IIS Web Deploy's "Import/Export Application" Action Missing?

Question

I had a working IIS 7.5 with Web Deploy 3.5 configuration such that the "Import/Export Application" feature in the right hand action pane showed up and functioned properly. Unfortunately I had to remove and reinstall IIS, and now the Import/Export functionality does not show up in the Actions pane, as if Web Deploy was not installed.

I tried to reinstall using the automated installer at http://www.iis.net/downloads/microsoft/web-deploy, but when I run it, the installer seems to think that Web Deploy is already installed and does not offer me any reinstall/uninstall option.

How can I force a reinstall of WebDeploy or force IIS to recognize that Web Deploy is still installed?

Solution 1

1. Go to http://www.iis.net/downloads/microsoft/web-deploy
2. Scroll to the bottom of the page to the "Download Web Deploy" header
3. Click the x86 or x64 link next to your language of choice. Do not click the WebPI link.
4. Once downloaded, click on the installer to open it.
5. Click Next
6. Click the Remove button
7. Now you can reinstall it using the Web Platform Installer, or just use the standalone.

On a side note... If you don't see the Deploy options in IIS once you've reinstalled Web Deploy, try running IIS as Administrator. Hope this helps.

Solution 2

I am running IIS on my development machine on Windows 7. Web Deploy 3.6 seem to break something as the Import / Export Application options are not available. Had to uninstall 3.6 via control panel add/remove programs and then install 3.5 via Web PI.

Solution 3

I've installed Web Deployment Tool 2.1 then restart IIS Manager and the Import/Export Application appeared.

Solution 4

I was running a 'gallery template' Windows Server 2012 VM on Azure. Web Platform Installer said Web Deploy 3.5 was already installed. At first I thought this neat feature had been removed/moved.

In Add/Remove Programs, saw that Web Deploy 3.6 Beta was installed. Removed it and reinstalled 3.5 (without SQL stuff) via Web PI.

Ran IIS Manager as admin and all works fine.

Update - A new Azure VM also had this problem, but had 3.6 Beta3 installed. Again, removed and reinstalled 3.5 via WebPI.

Solution 5

None of the other answers here fixed this for me with Visual Studio 17 on Windows 10. The fix was here: https://developercommunity.visualstudio.com/content/problem/230372/web-deply-40-msi-location.html

Web Deploy 4 has moved to be distributed with Visual Studio 2017. This is nuts because the Web Deploy service and the Import/Export tools are for server administrators and not devs. The discussion in the link says they are working on adding Web Deploy 4 to the Web Platform Installer, but have encountered a few issues (read: we didn't create a proper deployment for it the first place.)

The fix for me was to uninstall Web Deploy 4 from Control Panel-Apps & features, then reinstall from the MSI provided with Studio. Look in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\VisualStudio\Packages for a folder like Microsoft.VisualStudio.WebDeploy.Msi,version=...,chip=x64. The MSI file is within that. More detail in the link I mentioned.

My guess is if the IIS Manager is not turned on at the time Studio (and therefore Web Deploy) is installed, the hook for Import/Export can't be created.

View more solutions

Comments

[Michael12345]

Me too on Windows 10. Grr. Innocent assumption that 3.6 would be "like 3.5 but a little bit better" resulted in a big waste of time.

[Adam Rehill]

This did it for me. Thank you!

[Guy Levy]

I found a solution to this (with Web Deploy 3.6), see this answer for details: stackoverflow.com/a/41461305/5120854

[Thane Plummer]

I hate uninstalling stuff, as you never know what DLL you're going to clobber, and you get unintended consequences of other things not working. That's why I like this solution -- nothing uninstalled.

[binki]

You have to enable an extra “optional windows feature” on modern Windows prior to installing for the installer to put the buttons into inetmgr, see stackoverflow.com/a/41461305/5120854

[Rob]

Windows Server 2016 with IIS 10 prefers 3.5 too. The "Deploy" sub-menu was never available with 3.6

[Giorgos Betsos]

Windows 7 Pro with IIS 7.5 prefers 3.5 as well. The "Deploy" sub-menu became available once I uninstalled 3.6 and installed 3.5 instead.

[Brett Drake]

For me IIS Management Service was already installed and IIS Manger was already running as admin and Web Deploy 3.6 was already installed. Using Microsoft Web Platform installer to install Web Deployment Tool 2.1 worked for me. This is separate from Web Deploy 3.6--you do not uninstall Web Deploy 3.6, just install Web Deployment Tool 2.1