Enable admin-writable $PSHOME for MSIX installs via MutablePackageDirectory by jshigetomi · Pull Request #27553 · PowerShell/PowerShell

PR Summary

This pull request updates the assets/AppxManifest.xml to add support for new Windows features and capabilities, ensuring compatibility with the latest Windows versions and allowing the app to use modifiable and mutable package directories.

Manifest compatibility and feature updates:

• Increased the MaxVersionTested for the TargetDeviceFamily to 10.0.26100.0 to support newer Windows builds.
• Added the desktop8 namespace and a new <Extensions> section to declare windows.mutablePackageDirectories, enabling the app to use mutable package directories on Windows 11 and above. [1] [2]

Capabilities enhancements:

• Added the modifiableApp restricted capability, allowing the app to be modified after installation.

PR Context

This change specifically updates the AppxManifest.xml to ensure compatibility with newer Windows versions and to unlock capabilities required by the MSIX-based deployment model.

Fixes: #9278 and the underlying issue for #25733

PR Checklist

• PR has a meaningful title
  • Use the present tense and imperative mood when describing your changes
• Summarized changes
• Make sure all .h, .cpp, .cs, .ps1 and .psm1 files have the correct copyright header
• This PR is ready to merge. If this PR is a work in progress, please open this as a Draft Pull Request and mark it as Ready to Review when it is ready to merge.
• Breaking changes
  • None
  • OR
  • Experimental feature(s) needed
    • Experimental feature name(s):
• User-facing changes
  • Not Applicable
  • OR
  • Documentation needed
    • Issue filed:
• Testing - New and feature
  • N/A or can only be tested interactively
  • OR
  • Make sure you've added a new test if existing tests do not effectively test the code changed