Installer (Windows) - Detect install method (#1039)

* detect if installed via store

* update per gemini comments

* Address PR feedback: Get-AppxPackage detection + docs pointers

Replace the filesystem-glob MSIX detection with `Get-AppxPackage` as the
primary path. The package registry is authoritative — it doesn't match the
zombie %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Claude_* folders Windows leaves in place
(sometimes under Deleted\) for days after an MSIX uninstall, which would
otherwise trigger the same silent failure inverted (user moves Store →
traditional, installer writes into the dead Store folder).

The filesystem probe stays as a fallback for constrained environments
(e.g. Windows Sandbox, locked-down PowerShell). It is now pinned to the
Anthropic publisher hash `Claude_pzs8sxrjxfjjc` so we don't pick up an
unrelated SKU like a hypothetical Anthropic.ClaudeDesktop_*, and gated on
a Test-Path of LocalCache\Roaming\Claude so a stale leftover folder can't
trigger the silent failure either.

Other changes from the review:

- Surface "Detected: Microsoft Store install" / "Traditional install"
  under Step 2 so users notice immediately if detection picks the wrong
  variant when both installs are present.
- Reword the comment that said "under LocalPackages" — the path is
  %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages.
- Fix a silent rendering bug in site/src/pages/guide-windows.astro: the
  detection one-liner had raw `{` / `}` inside `<code>`, which Astro
  parsed as JSX expressions, stripping the curly braces and backslashes
  from the rendered HTML. Wrap the snippet in a `{`...`}` template
  literal so braces and backslashes render literally, and switch to the
  Get-AppxPackage approach for consistency with the installer.
- Mirror the snippet in docs/Windows-uv-guide.md (markdown twin of the
  Astro guide).
- Rather than duplicate the detection snippet in every doc that mentions
  the config path, point the remaining docs to the Windows setup guide:
  docs/FAQ.md, docs/dev-channel.md, homeassistant-addon/DOCS.md,
  site/src/content/clients/claude-desktop.md, site/src/data/clients.ts,
  site/src/pages/faq.astro.

Fixes the silent failure reported in #1046 (Microsoft Store install,
installer wrote to %APPDATA%, Claude Desktop reads from %LOCALAPPDATA%).

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.7 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

* Address review-toolkit findings on install-windows.ps1

- Drop the inaccurate "Windows Sandbox" example in the fallback comment;
  the Appx module ships in the default Sandbox image. Replace with the
  cases that actually break Get-AppxPackage: Constrained Language Mode
  under WDAC/AppLocker, Server Core / Nano installs.
- Drop the unverifiable "for days" claim on stale package folders. The
  asynchronous-cleanup behavior is real but no published bound exists,
  and the next sentence already justifies the hardening.
- Tighten the leading comment block — "different installers write to
  different roots" was borderline WHAT-explanation.
- Bump the "Detected:" line to Cyan and echo the resolved $ConfigDir on
  the next line so users can sanity-check the actual path before the
  installer writes the config. White-on-default got lost in the rest of
  the script's output, defeating the point of the line.
- Drop a dead try/catch{} around `Get-Command uvx -ErrorAction
  SilentlyContinue`. The cmdlet's SilentlyContinue already handles
  "not found"; the catch could only fire on terminating errors and
  silently swallow them, leaving the user with no signal.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.7 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

---------

Co-authored-by: kingpanther13 <kingpanther13@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Claude Opus 4.7 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

Author: 3 people

docs/FAQ.md

@@ -212,7 +212,8 @@ source ~/.zshrc
 1. **Restart Claude completely** - Use Cmd+Q (Mac) or Alt+F4 (Windows), not just close the window
 2. **Check config file location:**
    - Mac: `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`
-   - Windows: `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json`
+   - Windows (traditional installer): `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json`
+   - Windows (Microsoft Store): path varies by package — see the [Windows setup guide](https://homeassistant-ai.github.io/ha-mcp/guide-windows) for a detection snippet
 3. **Verify JSON syntax** - No trailing commas, proper quotes
 4. **Check the MCP icon** - Bottom left of Claude Desktop shows connected servers
 

docs/Windows-uv-guide.md

@@ -85,7 +85,15 @@ Try asking Claude:
 
 ## Step 6: Connect Your Home Assistant
 
-Ready to use your own Home Assistant? Edit the config file:
+Ready to use your own Home Assistant? Edit the config file.
+
+If you installed Claude Desktop from the **Microsoft Store**, run this in PowerShell to find your config path:
+
+```powershell
+$pkg = Get-AppxPackage -Name Claude -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Select-Object -First 1; if ($pkg) { "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Packages\$($pkg.PackageFamilyName)\LocalCache\Roaming\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json" } else { "$env:APPDATA\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json" }
+```
+
+Or open it directly (works for the **traditional installer**):
 
 ```powershell
 notepad "$env:APPDATA\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json"

docs/dev-channel.md

@@ -159,7 +159,8 @@ If you're using Claude Desktop, update your `claude_desktop_config.json`:
 
 **Location:**
 - **macOS:** `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`
-- **Windows:** `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json`
+- **Windows (traditional installer):** `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json`
+- **Windows (Microsoft Store):** path varies by package — see the [Windows setup guide](https://homeassistant-ai.github.io/ha-mcp/guide-windows) for a detection snippet
 
 **For uvx (dev channel):**
 ```json

homeassistant-addon/DOCS.md

@@ -61,7 +61,8 @@ Then add to your Claude Desktop configuration file:
 
 **Location:**
 - macOS: `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`
-- Windows: `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json`
+- Windows (traditional installer): `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json`
+- Windows (Microsoft Store): path varies by package — see the [Windows setup guide](https://homeassistant-ai.github.io/ha-mcp/guide-windows) for a detection snippet
 
 **Configuration:**
 ```json

scripts/install-windows.ps1

@@ -4,8 +4,34 @@
 
 $ErrorActionPreference = "Stop"
 
-# Configuration
-$ConfigDir = "$env:APPDATA\Claude"
+# Configuration: detect which Claude Desktop variant is installed so the
+# config lands where Claude will actually read it. Get-AppxPackage queries
+# the package registry, which is authoritative — it won't match a stale
+# %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Claude_* folder left behind after an MSIX uninstall.
+try {
+    $ClaudeAppx = Get-AppxPackage -Name Claude -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object -First 1
+} catch {
+    $ClaudeAppx = $null
+}
+
+if ($ClaudeAppx) {
+    $ConfigDir = "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Packages\$($ClaudeAppx.PackageFamilyName)\LocalCache\Roaming\Claude"
+    $DetectedVariant = "Microsoft Store install"
+} else {
+    # Fallback for environments where Get-AppxPackage isn't usable (e.g.,
+    # Constrained Language Mode under WDAC/AppLocker, Server Core/Nano).
+    # Pin to the Anthropic publisher hash so we don't pick up an unrelated
+    # SKU, and require LocalCache\Roaming\Claude to exist so we don't write
+    # into a "zombie" folder left behind after an MSIX uninstall.
+    $MsixPackage = Get-ChildItem "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Packages" -Filter "Claude_pzs8sxrjxfjjc" -Directory -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Select-Object -First 1
+    if ($MsixPackage -and (Test-Path "$($MsixPackage.FullName)\LocalCache\Roaming\Claude")) {
+        $ConfigDir = "$($MsixPackage.FullName)\LocalCache\Roaming\Claude"
+        $DetectedVariant = "Microsoft Store install"
+    } else {
+        $ConfigDir = "$env:APPDATA\Claude"
+        $DetectedVariant = "Traditional install"
+    }
+}
 $ConfigFile = "$ConfigDir\claude_desktop_config.json"
 $DemoUrl = "https://ha-mcp-demo-server.qc-h.net"
 $DemoToken = "demo"
@@ -18,10 +44,7 @@ Write-Host ""
 
 # Step 1: Check/install uv
 Write-Host "Step 1: Checking for uv..." -ForegroundColor Yellow
-$uvInstalled = $null
-try {
-    $uvInstalled = Get-Command uvx -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
-} catch {}
+$uvInstalled = Get-Command uvx -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
 
 if ($uvInstalled) {
     Write-Host "  uv is already installed" -ForegroundColor Green
@@ -44,6 +67,8 @@ Write-Host ""
 
 # Step 2: Configure Claude Desktop
 Write-Host "Step 2: Configuring Claude Desktop..." -ForegroundColor Yellow
+Write-Host "  Detected: $DetectedVariant" -ForegroundColor Cyan
+Write-Host "  Config path: $ConfigDir" -ForegroundColor Cyan
 $ClaudeNotInstalled = $false
 if (-not (Test-Path $ConfigDir)) {
     $ClaudeNotInstalled = $true

site/src/pages/faq.astro

@@ -223,7 +223,8 @@ source ~/.zshrc
             <li><strong>Check config file location:</strong>
               <ul class="ml-6 mt-1 text-slate-400 list-disc list-inside">
                 <li>Mac: <code class="bg-slate-800 px-1 rounded text-xs">~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json</code></li>
-                <li>Windows: <code class="bg-slate-800 px-1 rounded text-xs">%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json</code></li>
+                <li>Windows (traditional installer): <code class="bg-slate-800 px-1 rounded text-xs">%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json</code></li>
+                <li>Windows (Microsoft Store): path varies by package — see the <a href={withBase('/guide-windows')} class="text-blue-400 hover:underline">Windows setup guide</a> for a detection snippet</li>
               </ul>
             </li>
             <li><strong>Verify JSON syntax</strong> - No trailing commas, proper quotes</li>

site/src/pages/guide-windows.astro

@@ -142,6 +142,9 @@ const withBase = (path: string) => {
         </div>
         <div class="step-content">
           <p class="text-slate-300 mb-4">Ready to use your own Home Assistant? Edit the config file:</p>
+          <p class="text-slate-400 text-sm mb-2">If you installed Claude Desktop from the <strong>Microsoft Store</strong>, run this in PowerShell to find your config path:</p>
+          <pre class="code-block"><code>{`$pkg = Get-AppxPackage -Name Claude -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Select-Object -First 1; if ($pkg) { "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\\Packages\\$($pkg.PackageFamilyName)\\LocalCache\\Roaming\\Claude\\claude_desktop_config.json" } else { "$env:APPDATA\\Claude\\claude_desktop_config.json" }`}</code></pre>
+          <p class="text-slate-400 text-sm mb-2 mt-3">Or open it directly (works for the <strong>traditional installer</strong>):</p>
           <pre class="code-block"><code>notepad "$env:APPDATA\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json"</code></pre>
 
           <p class="text-slate-300 mt-4 mb-4">Replace the demo values:</p>

site/src/pages/setup.astro

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ const clientsData = [
     "logo": "/logos/claude.svg",
     "transports": ["stdio"],
     "configFormat": "json",
-    "configLocation": "macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json\nWindows: %APPDATA%\\Claude\\claude_desktop_config.json\n",
+    "configLocation": "macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json\nWindows (traditional installer): %APPDATA%\\Claude\\claude_desktop_config.json\nWindows (Microsoft Store): path varies by package — see the Windows setup guide for a detection snippet\n",
     "accuracy": 5,
     "order": 1,
     "httpNote": "Use mcp-proxy for HTTP connections (see Network/Remote setup)",