How to Repair Applications in SCCM

In this post, we will see how to repair applications in SCCM. You can repair application from Software Center using SCCM and this is a very interesting feature.

One of the new and potential feature of SCCM is its ability to repair applications. The SCCM repair application feature was first introduced in SCCM 1807 technical preview. If you have are like me who tests every technical preview build, you would have tried the application repair feature. But since most of us work with current branch builds, you can repair applications starting with SCCM 1810 and above.

The reason why I consider “Repair Application” as a potential feature is because end users can repair applications by going into software center and clicking Repair option. It is this simple and this is going to ease the work of IT admins a lot.

Until now when an application was deployed, the end user could either install or uninstall the application through software center. With repair option, the end user can now repair or fix the broken application right from software center. This applies to newly created applications as well as deployed applications.

Note: The repair command option is available for only Windows Installer and Script Installer deployment types. In addition to repair command, there is another option called Repair start in. This is optional and you can specify the folder that has the repair program for the deployment type. This folder can be an absolute path on the client. It can also be a relative path on a distribution point of the folder with the package.

Where can I Specify Command to Repair Applications in SCCM

So now the you know about the application repair feature in SCCM, let’s find where do you specify command to repair applications in SCCM. If the application is already deployed, you need to specify the repair command and update the deployment type. Specify the application repair command under application properties > deployment types > Programs.

If you are deploying the application for the first time, you can specify repair applications under deployment settings. You simply need to enable the check box “Allow end users to attempt to repair the applications“. You then need to specify the repair command later.

How to Repair Applications in SCCM

To repair application in SCCM, follow the below steps :-

• Launch the SCCM console.
• Navigate to Software Library\Overview\Application Management\Applications.
• From the list of applications, select an application and click Properties.
• Select Programs tab and specify the command to repair the application.

As an example I am going to specify the repair command for my existing application 7z. In your case it could be any other application. Under Programs, I specify the repair command using /f option. Once you specify the repair command, go to deployment types. Right click the application and click Update Content.

On the client computer you should now see the Repair option next to uninstall. Needless to mention the Repair option appears only if the application has been installed. Click Repair button.

You will now see a Repair application box. You are now about to repair this application. This action may make the application unstable for a while. Are you sure you want to repair this application ?. Click OK.

The repair command is now executed and the application is repaired. Check the AppEnforce.log file to see more details.