How To Fix Error 1628: Failed to Complete Installation on Windows 11/10/8?

If you’re seeing the error “1628: Failed to complete installation” on Windows 11, don’t worry — you’re not alone, and it’s absolutely fixable.

This error usually means the Windows Installer service ran into a problem — either it’s not running, it’s corrupted, or there’s a conflict with a previous installation.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through seven proven fixes on Windows 11, starting with the easiest ones first. And if you’re on Windows 10 or Windows 8, don’t go anywhere — the steps are nearly identical, so you can follow right along.

Let’s get into it.

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Fix 1 – Run The Installer As Administrator

Before trying other methods, we recommend running the installer as Administrator. To do so, right-click the installer and select Run as Administrator.

Click Yes on the UAC prompt if it appears.

This has resolved the issue for some users, though results may vary. It’s worth a quick try before moving on to other troubleshooting steps.

Suggested – How To Fix A Required Privilege Is Not Held By The Client?

Fix 2 – Restart the Windows Installer Service

First, let’s make sure the Windows Installer service is actually running.

1. Press the Windows key, type “Services”, and open the Services app.
2. Scroll down and find Windows Installer.
3. Double-click on it to open its properties.
4. If the service status says Stopped, click Start. If it says Running, click Stop, wait a few seconds, then click Start again to restart it.
5. Make sure the Startup type is set to Manual.
6. Click OK, then try running your installer again.

Fix 3 – Re-register the Windows Installer

If Fix 2 didn’t work, let’s try re-registering the Windows Installer. This essentially refreshes the installer components and can clear out any underlying issues.

1. Open the Start Menu, type CMD, and when Command Prompt appears in the results, right-click it and select Run as Administrator.
2. Now type the following commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each:

msiexec /unregister
msiexec /regserver

You won’t see any output after running these — that’s completely normal. Once done, close the Command Prompt and try running the installer again.

Fix 4 – Rename The InstallShield Folder

When you install InstallShield-based software, the setup creates a folder named InstallShield in the Common Files folder. If you are facing a 1628: Failed to Complete Installation error, rename the InstallShield folder. Renaming it forces the setup to re-create the folder if something is wrong with it.

1. Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.
2. On 64-bit Windows: Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files.
3. On 32-bit Windows: Navigate to C:\Program Files\Common Files.
4. Locate the InstallShield folder.
5. Right-click on it and select Rename.
6. Type a new name, such as InstallShield.old, and press Enter.
7. Try running the installation again. The setup will automatically re-create a fresh InstallShield folder.

If you are prompted for administrator permission while renaming, click Continue to proceed.

Fix 5 – Run IDriver Files as Administrator

If renaming the InstallShield folder didn’t solve it, here’s another solution that works especially well on Windows 10 and 11. Inside the InstallShield folder, the IDriver files that handle installation don’t always get the elevated permissions they need. By forcing them to always run as Administrator, they can write to protected system folders without being blocked.

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the InstallShield folder (see Fix 4 for the path).
2. Go to Driver > 11 > Intel 32.
3. Inside the Intel 32 folder, you’ll see three files: IDriver.exe, IDriver2.exe, and IDriverT.exe.
4. For each file: right-click > Properties > Compatibility tab > check “Run this program as an administrator” > Apply > OK.

Fix 6 – Clear Temp Files and Retry

Leftover temporary files can also interfere with installations. Let’s clear those out.

1. Press Windows + R, type %temp%, and press Enter.
2. Select all files with Ctrl + A, then press Delete. Skip any files that say they’re in use — that’s fine.
3. Press Windows + R again, type temp, and delete those files too. Click Continue whenever prompted.
4. Restart your PC and try the installation again.

Fix 7 – Check for Conflicting Antivirus or Previous Install

Still stuck? Two more things to check.

First, temporarily disable your antivirus software — especially if you’re using a third-party antivirus instead of Windows Defender. Third-party security programs can be overprotective at times; they may flag your installer as a potential threat, or a potentially unwanted app, and silently block it from running. Disabling it temporarily should do the trick. Just remember to turn it back on once the installation is complete.

Second, if you’re reinstalling a program, make sure the old version is fully removed first:

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps.
2. Find the program and uninstall it.
3. Restart your device before attempting a fresh install.

A Note on the Microsoft Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter

While researching this error, one tool that keeps coming up as a recommended fix is the Microsoft Fix It Install & Uninstall Troubleshooter. However, we want to save you the trouble of tracking it down — Microsoft has officially discontinued the Fix It Troubleshooter and removed it from their download page. So if you’ve been searching for it, that’s why you can’t find it.

The fixes we have shared in this video are current and working alternatives.

Final Words

We hope one of these should do the trick. If you found this video helpful, give it a thumbs up and subscribe for more Windows troubleshooting guides.

Drop a comment below if you’re still having trouble — we read every one. See you in the next one.