From 8b3d1d6721f7c9eef4d991b75b222061ae13d271 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Varun Chawla <varun_6april@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2026 01:49:48 -0800
Subject: [PATCH 1/2] fix(bundler): swap WIX registry search order to
 prioritize InstallDir

When both the NSIS default key and the named InstallDir key exist in
the registry, WIX uses the last RegistrySearch value found. The previous
order caused the NSIS default key to override InstallDir, which made
apps installed to Program Files move to AppData on update.

Swap the order so InstallDir (set by the MSI installer) is searched
last and takes priority.

Closes #14213
---
 .changes/fix-wix-registry-search-order.md            | 5 +++++
 crates/tauri-bundler/src/bundle/windows/msi/main.wxs | 8 ++++----
 2 files changed, 9 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 .changes/fix-wix-registry-search-order.md

diff --git a/.changes/fix-wix-registry-search-order.md b/.changes/fix-wix-registry-search-order.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..10e11326ced6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changes/fix-wix-registry-search-order.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"tauri-bundler": patch:bug
+---
+
+Fix WIX installer registry search order so that the named `InstallDir` key takes priority over the NSIS default key, preventing install location from changing on updates.
diff --git a/crates/tauri-bundler/src/bundle/windows/msi/main.wxs b/crates/tauri-bundler/src/bundle/windows/msi/main.wxs
index a11b2ec4381c..67caf53d5c19 100644
--- a/crates/tauri-bundler/src/bundle/windows/msi/main.wxs
+++ b/crates/tauri-bundler/src/bundle/windows/msi/main.wxs
@@ -71,11 +71,11 @@
         {{/if}}
 
         <Property Id="INSTALLDIR">
-          <!-- First attempt: Search for "InstallDir" -->
-          <RegistrySearch Id="PrevInstallDirWithName" Root="HKCU" Key="Software\\{{manufacturer}}\\{{product_name}}" Name="InstallDir" Type="raw" />
-
-          <!-- Second attempt: If the first fails, search for the default key value (this is how the nsis installer currently stores the path) -->
+          <!-- First attempt: Search for the default key value (this is how the nsis installer stores the path) -->
           <RegistrySearch Id="PrevInstallDirNoName" Root="HKCU" Key="Software\\{{manufacturer}}\\{{product_name}}" Type="raw" />
+
+          <!-- Second attempt: Search for "InstallDir" which takes priority if found (this is how the msi installer stores the path) -->
+          <RegistrySearch Id="PrevInstallDirWithName" Root="HKCU" Key="Software\\{{manufacturer}}\\{{product_name}}" Name="InstallDir" Type="raw" />
         </Property>
 
         <!-- launch app checkbox -->

From 57a45b9c540239bc7c74dac12925705a5bd22095 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Varun Chawla <varun_6april@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2026 16:12:26 -0800
Subject: [PATCH 2/2] fix(bundler): add comment explaining WIX registry search
 order

Adds a NOTE comment above the RegistrySearch block to clarify that
the last successful match wins in WIX, preventing future accidental
reordering.
---
 crates/tauri-bundler/src/bundle/windows/msi/main.wxs | 4 ++++
 1 file changed, 4 insertions(+)

diff --git a/crates/tauri-bundler/src/bundle/windows/msi/main.wxs b/crates/tauri-bundler/src/bundle/windows/msi/main.wxs
index 67caf53d5c19..a08c3b2cc5dc 100644
--- a/crates/tauri-bundler/src/bundle/windows/msi/main.wxs
+++ b/crates/tauri-bundler/src/bundle/windows/msi/main.wxs
@@ -70,6 +70,10 @@
         <Property Id="ARPURLUPDATEINFO" Value="{{homepage}}"/>
         {{/if}}
 
+        <!-- NOTE: The order of RegistrySearch elements below matters. In WIX, when multiple
+             RegistrySearch elements are listed under a single Property, the LAST successful
+             match wins. We list the NSIS default-key search first and the MSI InstallDir
+             search second so that the MSI-specific path takes priority when both keys exist. -->
         <Property Id="INSTALLDIR">
           <!-- First attempt: Search for the default key value (this is how the nsis installer stores the path) -->
           <RegistrySearch Id="PrevInstallDirNoName" Root="HKCU" Key="Software\\{{manufacturer}}\\{{product_name}}" Type="raw" />