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You downloaded software for Windows and the installer is an .msi file instead of an .exe. MSI (Microsoft Software Installer) is the structured installer format managed by the Windows Installer service. It provides cleaner installs, reliable uninstalls, repair capabilities, and support for enterprise deployment via Group Policy.
The difference between MSI and EXE installers is standardisation. An EXE installer can do anything — there's no enforced structure. An MSI follows a defined database schema: tables describing files, registry entries, shortcuts, services, and installation sequences. This structure means Windows can reliably uninstall every file and registry entry an MSI installed, and system administrators can deploy MSI packages silently across thousands of machines. Enterprise IT loves MSI.
Double-click to install, or run `msiexec /i package.msi` from the command line. For silent installation: `msiexec /i package.msi /quiet`. Administrative installs (extracting files without running): `msiexec /a package.msi`. As with any installer, only run MSI files from trusted sources — they execute with elevated privileges and can modify system files.