NI Software Installation Without Admin Rights

Issue Details

Is there any method to install NI software without admin rights?

Solution

NI does not have a method to install software in non-admin mode.

This is because NIPM requires administrative privileges to install NI Software, as the installation operations it performs generally need elevated permissions. These permissions are necessary for tasks such as writing to system directories, modifying system configurations, setting registry keys, and installing system services, which typically require admin access.

The requirement for admin privileges is also tied to the need to perform actions like system reboots during installation processes. Such actions are critical for ensuring that the software is correctly installed and functions properly on the system.

Additionally, if a user attempts to run NIPM without admin rights, they will encounter a prompt indicating the need for elevated privileges to proceed with the installation.

Additional Information

Starting from 2025 Q1, all NIPM installers released will have signed MSIs. The primary goal of signing is to digitally sign all the MSIs within the packages. This helps mitigate issues related to IT policies or antivirus scans that might block or flag unsigned MSIs during installation.

Although signed MSIs improve security compliance and installation reliability, they do not eliminate the need for admin access. Administrative privileges are still required to install drivers and make system-level changes, regardless of whether the installer is signed.