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Invoke-CommandInDesktopPackage

A debugging tool that creates a new process in the context of a packaged app.

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Last verified: 2026-10-26

Microsoft Appx reference: A debugging tool that creates a new process in the context of a packaged app. The syntax and selected example below are adapted from the pinned Windows Server 2025 reference. Module availability, target configuration and delegated permissions determine whether it can run in your environment. Documentation and parameter text: Microsoft, CC BY 4.0; formatting adapted by Cmdlet World. No execution testing is claimed.

Invoke-CommandInDesktopPackage [-PackageFamilyName] <String> [-AppId] <String>
 [-Command] <String> [[-Args] <String>] [-PreventBreakaway] [<CommonParameters>]

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Required permissions

Use an account with the target resource permissions documented for Invoke-CommandInDesktopPackage. Modifying administrative cmdlets may require elevation or delegated administration. This catalog does not assert that ordinary users can execute the command.

Supported environments

Windows / Appx · Windows Server 2025 documentation; feature/module prerequisites apply

Parameters

-AppId (required): AppId is the Application ID from the target package's manifest. For example, MyAppName is the Application ID in this manifest snippet:
-Args: Optional arguments to be passed to the new process. For example, /foo /bar.
-Command (required): An executable to invoke, like regedit.exe. Note that if the executable requires elevation (like regedit), you must call Invoke-CommandInDesktopPackage from an already-elevated context. Calling Invoke-CommandInDesktopPackage from a non-elevated context doesn't work as expected. The new process is created without the package context, and the PowerShell command fails.
-PackageFamilyName (required): The Package Family Name of the target package. You can retrieve this by calling Get-AppxPackage.
-PreventBreakaway: Causes all child processes of the invoked process to also be created in the context of the AppId. By default, child processes are created without any context. This switch is useful for running cmd.exe so that you can launch multiple other tools in the package context.

Prerequisites

Windows with the Appx module and the Windows feature or management tools that provide it. Confirm target connectivity and version compatibility using the linked Microsoft reference.

Security considerations

This cmdlet changes system state. Review every target and parameter in the official reference, test outside production, and prepare an appropriate backup or rollback. Do not execute the example automatically.

Examples

Example 1: Invoke Notepad to read virtualized files

Invoke-CommandInDesktopPackage @params

The following command invokes Notepad in the context of the ContosoApp app from the Contoso.MyApp package. This allows you to access resources such as a log file or configuration file stored in the app's virtualized filesystem. Source: Microsoft, CC BY 4.0; transcript prompt/output removed. This example was not executed.

Sources

https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/windows-powershell-docs/blob/b7645dd8c687139b28e845119da30ec670526507/docset/winserver2025-ps/Appx/Invoke-CommandInDesktopPackage.md

https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/module/appx/invoke-commandindesktoppackage?view=windowsserver2025-ps

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