The Microsoft Web Platform Installer (WebPI) 5.0/5.1 has been officially as of December 31, 2022
]. Microsoft has pulled the installers from the official Download Center and disabled the application feed, meaning the tool can no longer fetch or install components like IIS, SQL Server Express, or PHP [ 📋 Status Report: Web Platform Installer 5.0 Current State: Retired / End of Life (EOL) Retirement Date: December 31, 2022 [ Functionality:
The tool itself may launch if you have a local copy, but the product feed is empty
, making it impossible to download new software through the interface [ Official Downloads: No longer hosted on Microsoft.com (the link now redirects or returns a 404) [ 🛠️ Modern Alternatives
Since WebPI is no longer viable, Microsoft recommends using modern package managers and built-in Windows features: Windows Features: Use the "Turn Windows features on or off" menu to install and its modules manually [ Windows Package Manager
(winget) is the official CLI tool for installing software like SQL Server or .NET [ Direct Downloads: Visit the official sites for specific components: .NET 5.0/8.0+ SQL Server Express IIS Modules (e.g., URL Rewrite, ARR) [ ⚠️ Risk Alert for Legacy Users While third-party sites like ] may still host the WebPlatformInstaller_amd64_en-US.msi file, using it is not recommended Broken Feed:
It will fail to connect to Microsoft servers to retrieve the list of apps [
Using EOL software and unverified third-party installers increases the risk of malware or system instability.
Which specific software were you trying to install via WebPI? I can provide the direct, official download links winget commands
for the current versions of those tools (like PHP, SQL Server, or IIS modules).
The Microsoft Web Platform Installer (WebPI) 5.0 was a free tool used to automate the installation of Microsoft's web platform components like IIS, SQL Server Express, and the .NET Framework .
However, Microsoft officially retired Web Platform Installer on December 31, 2022 . Key Status Update
Retired & Removed: The installer has been pulled from the Microsoft Download Center and its product feeds have been shut down .
Version 5.0 vs 5.1: Even before retirement, direct links for version 5.0 were often reported as broken, with version 5.1 being the final supported iteration .
Security Risk: Because it is no longer supported, using old installers from third-party sites is not recommended as they may contain outdated components or security vulnerabilities . How to Install Web Components Now
Since WebPI is no longer available, you should use these modern methods to get the same software:
Windows Features: For IIS and its basic modules, go to "Turn Windows features on or off" in your Control Panel .
Direct Downloads: Download major modules directly from the official Microsoft site. URL Rewrite Module Application Request Routing (ARR) Microsoft Web Deploy
Modern Package Managers: Use winget (built into Windows 10 and 11) or Chocolatey to install development tools via the command line .
Visual Studio Installer: Many web development components (like .NET and SQL Express) are now bundled within the Visual Studio Installer . Web Platform Installer v5 download not available anymore?
6 May 2021 — Probably not a big issue to use the 5.1 version instead, suddenly do not seem to work anymore. You can try also from here: https:/ Microsoft Learn Microsoft Web Platform Installer - ASP.NET Community Blogs
Microsoft Web Platform Installer (WebPI) 5.0 and 5.1 have been officially retired and removed from the Microsoft Download Center
. While the 5.0 version is often sought, it was superceded by web platform installer 5.0 64-bit download
, which was the final version before the service was discontinued on December 31, 2022 Current Status and Download Options
Because the service is retired, official Microsoft download links for the 5.0 installer are mostly broken. Microsoft Learn Version 5.1 (Recommended Alternative):
If you still need the tool, the 5.1 version is generally compatible with the same systems. You can attempt to find official remnants through the Microsoft IIS Site Direct Link (Legacy): Previously working links for the x64 version of 5.1 were hosted by Microsoft
, though these may redirect or fail since the server-side feeds were pulled. Third-Party Repositories: Some users turn to community-maintained sites like
for version 5.0, but use caution and verify file hashes for security. Why You Might Not Need It
Since the WebPI feed has been removed, the installer may open but show no products available
to install. Instead, you should manually download the components you were looking for: Microsoft Learn Web Platform Installer : The Official Microsoft IIS Site
If you are searching for the Web Platform Installer 5.0 64-bit download, there are critical details you must know regarding its availability.
Do not use Web PI 5.0 in 2026. While it was a revolutionary tool for its time, it is now abandoned, insecure, and non-functional for most modern scenarios. For setting up a 64-bit web development environment on Windows today, use the dedicated, up-to-date installers from Microsoft’s official websites or automate the process with winget.
Looking for a specific component that Web PI used to provide? Specify the tool, framework, or app, and I can provide the exact 2026-compatible download link for its 64-bit version.
The Sunset of Web Platform Installer 5.0: What You Need to Know
For over a decade, the Microsoft Web Platform Installer (WebPI) was the go-to tool for developers looking to set up a Windows-based web stack with a single click. However, if you are searching for a fresh Web Platform Installer 5.0 64-bit download, the landscape has changed significantly. 1. Retirement and Support Status
The Microsoft Web Platform Installer was officially retired on December 31, 2022. As of January 1, 2023, Microsoft removed the application from its official Download Center.
Legacy Availability: While third-party repositories like Npackd may still host the original .msi installers, these are no longer supported by Microsoft.
The "404" Problem: Many legacy links on official Microsoft forums now lead to 404 errors because the product feed that powered the tool has been pulled from servers. 2. Why it was Popular
The 64-bit version of WebPI 5.0 simplified the deployment of complex server environments by bundling: Web Servers: IIS (Internet Information Services). Frameworks: .NET Framework, ASP.NET, and PHP. Databases: SQL Server Express.
Tools: URL Rewrite, Web Deploy, and various CMS platforms like WordPress. 3. Modern Alternatives for 2026
Since WebPI is no longer a viable option for modern server builds, developers have shifted to more robust, automated methods:
asp.net - Web Platform Installer (WPI) alternative / Replacement
The Microsoft Web Platform Installer, often called WebPI, served for years as the primary gateway for developers and server administrators to set up their Windows environments. While Microsoft officially retired the tool in late 2022, many legacy systems and specific development workflows still require the Web Platform Installer 5.0 64-bit download to manage older frameworks and server extensions.
The Web Platform Installer was designed as a free tool that simplified the discovery, download, and installation of the latest components of the Microsoft Web Platform. This included everything from Internet Information Services (IIS) and SQL Server Express to various .NET Framework versions and even third-party open-source applications like WordPress or Umbraco. Understanding the Web Platform Installer 5.0
Version 5.0 was the final major iteration of the tool. It was built to streamline the process of building a web server from scratch. Instead of hunting down individual MSI installers for PHP, URL Rewrite modules, or database drivers, WebPI offered a unified "shopping cart" experience. You would simply check the boxes for the software you needed, and the tool would handle the dependencies, download the correct architecture (64-bit or 32-bit), and perform the installation. Key Features of Version 5.0: The Microsoft Web Platform Installer (WebPI) 5
Unified Infrastructure: It kept track of all installed components and notified users when updates were available.
Dependency Management: If you wanted to install a specific CMS that required a certain version of MySQL and PHP, WebPI would automatically add those prerequisites to your installation queue.
Offline Support: Administrators could use command-line switches to create "shadow" installers for machines without direct internet access.
Clean User Interface: It removed the complexity of the Windows Server Manager for those who just wanted to get a web stack running quickly. Why the 64-bit Version Matters
In the modern server landscape, 64-bit (x64) architecture is the standard. Using the 64-bit version of Web Platform Installer 5.0 ensured that the extensions and tools being installed—such as the IIS Media Services or the Web Deployment Tool—were optimized for high-performance server environments. This architecture allows for better memory management and access to more than 4GB of RAM, which is critical for hosting multiple web applications. Current Status and Retirement
As of December 31, 2022, Microsoft officially retired the Web Platform Installer. The product reached its end of support, and the online feed that populated the tool with software options was largely discontinued.
For users looking for the "web platform installer 5.0 64-bit download" today, there are two primary realities:
The Installer Shell: You can still find the standalone .msi file for the WebPI shell. This is the application itself.
The Catalog: Because the backend feed is no longer actively maintained by Microsoft, the tool may appear empty or fail to fetch the latest product lists when opened. How to Transition and Alternatives
Since WebPI is no longer the recommended path, developers should move toward more modern deployment methods:
Manual Installation: Most components that were previously in WebPI (like URL Rewrite, Web Deploy, or .NET Core) are now available as direct downloads from the Microsoft Download Center.
Chocolatey or Winget: These are modern package managers for Windows. They function much like WebPI but are community-driven and actively updated via the command line.
Web Deploy (MSDeploy): If you used WebPI primarily for publishing apps, you can install the standalone Web Deploy 3.6 or later directly.
Docker: For many, the need for a web platform installer has been replaced by containerization, where the environment is defined in a script rather than installed manually on a server. Conclusion
While the Web Platform Installer 5.0 64-bit download remains a piece of nostalgia for many sysadmins, its time has passed. If you are maintaining a legacy server that absolutely requires it, ensure you are sourcing the installer from a verified archive. However, for new projects, embracing manual installs or modern package managers will provide a more secure and sustainable development environment.
Microsoft Web Platform Installer (WebPI) was once the go-to tool for setting up a Windows web server, offering a "one-click" way to install everything from IIS and SQL Server to WordPress. However, as of December 31, 2022
, Microsoft officially retired the Web Platform Installer. The product and application feeds have been pulled from Microsoft servers, meaning the tool no longer functions as intended for most users in 2026.
If you are looking to download or replace WebPI 5.0, here is what you need to know to stay current. 1. Can I still download Web Platform Installer 5.0? While the official download pages at microsoft.com
now redirect to retirement notices, some legacy links and third-party repositories still host the file for the 64-bit version (often named WebPlatformInstaller_amd64_en-US.msi
Even if you successfully install the 1.2MB bootstrapper, it will likely fail to load any "Products" or "Applications." This is because the backend XML feeds that the tool relies on were shut down on December 31, 2022. 2. Modern Alternatives to WebPI
Since WebPI is no longer supported, the industry has moved toward more flexible package managers and manual installation methods. Microsoft Winget (The Official Successor) Windows Package Manager (winget)
is the modern standard for installing server components and development tools via the command line. To install IIS: Looking for a specific component that Web PI used to provide
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName IIS-WebServerRole (PowerShell) To install SQL Server: winget install Microsoft.SQLServer.2022.Express To install .NET: winget install Microsoft.DotNet.Runtime.8 Chocolatey Chocolatey
is a popular community-driven package manager for Windows that behaves similarly to Linux's
. It is widely used by sysadmins to automate the setup of web environments. choco install webdeploy Web Deploy (Manual Download) If you specifically used WebPI to get Web Deploy
(for publishing sites from Visual Studio), you must now download it manually from the IIS Downloads page Microsoft Download Center 3. Summary of Key Retirement Dates Final WebPI Release (v5.0) February 14, 2013 Product Support Ended July 1, 2022 Feed Shutdown & Removal December 31, 2022 Pro Tip: Check Your OS Version If you are trying to install WebPI on Windows 10 , note that Windows 10 itself reached its end of support on October 14, 2025
. For security reasons, it is highly recommended to move your web development environment to Windows 11 Windows Server 2022/2025
, which rely on the modern package managers mentioned above. Are you trying to install a specific application (like WordPress or Umbraco) or a server component (like Web Deploy or URL Rewrite)? Web Platform Installer : The Official Microsoft IIS Site
The Microsoft Web Platform Installer (WebPI) , including version 5.0, has been officially retired as of 31 December 2022
. Microsoft has removed the product installers from the Microsoft Download Centre and disabled the application feeds, meaning the tool can no longer be used to discover or install new web components. Retirement Timeline 1 July 2022 : Official product support ended. 31 December 2022
: The WebPI feed was removed from servers, and installers were pulled from official download sites. Direct Download Status
Official links for Web Platform Installer 5.0 are now largely broken. While some archived versions or third-party mirrors like
may still host 64-bit MSI files, using them is discouraged as the backend "feed" required to actually install software (like PHP or SQL Server) has been decommissioned. Recommended Alternatives
Since there is no direct replacement for WebPI, Microsoft and the community recommend the following methods for installing web stack components: Manual Installation : Download specific modules directly from the official IIS Downloads page . This is the current standard for critical modules like URL Rewrite Application Request Routing (ARR) Windows Package Managers or community tools like Chocolatey
to automate the installation of web developer tools via the command line. Direct Web Deploy Downloads
: If you specifically need Web Deploy, it is still available as a standalone installer (version 3.6 or 4.0) on the Microsoft Download Centre Are you looking to install a specific component like URL Rewrite or Web Deploy?
The most future-proof method. Run a LAMP or WAMP stack without polluting your host OS. Example (docker-compose.yml for WordPress):
version: '3'
services:
wordpress:
image: wordpress:latest
ports:
- "8080:80"
For those who used it, the workflow was revolutionary for its time:
Once you have the wpilauncher_x64.exe, follow these instructions carefully.
Microsoft Web Platform Installer (Web PI) was a free, lightweight tool that simplified the process of downloading and installing the components of the Microsoft Web Platform. This included the .NET Framework, Internet Information Services (IIS), SQL Server Express, Visual Web Developer, and popular open-source web applications like WordPress, Drupal, and DotNetNuke.
Version 5.0 was the final major release of the tool. It was specifically designed to interface with the Microsoft Web Gallery, allowing users to install community web applications with a single click.
Important disclaimer: Microsoft no longer hosts Web PI on its official download center. The original wpilauncher.exe and offline feed files have been removed. If you search the web, you will find third-party archives like FileHorse, MajorGeeks, or Internet Archive copies.
Safety advice:
Verified download sources (as of 2026):
wpilauncher_5_0_50404_00_amd64.exe.Always verify the digital signature (right-click → Properties → Digital Signatures) – it should show “Microsoft Corporation” as the signer.