Microsoft Intune Enterprise App Management makes it simple to discover, deploy, and keep applications up to date using the Enterprise App Catalog. The catalog is a curated collection of both Microsoft and non‑Microsoft Win32 applications, packaged and hosted by Microsoft for seamless deployment.
By leveraging the Intune Enterprise App Catalog, IT administrators can improve efficiency, security, and compliance while maintaining a robust, up‑to‑date application environment.
The catalog includes many self‑updating applications. For these apps, Intune ensures that devices meet a target minimum version. If the detected version is at or above this minimum, the app is considered installed. Updates are handled by the vendor’s own process, while Intune reports the version detected on each device.
To enable self‑updating apps, administrators may need to configure the appropriate network rules in the tenant, allowing updates to flow directly from the vendor. This ensures that applications remain current without requiring manual intervention, reducing administrative overhead and improving end‑user experience.
Deploy Win32 App Using Intune Enterprise App Catalog
Let’s walk through how to deploy a Win32 application using the Intune Enterprise app catalog. In this example, we’ll deploy Notepad++ from the catalog.
Follow these steps to deploy an application from the Intune Enterprise app catalog:
- Open the Microsoft Intune admin portal
- Navigate to Windows > Windows apps and click on +Add
- On the Select app type flyer window, select the following
- App type: Enterprise App Catalog app
- Click on Select
On the App Information page in the Intune Admin Center, click Search the Enterprise App Catalog and enter the name of the application you want to deploy. From the search results, select the desired application.
For example, in this walkthrough, we have selected Notepad++ from the catalog. Once selected, you can proceed to configure the deployment settings, including assignments, requirements, and detection rules, before publishing the app to targeted devices or users.
On the Configuration page, select the package name you want to deploy and click Select.
You may see multiple packages listed if more than one version, architecture (x64/x86), or language package is available in the Intune Enterprise App Catalog. Choose the package that best matches your deployment requirements to ensure compatibility with target devices.
As shown in the screenshot below for WinRAR, multiple packages are available in the Intune Enterprise App Catalog. These packages may differ by version, architecture (x64/x86), or language. Administrators should choose the package that best matches their deployment requirements to ensure compatibility with target devices.
You can see that all information is pre-populated on the App information page. Similarly, the information is pre-filled in the other tabs ( Program, Requirements, detection rules). You can update the information in these tabs if required. However, Microsoft recommends using the pre-populated fields containing specific commands and rules.
Click on Next to move to the Program page.
On the Program page, review the pre‑filled details provided by the Intune Enterprise App Catalog. This includes important information such as:
- Install command
- Uninstall command
- Estimated installation time
- Other configuration details
Click Next to proceed. You can make adjustments to these settings if needed, based on your deployment requirements or organizational policies. This flexibility ensures that the Win32 app deployment aligns with your environment’s standards and compatibility needs.
ROn the Requirements page, review the pre‑filled details and click Next to move to the Detection Rules page. As mentioned earlier, you can update the values as needed to match your deployment standards.
For example, you can add additional requirements such as:
- Minimum disk space required – 5 GB
- Physical memory required – 8 GB
These requirements ensure that the Win32 app deployment only targets devices that meet the necessary hardware specifications, reducing installation failures and improving compliance.
👉 For more details, check out the article: Win32 App Requirements in Intune.
On the Detection Rules page, review the pre‑filled details and click Next to continue. You can update the detection rules if required, but Microsoft recommends using the default pre‑configured information, which typically includes command lines or detection rules tailored for the selected application.
These detection rules help Intune determine whether the application is already installed on a device, ensuring accurate Win32 app deployment and preventing duplicate installations.
Please check out the article below if you want to know more about Intune Win32 app detection rules.
On the Assignments page, you can configure how the application will be delivered to users or devices. Intune allows you to assign the app to:
- All Users
- All Devices
- Specific user groups or device groups
You can choose to deploy the application as either:
- Required – The app will be automatically installed on targeted devices.
- Available – The app will be published in the Company Portal, allowing users to install it on demand.
After selecting the appropriate assignment type, click Next to continue with the deployment process.
On the Review + Create page, carefully review all the configuration details for your Win32 app deployment. This includes information such as app metadata, requirements, detection rules, and assignments.
Once you’ve confirmed the settings, click Add App to create and publish the application in Microsoft Intune. The app will then be available to the targeted users or devices based on the assignment type you selected (Required or Available).
Once the configuration is complete, the application is successfully added to Microsoft Intune. You will see a notification confirming the app creation.
To verify deployment, you can check the application status from the Apps > Windows apps blade in the Intune Admin Center. This view provides details such as installation progress, assignment status, and compliance, helping administrators ensure that the Win32 app deployment is working as expected.
Since the application was assigned as an Available deployment, it is now published in the Company Portal for self‑service installation by end users.
This means users can open the Company Portal app or website, browse the list of available applications, and install Notepad++ (or any other deployed Win32 app) on demand. This deployment method provides flexibility, allowing users to install applications when needed without forcing installation across all devices.
Win32 App Report in Intune Enterprise App Catalog
Microsoft Intune includes a built‑in report called Win32 App – Intune Enterprise App Catalog with Update. This report provides details of applications that have a newer version available and are not superseded.
Administrators can use this report to:
- Identify apps in the environment that are outdated.
- Track which Win32 applications have newer versions published in the Enterprise App Catalog.
- Plan updates and deployments to ensure devices remain compliant and secure.
This reporting capability simplifies Win32 app lifecycle management in Intune, helping IT teams maintain consistency across devices while reducing manual checks.
Use Intune Win32 App Report to Identify Non‑Self‑Updating Applications
The Win32 App – Intune Enterprise App Catalog report can also be used to identify applications that are not self‑updating. This is particularly useful for administrators who need to track apps that require manual updates to maintain compliance and security.
When a newer version of an application is available in the Enterprise App Catalog, you can:
- Add the newer version of the application to Intune.
- Configure the Supersedence relationship so that the newer version automatically supersedes the older version.
This ensures that outdated apps are replaced seamlessly, reducing manual intervention and keeping devices aligned with the latest supported versions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. What is the Intune Enterprise App Catalog?
The Enterprise App Catalog is a curated library of popular Win32 applications that Microsoft packages and maintains. It allows admins to deploy common apps without creating custom Win32 packages.
Q2. Can I add my own Win32 apps to the Enterprise App Catalog?
No. The catalog only includes apps packaged and published by Microsoft. For custom or line‑of‑business Win32 apps, you must use the Win32 app packaging tool and upload them manually.
Q3. Is the Enterprise App Catalog available to all Intune tenants?
Yes, but the availability of specific apps may vary by region or licensing. Ensure your tenant is on Windows 10/11 and Intune is properly licensed.
Q4. How does deploying from the Enterprise App Catalog differ from custom Win32 app deployment?
Catalog apps are pre‑packaged and maintained by Microsoft, saving time and effort. Custom Win32 apps require you to create .intunewin packages, define install/uninstall commands, and manage updates yourself.
Q5. Can I monitor deployment status for catalog apps?
Yes. Deployment status can be tracked in the Intune admin center → Apps → Monitor section, just like other Intune applications.
Related Posts
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- Understanding Win32 App Detection Rules
- Understanding Win32 App Requirements Rule
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