---
title: "PSADT v4 Overview"
id: "psadt-overview"
psadt_target: "4.1.7"
last_updated: "2025-12-07"
verified_by: "maintainer"
source_ref: "ReferenceKnowledge/V4Assets/PSAppDeployToolkit"
tags: ["psadt", "overview", "architecture", "introduction", "v4.1.7"]
---
# PSADT v4 Overview
PowerShell Application Deployment Toolkit (PSADT) is a framework that simplifies complex scripting for enterprise application deployment, providing a consistent user experience. It provides well-defined functions for common deployment tasks, as well as user interface elements for end-user interaction.
## System Requirements
| Component | Requirement |
|-----------|-------------|
| PowerShell | Windows PowerShell 5.1 or PowerShell (Core) 7.4+ |
| .NET Framework | 4.7.2 or higher |
| Windows Client | Windows 10 (1809+), Windows 11 |
| Windows Server | 2016, 2019, 2022, 2025 |
## Key Features in v4.1.7
- **No ServiceUI Required**: Intune deployments no longer need ServiceUI.exe for user interaction
- **Fluent UI**: Modern user interface with Light/Dark mode support (default: `DialogStyle = 'Fluent'`)
- **Module-based Architecture**: Digitally signed PowerShell module (GUID: `8c3c366b-8606-4576-9f2d-4051144f7ca2`)
- **PowerShell 7 and ARM Support**: Full compatibility with modern PowerShell (requires 5.1.14393.0+)
- **Extensions Support**: Supplemental modules via `PSAppDeployToolkit.Extensions`
- **Group Policy Integration**: ADMX templates for enterprise configuration
- **135 Exported Functions**: Comprehensive function library with `ADT` prefix
- **CMTrace Log Format**: Native support for CMTrace-compatible logging
## Deployment Template Structure (v4 Native)
```
Package/
├── Invoke-AppDeployToolkit.ps1 # Main deployment script
├── Invoke-AppDeployToolkit.exe # Launcher executable
├── PSAppDeployToolkit/ # Core module (do not modify)
├── PSAppDeployToolkit.Extensions/ # Optional custom extensions
├── Files/ # Installer files go here
├── SupportFiles/ # Additional support files
├── Assets/
│ └── AppIcon.png # 256x256 PNG for branding
├── Config/
│ └── config.psd1 # Configuration settings
└── Strings/
└── strings.psd1 # UI text localization
```
## Session Object ($adtSession)
The `$adtSession` hashtable defines your deployment. In v4.1.7, key properties include:
```powershell
$adtSession = @{
# App variables
AppVendor = ''
AppName = ''
AppVersion = ''
AppArch = ''
AppLang = 'EN'
AppRevision = '01'
AppSuccessExitCodes = @(0)
AppRebootExitCodes = @(1641, 3010)
# Processes to close (array of strings or hashtables)
AppProcessesToClose = @() # Example: @('excel', @{ Name = 'winword'; Description = 'Microsoft Word' })
# Script metadata
AppScriptVersion = '1.0.0'
AppScriptDate = '2000-12-31'
AppScriptAuthor = '<author name>'
# Per-deployment admin requirement
RequireAdmin = $true
# Install titles (optional - overrides auto-generated)
InstallName = ''
InstallTitle = ''
# Script info (auto-populated)
DeployAppScriptFriendlyName = $MyInvocation.MyCommand.Name
DeployAppScriptParameters = $PSBoundParameters
DeployAppScriptVersion = '4.1.7'
}
```
## Deployment Types and Phases
| Deployment Type | Phases |
|-----------------|--------|
| `Install-ADTDeployment` | Pre-Install → Install → Post-Install |
| `Uninstall-ADTDeployment` | Pre-Uninstall → Uninstall → Post-Uninstall |
| `Repair-ADTDeployment` | Pre-Repair → Repair → Post-Repair |
## DeployMode Options (v4.1)
| Mode | Behavior |
|------|----------|
| `Auto` | **Default in v4.1**. Shows UI unless in OOBE/ESP, no user logged on, or no processes to close |
| `Interactive` | Always shows UI dialogs |
| `NonInteractive` | Shows progress but no prompts |
| `Silent` | No UI at all |
## Basic Script Structure (v4.1.7)
```powershell
[CmdletBinding()]
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $false)]
[ValidateSet('Install', 'Uninstall', 'Repair')]
[System.String]$DeploymentType,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $false)]
[ValidateSet('Auto', 'Interactive', 'NonInteractive', 'Silent')]
[System.String]$DeployMode,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $false)]
[System.Management.Automation.SwitchParameter]$SuppressRebootPassThru,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $false)]
[System.Management.Automation.SwitchParameter]$TerminalServerMode,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $false)]
[System.Management.Automation.SwitchParameter]$DisableLogging
)
$adtSession = @{
AppVendor = 'Contoso'
AppName = 'MyApp'
AppVersion = '1.0.0'
AppArch = 'x64'
AppLang = 'EN'
AppRevision = '01'
AppSuccessExitCodes = @(0)
AppRebootExitCodes = @(1641, 3010)
AppProcessesToClose = @(@{ Name = 'myapp'; Description = 'My Application' })
AppScriptVersion = '1.0.0'
AppScriptDate = '2025-01-01'
AppScriptAuthor = 'IT Admin'
RequireAdmin = $true
}
function Install-ADTDeployment {
[CmdletBinding()]
param()
# Pre-Install
$adtSession.InstallPhase = "Pre-$($adtSession.DeploymentType)"
$saiwParams = @{
AllowDefer = $true
DeferTimes = 3
CheckDiskSpace = $true
PersistPrompt = $true
}
if ($adtSession.AppProcessesToClose.Count -gt 0) {
$saiwParams.Add('CloseProcesses', $adtSession.AppProcessesToClose)
}
Show-ADTInstallationWelcome @saiwParams
Show-ADTInstallationProgress
# Install
$adtSession.InstallPhase = $adtSession.DeploymentType
Start-ADTProcess -FilePath 'setup.exe' -ArgumentList '/S'
# Post-Install
$adtSession.InstallPhase = "Post-$($adtSession.DeploymentType)"
# Configure settings, remove shortcuts, etc.
}
function Uninstall-ADTDeployment {
[CmdletBinding()]
param()
$adtSession.InstallPhase = "Pre-$($adtSession.DeploymentType)"
if ($adtSession.AppProcessesToClose.Count -gt 0) {
Show-ADTInstallationWelcome -CloseProcesses $adtSession.AppProcessesToClose -CloseProcessesCountdown 60
}
Show-ADTInstallationProgress
$adtSession.InstallPhase = $adtSession.DeploymentType
# Uninstall logic here
$adtSession.InstallPhase = "Post-$($adtSession.DeploymentType)"
}
function Repair-ADTDeployment {
[CmdletBinding()]
param()
# Similar structure for repair
}
# Initialization
$ErrorActionPreference = [System.Management.Automation.ActionPreference]::Stop
$ProgressPreference = [System.Management.Automation.ActionPreference]::SilentlyContinue
Set-StrictMode -Version 1
try {
Import-Module -FullyQualifiedName @{ ModuleName = 'PSAppDeployToolkit'; Guid = '8c3c366b-8606-4576-9f2d-4051144f7ca2'; ModuleVersion = '4.1.7' } -Force
$iadtParams = Get-ADTBoundParametersAndDefaultValues -Invocation $MyInvocation
$adtSession = Remove-ADTHashtableNullOrEmptyValues -Hashtable $adtSession
$adtSession = Open-ADTSession @adtSession @iadtParams -PassThru
}
catch {
$Host.UI.WriteErrorLine((Out-String -InputObject $_ -Width ([System.Int32]::MaxValue)))
exit 60008
}
# Invocation
try {
& "$($adtSession.DeploymentType)-ADTDeployment"
Close-ADTSession
}
catch {
Write-ADTLogEntry -Message "Unhandled error: $(Resolve-ADTErrorRecord -ErrorRecord $_)" -Severity 3
Close-ADTSession -ExitCode 60001
}
```
## Zero-Config MSI Deployment
For simple MSI deployments, leave `AppName` empty and place MSI in `Files/`:
1. Leave `AppName` empty in session hashtable
2. Place `.msi` file in `Files/` folder
3. Optionally add `.mst` file with same name
4. PSADT auto-detects and installs the MSI
## Integration with Intune
**v4.1 Improvement**: No ServiceUI.exe required!
```powershell
# Install command
Invoke-AppDeployToolkit.exe -DeploymentType Install -DeployMode Silent
# Uninstall command
Invoke-AppDeployToolkit.exe -DeploymentType Uninstall -DeployMode Silent
```
For interactive deployments, simply omit `-DeployMode Silent` - PSADT handles user interaction automatically.
## Comparison: v3 vs v4
| Feature | v3 | v4.1.7 |
|---------|----|----|
| Main script | Deploy-Application.ps1 | Invoke-AppDeployToolkit.ps1 |
| Architecture | Single script | Module-based (PowerShell module) |
| Function prefix | None | ADT- prefix (135 functions) |
| State management | Variables ($appName) | $adtSession object |
| Config format | XML | PSD1 (PowerShell data files) |
| UI Style | Classic only | Fluent (default) + Classic |
| ServiceUI for Intune | Required | Not required |
| Default timeout | 60 minutes | 55 minutes (better Intune compat) |
| Defer exit code | Custom | 1602 (default) |
| Module GUID | N/A | 8c3c366b-8606-4576-9f2d-4051144f7ca2 |
## Automatic Package Creation
The `get_psadt_template` tool can automatically create a complete PSADT package by specifying `output_directory`:
```json
{
"application_name": "7-Zip",
"application_vendor": "Igor Pavlov",
"application_version": "23.01",
"installer_type": "exe",
"installer_file_name": "7z2301-x64.exe",
"silent_args": "/S",
"output_directory": "C:\\Packages\\7zip"
}
```
This automatically:
1. Copies PSADT v4.1.7 toolkit files from `ReferenceKnowledge/PSAppDeployToolkit_Template_v4/`
2. Generates a customized `Invoke-AppDeployToolkit.ps1` script
3. Creates the complete package structure ready for your installer
### Created Package Structure
```
C:\Packages\7zip\
├── PSAppDeployToolkit/ # Core module (v4.1.7, 135 functions)
│ ├── PSAppDeployToolkit.psd1 # Module manifest
│ ├── PSAppDeployToolkit.psm1 # Module implementation
│ └── ...
├── Config/config.psd1 # Default configuration
├── Assets/ # Icons and banners
├── Files/ # Place installers here
├── Invoke-AppDeployToolkit.exe # Launcher executable
└── Invoke-AppDeployToolkit.ps1 # Generated deployment script
```
### Benefits
- No network dependency - toolkit bundled with MCP server
- Version pinned to v4.1.7 for reproducible builds
- Instant access - no download delays or rate limits
- Verified source from official PSADT release
## Resources
- Official Documentation: https://psappdeploytoolkit.com
- GitHub Repository: https://github.com/PSAppDeployToolkit/PSAppDeployToolkit
- Community Forums: https://discourse.psappdeploytoolkit.com
- Discord: #psappdeploytoolkit channel
