Bug: Classic installer fails on Windows 7

[chrisjj]

Description

See below.

Steps To Reproduce

1 On Windows 7
2 Go to https://files.community/appinstallers/Files.stable.appinstaller
3 Download
4 Launch

Result: "Windows can't open this file

5 Follow https://files.community/docs/getting-started/install

Result: "The term 'Add-AppxPackage' is not recognized"

Files Version

unknown

Windows Version

7

User ID

No response

Log File

None

[ChenYiLins]

Funny, WinUI doesn't support Windows 7 or even Windows 8. So Files should not be supported, so don't try to use it in Windows 7, which is very strange.

[Josh65-2201]

Files is for Windows 10 build 19041 and up

[chrisjj]

WinUI doesn't support Windows 7 or even Windows 8.

Is WinUi a requirement, then? I don't see that in the install instructions.

[chrisjj]

Thanks. Suggestion: mention that requirement on a system requirements statement and on the existing install instructions.

…

On Friday, 24 October 2025, Josh65-2201 ***@***.***> wrote: *Josh65-2201* left a comment (files-community/Files#17796) <#17796 (comment)> Files is for Windows 10 build 19041 and up — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#17796 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABO7GEL3ORK2ACEZKETLKSL3ZIH2DAVCNFSM6AAAAACKDINOXKVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZTINBSG42TOMRRHA> . You are receiving this because you authored the thread.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[yaira2]

Thank you for your feedback. I'm not against updating the documentation, but to be transparent, I don't think anyone expects Files to be supported on Windows 7 or 8 and we already support the most used versions of Windows 10 and up.