Can I Prevent NI Package Manager from Requiring Administrative Privileges?

Updated Sep 25, 2025

Issue Details

I need to install NI software using NI Package Manager (NIPM). When I open NI Package Manager, I get a User- Account Control (UAC) prompt asking, "Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?", even if logged in using an administrator account. Can I prevent NIPM from needing administrator access, or prevent the UAC prompt from being required?

Solution

NI Package Manager requires administrator access due to needing to install low-level device drivers, install files to protected directories, and change Registry keys. There is no way to run NIPM without admin access.

The UAC prompt is a Windows security feature giving the user warning and requesting authorization for this level of access. To alter the behavior of the system regarding these prompts, the user would need to work with their IT to alter local group security policy, since this is not something controlled by NI.