Command line alias symlink is not added to "%LOCALAPPDATA%/Microsoft\WinGet\Links", even though it is on a Windows Sandbox instance

[tonur]

Relevant area(s)

WinGet CLI

Relevant command(s)

winget install

Brief description of your issue

On my PC, a recently reinstalled Windows 11 23H2, I experience that Winget installed apps with a PortableCommandAlias value does not add a symlink to the "%LOCALAPPDATA%/Microsoft\WinGet\Links" folder. But when I do it on a Windows Sandbox instance, it adds it without issues.

Testing this with the winget install int128.kubelogin which manifest is seen with a PortableCommandAlias here: https://github.com/microsoft/winget-pkgs/blob/master/manifests/i/int128/kubelogin/1.35.2/int128.kubelogin.installer.yaml

I tried updating Winget from the latest Github release without any success and I am running the latest version:
winget --version
v1.28.190

Steps to reproduce

winget install int128.kubelogin
Get-Item $env:LOCALAPPDATA/Microsoft\WinGet\Links\kubectl-oidc_login

Expected behavior

Actual behavior

Environment

[winget --info]
Windows Package Manager v1.28.190
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Windows: Windows.Desktop v10.0.22631.6491
System Architecture: X64
Package: Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller v1.28.190.0

Winget Directories
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Logs                               %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\DiagOutputDir
User Settings                      %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\settings.json
Portable Links Directory (User)    %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\WinGet\Links
Portable Links Directory (Machine) C:\Program Files\WinGet\Links
Portable Package Root (User)       %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\WinGet\Packages
Portable Package Root              C:\Program Files\WinGet\Packages
Portable Package Root (x86)        C:\Program Files (x86)\WinGet\Packages
Installer Downloads                %USERPROFILE%\Downloads
Configuration Modules              %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\WinGet\Configuration\Modules

Links
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Privacy Statement   https://aka.ms/winget-privacy
License Agreement   https://aka.ms/winget-license
Third Party Notices https://aka.ms/winget-3rdPartyNotice
Homepage            https://aka.ms/winget
Windows Store Terms https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/storedocs/terms-of-sale

Admin Setting                             State
--------------------------------------------------
LocalManifestFiles                        Disabled
BypassCertificatePinningForMicrosoftStore Disabled
InstallerHashOverride                     Disabled
LocalArchiveMalwareScanOverride           Disabled
ProxyCommandLineOptions                   Disabled
DefaultProxy                              Disabled

[tonur]

Seems like more people are experiencing this here: int128/kubelogin#926 (comment)

[tonur]

I can confirm that this users workaround (Running the winget install int128.kubelogin command as Administrator) works: int128/kubelogin#926 (comment)

But I have still no idea why it works on a fresh install, and not on certain users computers without Administrator.