The Windows ecosystem is evolving, and ARM-based devices are no longer niche. With Microsoft’s continued investment in Windows on ARM and hardware partners delivering increasingly powerful ARM64 devices, software vendors must ensure their installers are ready to support this growing platform.
At Revenera, we’ve been closely tracking this shift. InstallShield already enables you to build and deliver reliable installations for ARM-based Windows devices, without forcing disruptive changes to your existing installer projects.
Why ARM-Based Windows Devices Matter
Historically, Windows applications were built almost exclusively for x86 and x64 architectures. That assumption no longer holds true.
Windows on ARM brings tangible benefits:
- Longer battery life, ideal for mobile and lightweight devices
- Always-on connectivity
- Increasing availability of enterprise-grade ARM64 hardware
Importantly, Microsoft has made ARM adoption easier by providing built-in x86 emulation, allowing many existing Win32 applications to run seamlessly on ARM-based systems. For software vendors, this lowers the barrier to entry, but installers still need to behave correctly on ARM platforms.
Will Existing x86 or x64 Applications Run on ARM?
Yes, most x86 applications run on ARM-based Windows without modification, thanks to Microsoft’s emulation layer. Windows dynamically translates x86 instructions into ARM64 instructions at runtime, enabling compatibility with existing binaries.
From an installer perspective, this means:
- Your application binaries may already work
- Your installer must still be architecture-aware, especially when writing files, registry entries, and system components
That’s where InstallShield comes in.
Building ARM-Compatible Installations with InstallShield
If you are already using InstallShield to build Win32 installers, the good news is simple:
You can continue using InstallShield today, no redesign required.
InstallShield supports building installations that work correctly on ARM-based Windows systems, including native ARM64 installers where required.
Basic MSI Projects: Key Configuration
For applications targeting ARM64 devices, InstallShield provides explicit support through Basic MSI projects. To ensure correct behavior on ARM-based systems, configure the following in your project:
- Template Summary: Arm64
- Schema: 500
These settings are available in the Software Information view of the project and ensure Windows Installer recognizes the package as ARM64-aware.
Once configured, your installer:
InstallShield
Create native MSIX packages, build clean installs, and build installations in the cloud with InstallShield from Revenera.
- Installs files into the correct native locations
- Writes registry data appropriately
- Avoids WOW6432Node redirection issues common with misconfigured packages
What “Works Automatically” vs. What Requires Attention
From an engineering standpoint, it’s important to be clear about boundaries.
Works Out of the Box
- Installing x86-based applications on ARM via Windows emulation
- Running existing InstallShield setups on ARM devices
- Standard MSI logic, conditions, and sequencing
Requires Correct Configuration
- ARM64-native file locations
- Registry placement (32-bit vs. 64-bit components)
- Template Summary and Windows Installer version alignment
Looking Ahead: Native ARM Support Is Expanding
ARM adoption is accelerating, and so is InstallShield’s investment in this space.
Native ARM64 support in InstallShield continues to evolve, with ongoing enhancements focused on:
- Improved ARM-specific folder handling
- Cleaner native installations
- Alignment with newer Windows Installer capabilities
Whether ARM64 is part of your product roadmap, or already part of your customer base, now is the right time to validate your installer strategy. Contact us for more information.
