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Testing an App-V Package Using the App-V Launcher Tool

AdminStudio 2025 | 29.0 | Microsoft App-V Assistant

You can use the App-V Launcher tool to locally test a newly built App-V package before moving it to a deployment server.

To open the App-V Launcher tool, click Test launch the App-V package in the More Options area on the Build Options page. The App-V Launcher will attempt to launch that application. If there are multiple shortcuts in this App-V package, the Launch App-V Package dialog box opens, where you are prompted to select the shortcut that you want to launch from a list of all of the shortcuts.

Requirements for Using the App-V Launcher Tool​

The machine on which you use the App-V Launcher to test an App-V package must meet the following requirements:

  • The Microsoft Application Virtualization Client must be installed.
  • The version of the Microsoft Application Virtualization Client that is present should be equal to or newer than the minimum client version of the App-V package.
  • File streaming must be enabled because the App-V Launcher publishes the App-V package from a local file path. If file streaming is not enabled, the App-V Launcher displays an informative message asking if it can enable this functionality.

App-V Launcher Tool Location​

When an App-V package is built, the App-V Launcher tool (AppVLauncher.exe) is placed in the same folder as the App-V package.

How the App-V Launcher Tool Works​

In order to make it possible to test the App-V package without having to publish it on the server, a copy of the App-V Launcher tool is automatically copied to the output directory of each App-V package. The App-V Launcher looks for the .appv or .sft file that is located in the same directory.

note

The first time that you use the App-V Launcher to run an application in an App-V package, the entire package is published to that machine; this includes all of the package’s shortcuts and file extension associations in the package. If you then use the App-V Launcher to run any application in the App-V package again, the App-V Launcher unpublishes the package (and its shortcuts and file extension associations) before republishing the package.

  • Also note that the AppVLauncher.exe file requires elevation. If you want to be able to test your App-V package in a locked-down environment where end users will not have elevated privileges, you may want to use the App-V Launcher once to launch and publish your App-V package with elevated privileges. Once you have done that, you can use the published shortcuts and file extension associations to start your application.

The App-V Launcher is a convenient testing tool that makes it possible for you to reliably and accurately test your App-V packages on your local machine or any other system that has the App‑V client installed before moving it to the App-V server.

See Also

Launch App-V Package Dialog Box