORE] OS: Windows.Server v10.0.26100.32995
2026-06-26 00:17:46.750 [CORE] Command line Args: "C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\winget.exe" list --disable-interactivity --accept-source-agreements --verbose
2026-06-26 00:17:46.750 [CORE] Package: Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller v1.24.25200.0
2026-06-26 00:17:46.750 [CORE] IsCOMCall:0; Caller: winget-cli
2026-06-26 00:17:46.755 [CLI ] WinGet invoked with arguments: 'list' '--disable-interactivity' '--accept-source-agreements' '--verbose'
2026-06-26 00:17:46.756 [CLI ] Found subcommand: list
2026-06-26 00:17:46.756 [CLI ] Leaf command to execute: root:list
2026-06-26 00:17:46.757 [CORE] Setting action: Get, Type: Secure, Name: admin_settings
2026-06-26 00:17:46.758 [CORE] Admin settings was not found
2026-06-26 00:17:46.758 [CORE] Setting action: Get, Type: Secure, Name: admin_settings
2026-06-26 00:17:46.758 [CORE] Admin settings was not found
2026-06-26 00:17:46.758 [CLI ] Executing command: list
2026-06-26 00:17:46.758 [REPO] Additional sources GP is not enabled.
2026-06-26 00:17:46.758 [CORE] Setting action: Get, Type: Secure, Name: user_sources
2026-06-26 00:17:46.758 [CORE] Setting action: Get, Type: Secure, Name: admin_settings
2026-06-26 00:17:46.758 [CORE] Admin settings was not found
2026-06-26 00:17:46.758 [CORE] Adding chain to pinning configuration [Microsoft Store Source]:
DigiCert Global Root G3 : PublicKey
  Microsoft Azure ECC TLS Issuing CA 04 : Subject | Issuer
    sfdataservice.microsoft.com : Subject | Issuer
2026-06-26 00:17:46.758 [CORE] Adding chain to pinning configuration [Microsoft Store Source]:
DigiCert Global Root G3 : PublicKey
  Microsoft Azure ECC TLS Issuing CA 04 : Subject | Issuer
    sfdataservice.microsoft.com : Subject | Issuer
2026-06-26 00:17:46.765 [CORE] Setting action: Get, Type: Standard, Name: sources_metadata
2026-06-26 00:17:46.766 [YAML] Detected UTF-8
2026-06-26 00:17:46.766 [REPO] GetCurrentSourceRefs: Source named 'microsoft.builtin.desktop.frameworks' from origin Default is hidden and is dropped.
2026-06-26 00:17:46.766 [REPO] Default source requested, multiple sources available, adding all to source references.
2026-06-26 00:17:46.766 [REPO] Adding to source references msstore
2026-06-26 00:17:46.766 [CORE] Setting action: Get, Type: Secure, Name: admin_settings
2026-06-26 00:17:46.766 [CORE] Admin settings was not found
2026-06-26 00:17:46.766 [CORE] Default proxy is not set
2026-06-26 00:17:46.766 [REPO] REST HTTP Client helper does not use proxy
2026-06-26 00:17:46.766 [REPO] Adding to source references winget
2026-06-26 00:17:46.766 [CLI ] Created authentication arguments. Mode: silent, Account: 
2026-06-26 00:17:46.770 [CORE] Did not find extension: PFN = Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe, ID = IndexDB
2026-06-26 00:17:46.770 [REPO] Source `winget` has no data
2026-06-26 00:17:46.771 [CORE] Did not find extension: PFN = Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe, ID = IndexDB
2026-06-26 00:17:46.771 [CORE] Retrieving headers from url: https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source2.msix
2026-06-26 00:17:46.820 [REPO] Header indicates version is: 2026.625.2439.0
2026-06-26 00:17:46.821 [CORE] Downloading to path: C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Temp\WinGet\Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe.msix
2026-06-26 00:17:46.822 [CORE] Started applying motw to C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Temp\WinGet\Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe.msix with zone: 3
2026-06-26 00:17:46.823 [CORE] Finished applying motw
2026-06-26 00:17:46.823 [CORE] WinINet downloading from url: https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source2.msix
2026-06-26 00:17:46.840 [CORE] Download request status success.
2026-06-26 00:17:46.840 [CORE] Download size: 3227357
2026-06-26 00:17:46.840 [CORE] Content Type: application/octet-stream
2026-06-26 00:17:46.892 [CORE] Download hash: cbf8dfcabfa6523dfa734d9c97b2b4ca4686c01efb39d671692b8d3dcaa3fd7c
2026-06-26 00:17:46.892 [CORE] Download completed.
2026-06-26 00:17:46.945 [CORE] Started trust validation of msix at: C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Temp\WinGet\Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe.msix
2026-06-26 00:17:46.985 [CORE] Result for certificate chain validation of Microsoft origin: 0
2026-06-26 00:17:47.021 [CORE] Result for trust info validation of the msix: 0
2026-06-26 00:17:47.022 [CORE] Starting AddPackage operation #0: file:///C:/Users/Administrator/AppData/Local/Temp/WinGet/Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe.msix Options:  { SkipReputationCheck = 1, ExpectedDigests = {} }
2026-06-26 00:17:47.022 [CORE] Begin waiting for operation #0
2026-06-26 00:17:47.022 [CORE] Begin blocking for operation #0
2026-06-26 00:17:47.098 [CORE] Deployment operation #0: Deployment Add operation with target volume C: on Package Microsoft.Winget.Source_2026.625.2439.0_neutral__8wekyb3d8bbwe from:   failed with error 0x80073D19. See http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=235160 for help diagnosing app deployment issues.
2026-06-26 00:17:47.098 [FAIL] C:\__w\1\s\external\pkg\src\AppInstallerCommonCore\Deployment.cpp(54)\WindowsPackageManager.dll!00007FF94DF9CA3B: (caller: 00007FF94DF98779) Exception(1) tid(1544) 80073D19 An error occurred because a user was logged off.

    Msg:[Operation failed: Deployment Add operation with target volume C: on Package Microsoft.Winget.Source_2026.625.2439.0_neutral__8wekyb3d8bbwe from:   failed with error 0x80073D19. See http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=235160 for help diagnosing app deployment issues.] 

2026-06-26 00:17:47.104 [FAIL] C:\__w\1\s\external\pkg\src\AppInstallerRepositoryCore\RepositorySource.cpp(96)\WindowsPackageManager.dll!00007FF94E0E2355: (caller: 00007FF94DFED4DA) LogHr(1) tid(1544) 80073D19 An error occurred because a user was logged off.

    Msg:[C:\__w\1\s\external\pkg\src\AppInstallerCommonCore\Deployment.cpp(54)\WindowsPackageManager.dll!00007FF94DF9CA3B: (caller: 00007FF94DF98779) Exception(1) tid(1544) 80073D19 An error occurred because a user was logged off.

    Msg:[Operation failed: Deployment Add operation with target volume C: on Package Microsoft.Winget.Source_2026.625.2439.0_neutral__8wekyb3d8bbwe from:   failed with error 0x80073D19. See http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=235160 for help diagnosing app deployment issues.] 
] 

2026-06-26 00:17:47.104 [REPO] Source add/update failed, waiting 2519 milliseconds and retrying: winget
2026-06-26 00:17:49.624 [CORE] Did not find extension: PFN = Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe, ID = IndexDB
2026-06-26 00:17:49.624 [CORE] Retrieving headers from url: https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source2.msix
2026-06-26 00:17:49.629 [REPO] Header indicates version is: 2026.625.2439.0
2026-06-26 00:17:49.629 [CORE] Downloading to path: C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Temp\WinGet\Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe.msix
2026-06-26 00:17:49.630 [CORE] Started applying motw to C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Temp\WinGet\Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe.msix with zone: 3
2026-06-26 00:17:49.630 [CORE] Finished applying motw
2026-06-26 00:17:49.631 [CORE] WinINet downloading from url: https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source2.msix
2026-06-26 00:17:49.635 [CORE] Download request status success.
2026-06-26 00:17:49.635 [CORE] Download size: 3227357
2026-06-26 00:17:49.635 [CORE] Content Type: application/octet-stream
2026-06-26 00:17:49.651 [CORE] Download hash: cbf8dfcabfa6523dfa734d9c97b2b4ca4686c01efb39d671692b8d3dcaa3fd7c
2026-06-26 00:17:49.651 [CORE] Download completed.
2026-06-26 00:17:49.689 [CORE] Started trust validation of msix at: C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Temp\WinGet\Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe.msix
2026-06-26 00:17:49.729 [CORE] Result for certificate chain validation of Microsoft origin: 0
2026-06-26 00:17:49.757 [CORE] Result for trust info validation of the msix: 0
2026-06-26 00:17:49.757 [CORE] Starting AddPackage operation #1: file:///C:/Users/Administrator/AppData/Local/Temp/WinGet/Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe.msix Options:  { SkipReputationCheck = 1, ExpectedDigests = {} }
2026-06-26 00:17:49.757 [CORE] Begin waiting for operation #1
2026-06-26 00:17:49.757 [CORE] Begin blocking for operation #1
2026-06-26 00:17:49.824 [CORE] Successfully completed #1
2026-06-26 00:17:49.830 [REPO] Additional sources GP is not enabled.
2026-06-26 00:17:49.830 [CORE] Setting action: Get, Type: Secure, Name: user_sources
2026-06-26 00:17:49.830 [CORE] Setting action: Get, Type: Secure, Name: admin_settings
2026-06-26 00:17:49.830 [CORE] Admin settings was not found
2026-06-26 00:17:49.830 [CORE] Adding chain to pinning configuration [Microsoft Store Source]:
DigiCert Global Root G3 : PublicKey
  Microsoft Azure ECC TLS Issuing CA 04 : Subject | Issuer
    sfdataservice.microsoft.com : Subject | Issuer
2026-06-26 00:17:49.830 [CORE] Adding chain to pinning configuration [Microsoft Store Source]:
DigiCert Global Root G3 : PublicKey
  Microsoft Azure ECC TLS Issuing CA 04 : Subject | Issuer
    sfdataservice.microsoft.com : Subject | Issuer
2026-06-26 00:17:49.830 [CORE] Setting action: Get, Type: Standard, Name: sources_metadata
2026-06-26 00:17:49.830 [YAML] Detected UTF-8
2026-06-26 00:17:49.830 [CORE] Setting action: Set, Type: Standard, Name: sources_metadata
2026-06-26 00:17:49.830 [REPO] Multiple sources available, creating aggregated source.
2026-06-26 00:17:49.830 [REPO] Adding to aggregated source: msstore
2026-06-26 00:17:49.831 [REPO] User agent caller found: winget-cli
2026-06-26 00:17:49.831 [REPO] Sending http GET request to: https://storeedgefd.dsx.mp.microsoft.com/v9.0/information
2026-06-26 00:17:49.831 [REPO] Http GET request details:
GET / HTTP/1.1

Content-Type: application/json

User-Agent: winget-cli WindowsPackageManager/1.9.25200 DesktopAppInstaller/Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller v1.24.25200.0




2026-06-26 00:17:49.852 [FAIL] C:\__w\1\s\external\pkg\src\AppInstallerRepositoryCore\RepositorySource.cpp(847)\WindowsPackageManager.dll!00007FF94E0E2B97: (caller: 00007FF94DE33149) LogHr(2) tid(1544) 8A15005E     Msg:[C:\__w\1\s\external\pkg\src\AppInstallerCommonCore\HttpClientHelper.cpp(34)\WindowsPackageManager.dll!00007FF94DFDEEF7: (caller: 00007FF94DD6C97C) Exception(2) tid(1544) 8A15005E ] 

2026-06-26 00:17:49.852 [REPO] Failed to open available source: msstore
2026-06-26 00:17:49.852 [REPO] Adding to aggregated source: winget
2026-06-26 00:17:49.853 [CORE] Did not find extension: PFN = Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe, ID = IndexDB
2026-06-26 00:17:49.853 [REPO] Package not found Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe
2026-06-26 00:17:49.853 [FAIL] C:\__w\1\s\external\pkg\src\AppInstallerRepositoryCore\Microsoft\PreIndexedPackageSourceFactory.cpp(446)\WindowsPackageManager.dll!00007FF94E008443: (caller: 00007FF94DFEDB14) Exception(3) tid(1544) 8A15000F 
2026-06-26 00:17:49.853 [FAIL] C:\__w\1\s\external\pkg\src\AppInstallerRepositoryCore\RepositorySource.cpp(847)\WindowsPackageManager.dll!00007FF94E0E2B97: (caller: 00007FF94DE33149) LogHr(3) tid(1544) 8A15000F     Msg:[C:\__w\1\s\external\pkg\src\AppInstallerRepositoryCore\Microsoft\PreIndexedPackageSourceFactory.cpp(446)\WindowsPackageManager.dll!00007FF94E008443: (caller: 00007FF94DFEDB14) Exception(3) tid(1544) 8A15000F ] 

2026-06-26 00:17:49.853 [REPO] Failed to open available source: winget
2026-06-26 00:17:49.853 [FAIL] C:\__w\1\s\external\pkg\src\AppInstallerRepositoryCore\RepositorySource.cpp(854)\WindowsPackageManager.dll!00007FF94DFEDFE8: (caller: 00007FF94DE33149) Exception(4) tid(1544) 8A15004B 
2026-06-26 00:17:49.860 [CLI ] Terminating context: 0x8a15004b at C:\__w\1\s\external\pkg\src\AppInstallerCLICore\Workflows\WorkflowBase.cpp:dd

The key parts I've found is that winget goes to register/add/install the Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe MSIX package from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source2.msix. The first one fails with

2026-06-26 00:17:47.022 [CORE] Starting AddPackage operation #0: file:///C:/Users/Administrator/AppData/Local/Temp/WinGet/Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe.msix Options:  { SkipReputationCheck = 1, ExpectedDigests = {} }
2026-06-26 00:17:47.022 [CORE] Begin waiting for operation #0
2026-06-26 00:17:47.022 [CORE] Begin blocking for operation #0
2026-06-26 00:17:47.098 [CORE] Deployment operation #0: Deployment Add operation with target volume C: on Package Microsoft.Winget.Source_2026.625.2439.0_neutral__8wekyb3d8bbwe from:   failed with error 0x80073D19. See http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=235160 for help diagnosing app deployment issues.
2026-06-26 00:17:47.098 [FAIL] C:\__w\1\s\external\pkg\src\AppInstallerCommonCore\Deployment.cpp(54)\WindowsPackageManager.dll!00007FF94DF9CA3B: (caller: 00007FF94DF98779) Exception(1) tid(1544) 80073D19 An error occurred because a user was logged off.

    Msg:[Operation failed: Deployment Add operation with target volume C: on Package Microsoft.Winget.Source_2026.625.2439.0_neutral__8wekyb3d8bbwe from:   failed with error 0x80073D19. See http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=235160 for help diagnosing app deployment issues.] 

2026-06-26 00:17:47.104 [FAIL] C:\__w\1\s\external\pkg\src\AppInstallerRepositoryCore\RepositorySource.cpp(96)\WindowsPackageManager.dll!00007FF94E0E2355: (caller: 00007FF94DFED4DA) LogHr(1) tid(1544) 80073D19 An error occurred because a user was logged off.

    Msg:[C:\__w\1\s\external\pkg\src\AppInstallerCommonCore\Deployment.cpp(54)\WindowsPackageManager.dll!00007FF94DF9CA3B: (caller: 00007FF94DF98779) Exception(1) tid(1544) 80073D19 An error occurred because a user was logged off.

    Msg:[Operation failed: Deployment Add operation with target volume C: on Package Microsoft.Winget.Source_2026.625.2439.0_neutral__8wekyb3d8bbwe from:   failed with error 0x80073D19. See http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=235160 for help diagnosing app deployment issues.] 
] 

The second attempt "succeeds" but when it goes to try and use that package it fails to then find it

2026-06-26 00:17:49.757 [CORE] Starting AddPackage operation #1: file:///C:/Users/Administrator/AppData/Local/Temp/WinGet/Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe.msix Options:  { SkipReputationCheck = 1, ExpectedDigests = {} }
2026-06-26 00:17:49.757 [CORE] Begin waiting for operation #1
2026-06-26 00:17:49.757 [CORE] Begin blocking for operation #1
2026-06-26 00:17:49.824 [CORE] Successfully completed #1

...

2026-06-26 00:17:49.852 [REPO] Adding to aggregated source: winget
2026-06-26 00:17:49.853 [CORE] Did not find extension: PFN = Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe, ID = IndexDB
2026-06-26 00:17:49.853 [REPO] Package not found Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe
2026-06-26 00:17:49.853 [FAIL] C:\__w\1\s\external\pkg\src\AppInstallerRepositoryCore\Microsoft\PreIndexedPackageSourceFactory.cpp(446)\WindowsPackageManager.dll!00007FF94E008443: (caller: 00007FF94DFEDB14) Exception(3) tid(1544) 8A15000F 
2026-06-26 00:17:49.853 [FAIL] C:\__w\1\s\external\pkg\src\AppInstallerRepositoryCore\RepositorySource.cpp(847)\WindowsPackageManager.dll!00007FF94E0E2B97: (caller: 00007FF94DE33149) LogHr(3) tid(1544) 8A15000F     Msg:[C:\__w\1\s\external\pkg\src\AppInstallerRepositoryCore\Microsoft\PreIndexedPackageSourceFactory.cpp(446)\WindowsPackageManager.dll!00007FF94E008443: (caller: 00007FF94DFEDB14) Exception(3) tid(1544) 8A15000F ] 

2026-06-26 00:17:49.853 [REPO] Failed to open available source: winget
2026-06-26 00:17:49.853 [FAIL] C:\__w\1\s\external\pkg\src\AppInstallerRepositoryCore\RepositorySource.cpp(854)\WindowsPackageManager.dll!00007FF94DFEDFE8: (caller: 00007FF94DE33149) Exception(4) tid(1544) 8A15004B 
2026-06-26 00:17:49.860 [CLI ] Terminating context: 0x8a15004b at C:\__w\1\s\external\pkg\src\AppInstallerCLICore\Workflows\WorkflowBase.cpp:dd

If the source was setup in an interactive logon, like RDP, then winget list in SSH works at least for that current source package but if winget every needs to add it again for any reason it will fail in these non-interactive sessions.

Some things I've noticed is that even when winget list fails and the logs indicate that it successfully added on the second attempt, the package does NOT appear in Get-AppxPackage or in C:\Program Files\WindowsApps. I have no idea why the AddPackageAsync operation is saying it succeeded but in reality didn't but there's fundamentally no reason why it should fail in a non-interactive session.

I haven't looked into the msstore source problem but it's solved by having the user log on interactive once but I don't care too much about that one for now.

The only work around I have is to manually add the source package

$sourceUrl = "https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source2.msix"
$tempPath = "$env:TEMP\winget-source.msix"
Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $sourceUrl -OutFile $tempPath -UseBasicParsing
Add-AppxPackage -Path $tempPath
Remove-Item -Path $tempPath

# winget list now works

This is not a good workaround because

• This URL has changed in the past and can change again - P.S.A. Original CDN will be retired #3652
• I don't know of any way to get this URL and it's relying on an implementation detail
• If it works for me in the exact same SSH session why is winget failing here

I've even used PowerShell to call the exact same AddPackageAsync API that winget is using and PowerShell works without any issues. There's something about the MSIX appcontainer that winget is running in that's causing problems.

I assume this is a duplicate of these two issues

• Non-interactive winget download does not work - Error: 0x80070520 : A specified logon session does not exist. #5398
• WinGet is unable to interact with winget source from ssh session #5579

Steps to reproduce

Create a brand new Windows Server 2025 image, I'm using an Amazon EC2 instance. Create an admin user and make sure to never log on through RDP. Connect through SSH and run

# Ensure winget is provisioned for the user, this happens automatically
# for an interactive logon but won't in SSH
$package = Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online | Where-Object DisplayName -eq Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller
Add-AppxPackage -RegisterByFamilyName -MainPackage $package.PackageName

winget list --disable-interactivity --accept-source-agreements --verbose

Expected behavior

winget list works

Actual behavior

> winget list
Failed when opening source(s); try the 'source reset' command if the problem persists.

> winget list -s winget
Failed when opening source(s); try the 'source reset' command if the problem persists.
An unexpected error occurred while executing the command:
0x8a15000f : Data required by the source is missing

Environment

Windows Package Manager v1.9.25200
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Windows: Windows.Server v10.0.26100.32995
System Architecture: X64
Package: Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller v1.24.25200.0

Winget Directories
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Logs                               %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\DiagOutputDir
User Settings                      %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\settings.json
Portable Links Directory (User)    %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\WinGet\Links
Portable Links Directory (Machine) C:\Program Files\WinGet\Links
Portable Package Root (User)       %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\WinGet\Packages
Portable Package Root              C:\Program Files\WinGet\Packages
Portable Package Root (x86)        C:\Program Files (x86)\WinGet\Packages
Installer Downloads                %USERPROFILE%\Downloads

Links
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Privacy Statement   https://aka.ms/winget-privacy
License Agreement   https://aka.ms/winget-license
Third Party Notices https://aka.ms/winget-3rdPartyNotice
Homepage            https://aka.ms/winget
Windows Store Terms https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/storedocs/terms-of-sale

Admin Setting                             State
--------------------------------------------------
LocalManifestFiles                        Disabled
BypassCertificatePinningForMicrosoftStore Disabled
InstallerHashOverride                     Disabled
LocalArchiveMalwareScanOverride           Disabled
ProxyCommandLineOptions                   Disabled
DefaultProxy                              Disabled

[jborean93]

Just for some background information I am trying to get a winget module written for Ansible to drive winget operations. As Ansible runs in a non-interactive session and in a lot of uses cases are run from newly provisioned machines it is going to be a non-starter if winget does not work at all in these scenarios. It also puts a very poor look on Ansible if our module fails due to limitations and problems in the winget side that we cannot overcome. The workaround I listed does technically get things working for us but it is not something I would be wanting to rely on and tell our users as it is based on an implementation detail and can change in the future.

I'm happy to share whatever information is needed to try and unlock this use case but ultimately my skills of debugging this problem have reached a limit and it seems like there's some more deep level MSIX packaging problems that are going to be the root cause.

[Trenly]

@jborean93 - Have you tried using Add-WinGetSource from the Microsoft.WinGet.Client Powershell Module?

As @denelon noted in #5398, The WinGet CLI was designed for a logged in user as it's delivered via an MSIX package (App Installer)

[jborean93]

Have you tried using Add-WinGetSource from the Microsoft.WinGet.Client Powershell Module?

The source is present in the winget configuration and you can see it with winget source list. It's just that when winget goes to use this source it fails to initialise it. Using Add-WinGetSource just fails anyway because it is already registered (it also seems like it is just wrapping winget source add ... so not really offering anything on top.)

PS C:\Users\Administrator> Add-WinGetSource -Name winget -Argument https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache
Add-WinGetSource : Winget command 'source add' with parameters '--name "winget" --arg "https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache"' failed with exit code '-1978335220'.
At line:1 char:1
+ Add-WinGetSource -Name winget -Argument https://cdn.winget.microsoft. ...
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : NotSpecified: (:) [Add-WinGetSource], WinGetCLIException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : RuntimeException,Microsoft.WinGet.Client.Cmdlets.Cmdlets.AddSourceCmdlet

For Ansible's particular use case, the PowerShell module isn't builtin and we can only rely on what Windows ships with which rules out using it.

Even if we were to try and use the PowerShell module's Get-WinGetPackage instead of winget list it fails with the following in the same scenario:

PS C:\Users\Administrator> Get-WinGetPackage -Source winget
Get-WinGetPackage : An error occurred while connecting to the catalog.
At line:1 char:1
+ Get-WinGetPackage -Source winget
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : NotSpecified: (:) [Get-WinGetPackage], CatalogConnectException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : RuntimeException,Microsoft.WinGet.Client.Commands.GetPackageCmdlet

The debug logs have:

2026-06-26 20:44:59.401 [CORE] WinGet, version [1.9.25200], activity [{5A81D8E8-6837-470A-8EB6-EB026C8E367F}]
2026-06-26 20:44:59.401 [CORE] OS: Windows.Server v10.0.26100.32995
2026-06-26 20:44:59.401 [CORE] Command line Args: "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_1.24.25200.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\WindowsPackageManagerServer.exe" --
manualActivation
2026-06-26 20:44:59.401 [CORE] Package: Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller v1.24.25200.0
2026-06-26 20:44:59.401 [CORE] IsCOMCall:1; Caller: C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe
2026-06-26 20:44:59.416 [REPO] Named source requested, found: winget
2026-06-26 20:44:59.433 [CORE] Did not find extension: PFN = Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe, ID = IndexDB
2026-06-26 20:44:59.434 [CORE] Did not find extension: PFN = Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe, ID = IndexDB
2026-06-26 20:44:59.475 [CORE] Downloading to path: C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Temp\WinGet\Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe.msix
2026-06-26 20:44:59.475 [CORE] Started applying motw to C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Temp\WinGet\Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe.msix with zone: 3
2026-06-26 20:44:59.477 [CORE] Finished applying motw
2026-06-26 20:44:59.477 [CORE] WinINet downloading from url: https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source2.msix
2026-06-26 20:44:59.478 [CORE] Default proxy is not set
2026-06-26 20:44:59.509 [CORE] Download hash: 3c07841922a3154962436099520d006614ab6806ead7c0e9743c1af4a2dc9135
2026-06-26 20:44:59.509 [CORE] Download completed.
2026-06-26 20:44:59.593 [CORE] Started trust validation of msix at: C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Temp\WinGet\Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe.msix
2026-06-26 20:44:59.648 [CORE] Result for certificate chain validation of Microsoft origin: 0
2026-06-26 20:44:59.689 [CORE] Result for trust info validation of the msix: 0
2026-06-26 20:44:59.689 [CORE] Starting AddPackage operation #0: file:///C:/Users/Administrator/AppData/Local/Temp/WinGet/Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe.msix Options:  {
SkipReputationCheck = 1, ExpectedDigests = {} }
2026-06-26 20:44:59.691 [CORE] Begin waiting for operation #0
2026-06-26 20:44:59.691 [CORE] Begin blocking for operation #0
2026-06-26 20:44:59.766 [CORE] Successfully completed #0
2026-06-26 20:44:59.774 [CORE] Did not find extension: PFN = Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe, ID = IndexDB
2026-06-26 20:44:59.774 [REPO] Package not found Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe
2026-06-26 20:44:59.774 [FAIL] C:\__w\1\s\external\pkg\src\AppInstallerRepositoryCore\Microsoft\PreIndexedPackageSourceFactory.cpp(446)\WindowsPackageManager.dll!00007FFC9DAF844
3: (caller: 00007FFC9DADDF3A) Exception(1) tid(16b4) 8A15000F
2026-06-26 20:44:59.774 [CLI ] Caught wil::ResultException: C:\__w\1\s\external\pkg\src\AppInstallerRepositoryCore\Microsoft\PreIndexedPackageSourceFactory.cpp(446)\WindowsPacka
geManager.dll!00007FFC9DAF8443: (caller: 00007FFC9DADDF3A) Exception(1) tid(16b4) 8A15000F

It fails in the same way as winget list where it tries to add the Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe.msix package, was told by AddPackageAsync that it worked but then failed to find it just like winget list.

As the PowerShell module seems to be using the COM API it seems like the last alternative, using COM, is also going to fail but as COM is just too complex and with no easy examples available I haven't tested that assumption.

As @denelon noted, The WinGet CLI was designed for a logged in user as it's delivered via an MSIX package (App Installer)

The Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_8wekyb3d8bbwe MSIX package is still needed for any winget operation, not just the CLI, so MSIX is a fundamental part of winget itself. When attempting to use the PowerShell winget module without Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller being added for the user then the whole PowerShell process crashes.

What is hard to swallow about these statements is that the alternatives (PowerShell module, COM API) also fail in the same way as the CLI and running in non-interactive environments is not an uncommon use case. The fact that I can manually add the source package in PowerShell inside the same environment, either through Add-AppxPackage or calling the AddPackageAsync API like winget does, and it works tells me that there's something weird going on inside winget itself. I don't know whether it's because the winget core is being run inside some sort of appcontainer or some other isolated environment but this is essentially a hard blocker behind Ansible creating our own wrapper around winget.

I don't know why AddPackageAsync is reporting it being successful

2026-06-26 20:44:59.689 [CORE] Starting AddPackage operation #0: file:///C:/Users/Administrator/AppData/Local/Temp/WinGet/Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe.msix Options:  {
SkipReputationCheck = 1, ExpectedDigests = {} }
2026-06-26 20:44:59.691 [CORE] Begin waiting for operation #0
2026-06-26 20:44:59.691 [CORE] Begin blocking for operation #0
2026-06-26 20:44:59.766 [CORE] Successfully completed #0

But then it actually isn't

2026-06-26 20:44:59.774 [CORE] Did not find extension: PFN = Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe, ID = IndexDB
2026-06-26 20:44:59.774 [REPO] Package not found Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe

PS C:\Users\Administrator> Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Winget.Source
PS C:\Users\Administrator>

On a final side note, Repair-WinGetPackageManager -Verbose (which also fixes the problem) shows that it is doing the exact same thing as my workaround:

PS C:\Users\Administrator> Repair-WinGetPackageManager -Verbose
VERBOSE: Creating MTA thread
VERBOSE: No version specified.
VERBOSE: Running winget.exe with ----version
VERBOSE: Executing Appx cmdlet Get-AppxPackage -Name Microsoft.Winget.Source
VERBOSE: Integrity category type: WinGetSourceNotInstalled
VERBOSE: Installing winget source
VERBOSE: Downloading https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source2.msix
VERBOSE: Size 3234267 bytes
VERBOSE: Executing Appx cmdlet Add-AppxPackage -Path C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Temp\14897f69-0e5d-4a8f-8f18-46788a57b324\source2.msix -ErrorAction Stop
VERBOSE: Running winget.exe with ----version
VERBOSE: Executing Appx cmdlet Get-AppxPackage -Name Microsoft.Winget.Source
VERBOSE: WinGet is in a good state.

It just hardcodes the URL like I do so is subject to the exact same problems of I listed in the original post. The module is also not available inbox with winget and as stated before I cannot rely on it for Ansible's use case.