Automated application modeling for application virtualization (auto-modeling) may be incorporated into an application installer and/or other suitable component of a computer operating system. Auto-modeling may be performed by an auto-modeling agent. The auto-modeling agent may employ one or more of multiple auto-modeling strategies. The auto-modeling agent may assess one or more of a particular application, application installation package and/or application environment in order to determine a suitable auto-modeling strategy. Auto-modeling strategies may include active auto-modeling and passive auto-modeling. Active auto-modeling strategies may require at least partial installation and/or execution of the application to be modeled, whereas passive auto-modeling may generate corresponding auto-modeling data independent of application installation and/or execution, for example, by obtaining suitable data from a corresponding application installation package. In particular, The auto-modeling agent may perform active auto-modeling by directing an independent application modeler and/or an application installer, for example, in accordance with an auto-modeling rulebase.