[GH-ISSUE #494] Allow silent installation on Windows #841

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opened 2026-08-05 00:40:08 -04:00 by saavagebueno · 7 comments
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Originally created by @timwsuqld on GitHub (Oct 4, 2022).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/issues/494

We wish to deploy Netbird through tools like Intune, which require either a MSI or an EXE that supports silent installation (no GUIs, all options that need the ability to be set should have CLI flags that can be passed).

Originally created by @timwsuqld on GitHub (Oct 4, 2022). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/issues/494 We wish to deploy Netbird through tools like Intune, which require either a MSI or an EXE that supports silent installation (no GUIs, all options that need the ability to be set should have CLI flags that can be passed).
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@mlsmaycon commented on GitHub (Oct 8, 2022):

Hello @timwsuqld as we discussed in slack, we currently have support for it using the /S flag, for instance, installing the 0.9.7 version would be:

.\netbird_installer_0.9.7_windows_amd64.exe /S

After that you can run the up command with a setup key to activate it.

We do have an issue with the upgrade with existing version, where the steps to remove the previous version is interactive.

I will leave this ticket open to update you when the upgrade is completely silent.

<!-- gh-comment-id:1272390766 --> @mlsmaycon commented on GitHub (Oct 8, 2022): Hello @timwsuqld as we discussed in slack, we currently have support for it using the /S flag, for instance, installing the 0.9.7 version would be: `.\netbird_installer_0.9.7_windows_amd64.exe /S` After that you can run the up command with a setup key to activate it. We do have an issue with the upgrade with existing version, where the steps to remove the previous version is interactive. I will leave this ticket open to update you when the upgrade is completely silent.
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@timwsuqld commented on GitHub (Oct 9, 2022):

@mlsmaycon thanks for this. Use the /S switch worked. It still ends up running in the background (unlike a MSI that you can force to stay in foreground for a silent install) so some workarounds are still needed to detect when the silent install has finished.

Any chance you can include in the github repo the files used for building the windows installers, and the steps, so others can help improve them? e.g. are you using NSIS, Installshield etc.

It appears we can do a silent install with wait via either start "" /WAIT netbird_installer_0.9.7_windows_amd64.exe /S or ExecWait netbird_installer_0.9.7_windows_amd64.exe /S depending on how we call it.

<!-- gh-comment-id:1272728071 --> @timwsuqld commented on GitHub (Oct 9, 2022): @mlsmaycon thanks for this. Use the `/S` switch worked. It still ends up running in the background (unlike a MSI that you can force to stay in foreground for a silent install) so some workarounds are still needed to detect when the silent install has finished. Any chance you can include in the github repo the files used for building the windows installers, and the steps, so others can help improve them? e.g. are you using NSIS, Installshield etc. It appears we can do a silent install with wait via either `start "" /WAIT netbird_installer_0.9.7_windows_amd64.exe /S` or `ExecWait netbird_installer_0.9.7_windows_amd64.exe /S` depending on how we call it.
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@mlsmaycon commented on GitHub (Oct 12, 2022):

Hello @timwsuqld, as we discussed, the main issue with the background installation is that the NISIS installer is a UI application, and the windows terminal sends them to the background. Your solution with start (in CMD) or ExecWait (Powershell) seems to be the best approach for a blocking installation.

BTW, the PR #505 has the fix for the upgrade process and also one small fix for an installation path bug we had.

<!-- gh-comment-id:1276285634 --> @mlsmaycon commented on GitHub (Oct 12, 2022): Hello @timwsuqld, as we discussed, the main issue with the background installation is that the NISIS installer is a UI application, and the windows terminal sends them to the background. Your solution with start (in CMD) or ExecWait (Powershell) seems to be the best approach for a blocking installation. BTW, the PR #505 has the fix for the upgrade process and also one small fix for an installation path bug we had.
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@mlsmaycon commented on GitHub (Jun 16, 2023):

@timwsuqld closing this issue since we didn't hear from you.

<!-- gh-comment-id:1594235598 --> @mlsmaycon commented on GitHub (Jun 16, 2023): @timwsuqld closing this issue since we didn't hear from you.
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@W1BTR commented on GitHub (Jun 27, 2024):

After running netbird_installer_0.28.3_windows_amd64.exe /s there was no output, and I do not see anything in program files (either the 64 bit or x86 folder). netbird up also replies 'netbird' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

This is being run with system permissions (full admin).

Looks like it's stuck running in the background

image

<!-- gh-comment-id:2194651998 --> @W1BTR commented on GitHub (Jun 27, 2024): After running `netbird_installer_0.28.3_windows_amd64.exe /s` there was no output, and I do not see anything in program files (either the 64 bit or x86 folder). netbird up also replies `'netbird' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.` This is being run with system permissions (full admin). Looks like it's stuck running in the background ![image](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/assets/164893442/491ca46e-7393-48ba-af53-c45749b19054)
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@mlsmaycon commented on GitHub (Jun 27, 2024):

@W1BTR can you remove the installed version and check the install using MSI? https://docs.netbird.io/how-to/installation#windows

<!-- gh-comment-id:2194663269 --> @mlsmaycon commented on GitHub (Jun 27, 2024): @W1BTR can you remove the installed version and check the install using MSI? https://docs.netbird.io/how-to/installation#windows
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@ITCMD commented on GitHub (Mar 24, 2026):

Tried with the MSI as well, same result. Immediately exits with no output. This is a remote machine with admin cmd access only (no desktop).

If I run this same command in an administrator command prompt on a desktop, it does successfully install with a popup cmd window, but not if I am logged in remotely as system.

<!-- gh-comment-id:4120896176 --> @ITCMD commented on GitHub (Mar 24, 2026): Tried with the MSI as well, same result. Immediately exits with no output. This is a remote machine with admin cmd access only (no desktop). If I run this same command in an administrator command prompt on a desktop, it does successfully install with a popup cmd window, but not if I am logged in remotely as system.
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Reference: DYNR/netbird#841