How to Download Deployed WSP files from Central Administration Using PowerShell

Problem Statement:

When you reach to a SharePoint server which already has a custom solution (.wsp) deployed but you don't have that .wsp solution available on file system and you need the .wsp solution.

Reason:

When you deploy any solution (.wsp) in SharePoint, it stores in database not file system.

Solution:

You can use below power shell script to download these .wsp files.

-For single solution file
#Get reference to SharePoint farm

$SPFarmVar = Get-SPFarm

#Get reference to deployed SharePoint Solution file SolutionPackage.wsp

$SPWSPVar = $SPFarmVar.Solutions.Item("SolutionPackage.wsp").SolutionFile

#Saving SolutionPackage.wsp to root on C: Drive

$SPWSPVar.SaveAs("C:\SolutionPackage.wsp")

-For all deployed solution files

#Get reference to SharePoint farm

$SPFarmVar = Get-SPFarm

#Download all the solutions. Please make sure WSPs folder exist on C:

foreach ($solution in $SPFarmVar.Solutions)

{

   $solution = $SPFarmVar .Solutions[$solution.Name]
   $solutionFile = $solution.SolutionFile
   $solutionFile.SaveAs('C:\WSPs' + $solution.Name)
}

That's it folks :)

..::Keep on SharePointing::..