---
id: python-msilib
version: "0.7.0"
license: PSF-2.0
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# python-msilib — Read and write Microsoft Installer files

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 122.4K/mo

## What it is and what it does

python-msilib is a backport of Python's msilib module, which was removed from the standard library in Python 3.13. It allows developers to read, create, and manipulate Microsoft Installer (.msi) files programmatically. The package is specifically designed to support cx_Freeze's bdist_msi command, which generates Windows installers, ensuring that existing build workflows continue to work on Python 3.13 and later.

The library provides low-level access to the Windows Installer database format and APIs. It has no external runtime dependencies and is available as platform-specific wheels for Windows (32-bit, 64-bit, and ARM64 architectures) across Python 3.13, 3.14, and 3.15, including free-threading variants. Installation is straightforward on Windows; non-Windows systems cannot use this package.

Use it for:

- Maintain cx_Freeze bdist_msi builds on Python 3.13+ after msilib removal from stdlib.
- Programmatically generate or modify Windows .msi installer packages in build automation.
- Read and inspect existing .msi file structures and metadata for analysis or repackaging.
- Migrate legacy Python packaging workflows that relied on stdlib msilib to newer Python versions.

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Reads and writes Microsoft Installer (.msi) files, providing access to the msilib module for Python 3.13 and later where it was removed from the standard library.

Yes, if you need to build or manipulate Windows .msi files on Python 3.13+. The package is actively maintained, has no external dependencies, and carries a permissive license. Install only on Windows; non-Windows systems have no use for it. Verify compatibility with your specific cx_Freeze version or msilib use case before relying on it in production.

## Install

pip install python-msilib
uv add python-msilib
poetry add python-msilib

## Installing python-msilib

Before you install: Medium friction due to platform-specific wheels (Windows only, multiple architectures). Active maintenance with recent release (9 days old). No runtime dependencies simplifies installation.

License in practice: Licensed under PSF-2.0 (permissive), allowing use in most projects without significant restrictions.

Quickstart:

pip install python-msilib

import msilib
# Create or manipulate .msi files using msilib API

Windows-only package; requires Python 3.13 or later.

Verify before relying:

- Whether this package is intended as a temporary compatibility shim or a long-term maintained alternative to the removed stdlib msilib.
- Performance or feature parity compared to the Python 3.12 stdlib version it was borrowed from.
- Compatibility with cx_Freeze's bdist_msi command beyond the stated intent.

## Package facts

- License: PSF-2.0 (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: medium
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 122.4K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

msi file manipulation, microsoft installer library, msilib python 3.13, create msi packages, read msi files, windows installer api, bdist_msi support, windows-only, msi-packaging, stdlib-backport

[View on SkillFed](https://skillfed.io/packages/python-msilib) · [View on PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/python-msilib/)