upstream-mattermost/docs/main/deployment-guide/desktop/silent-windows-desktop-distribution.mdx

---
title: "Silent Windows desktop distribution"
---
<PlanAvailability slug="all-commercial" />

You can distribute the official Windows desktop app silently to end users using the MSI installer, pre-configured with server URLs and settings. For comprehensive MSI installation options including Group Policy configuration, see the [MSI installer and Group Policy guide](/deployment-guide/desktop/desktop-msi-installer-and-group-policy-install).

## Silent MSI installation

1.  Download the latest Windows MSI installer from the [Mattermost Desktop releases page on GitHub](https://github.com/mattermost/desktop/releases/latest).

2.  Move the MSI file to a shared location such as a file server with read-only permissions.

3.  Use your software deployment tool (SCCM, Intune, PDQ Deploy, etc.) to deploy the MSI with silent installation parameters:

    **Silent install:**

    ``` text
    msiexec /i \\SERVER\shared_folder\mattermost-desktop-v6.1.0-x64.msi /qn
    ```

## Pre-configuration with config.json

To pre-configure servers and settings, create a `config.json` file in the user's Mattermost data directory before first launch:

**Location**: `%APPDATA%\Mattermost\config.json`

**Example config.json**:

``` json
{
  "version": 2,
  "teams": [
    {
      "name": "core",
      "url": "https://community.mattermost.com",
      "order": 0
    },
    {
      "name": "hq",
      "url": "https://hq.example.com",
      "order": 1
    }
  ],
  "showTrayIcon": true,
  "trayIconTheme": "light",
  "minimizeToTray": true,
  "notifications": {
    "flashWindow": 2,
    "bounceIcon": true,
    "bounceIconType": "informational"
  },
  "showUnreadBadge": true,
  "useSpellChecker": true,
  "enableHardwareAcceleration": true,
  "autostart": false,
  "spellCheckerLocale": "en-US",
  "darkMode": false
}
```

**Batch script for silent install with pre-configuration:**

``` batch
rem Install Mattermost desktop app silently
msiexec /i \\SERVER\shared_folder\mattermost-desktop-v6.1.0-x64.msi /qn

rem Wait for installation to complete
timeout /t 10

rem Create config directory if it doesn't exist
if not exist "%APPDATA%\Mattermost" mkdir %APPDATA%\Mattermost

rem Copy pre-configured config.json
copy \\SERVER\shared_folder\config.json %APPDATA%\Mattermost\config.json
```

## Windows App: Silently removing the app

The MSI installer can be silently uninstalled using:

``` text
msiexec /x {PRODUCT-CODE-GUID} /qn
```

To find the product code for your installed version:

``` powershell
Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product | Where-Object {$_.Name -like "*Mattermost*"} | Select-Object Name, IdentifyingNumber
```

Alternatively, uninstall by searching for the MSI file:

``` text
msiexec /x mattermost-desktop-v6.1.0-x64.msi /qn
```

## Migration from EXE to MSI

Organizations currently using the Windows EXE installer must migrate to the MSI installer or Microsoft Store version:

1.  **Uninstall existing EXE version** (if desired, optional):

    ``` text
    %userprofile%\AppData\local\Programs\mattermost-desktop\Uninstall Mattermost.exe /currentuser /S
    ```

2.  **Install MSI version** using silent installation commands above.

3.  **User data preservation**: User settings and credentials are stored in `%APPDATA%\Mattermost` and will be preserved across the migration.

<Note>

The EXE installer will not receive v6.1.0 or later updates. Plan your migration accordingly.

</Note>