|
| 1 | +--- |
| 2 | +title: Windows Installation |
| 3 | +impact: HIGH |
| 4 | +impactDescription: Proper Windows-specific installation procedures ensure NextDNS CLI is correctly deployed with appropriate privileges and system integration |
| 5 | +type: capability |
| 6 | +tags: Windows, GUI, CLI, installation, setup, EXE, Systray |
| 7 | +--- |
| 8 | + |
| 9 | +# Windows Installation |
| 10 | + |
| 11 | +**Impact: HIGH** - Critical for proper NextDNS deployment on Windows systems |
| 12 | + |
| 13 | +NextDNS offers two installation methods for Windows: an official GUI application with a Systray icon for easy management, and a manual CLI installation for advanced users who prefer command-line control. |
| 14 | + |
| 15 | +## Official GUI App Installation |
| 16 | + |
| 17 | +The recommended method for most users is the official GUI application, which provides a user-friendly Systray interface. |
| 18 | + |
| 19 | +### Download and Setup |
| 20 | + |
| 21 | +1. **Download**: Get the latest stable release from <https://nextdns.io/download/windows/stable>. |
| 22 | +2. **Install**: Run the installer and follow the setup wizard. |
| 23 | +3. **Configure**: Right-click the Systray icon, open **Settings**, and enter your Configuration ID. |
| 24 | +4. **Activate**: Right-click the Systray icon and click **Enable** to start DNS protection. |
| 25 | + |
| 26 | +The GUI app automatically handles service installation, Windows Firewall rules, and network adapter configuration. |
| 27 | + |
| 28 | +## Manual CLI Installation |
| 29 | + |
| 30 | +For advanced users, server deployments, or automated setups, the CLI method provides more control. |
| 31 | + |
| 32 | +### Download |
| 33 | + |
| 34 | +Download the latest Windows binary from [GitHub Releases](https://github.com/nextdns/nextdns/releases). |
| 35 | + |
| 36 | +### Installation Steps |
| 37 | + |
| 38 | +1. **Create Directory**: Create a dedicated folder for the NextDNS binary: |
| 39 | + |
| 40 | + ```dos |
| 41 | + mkdir "C:\Program Files\NextDNS" |
| 42 | + ``` |
| 43 | +
|
| 44 | +2. **Move Binary**: Place the downloaded `nextdns.exe` into `C:\Program Files\NextDNS\`. |
| 45 | +
|
| 46 | +3. **Install Service**: Open an **Administrator** Command Prompt and run: |
| 47 | +
|
| 48 | + ```dos |
| 49 | + "C:\Program Files\NextDNS\nextdns.exe" install ^ |
| 50 | + -config <your_config_id> ^ |
| 51 | + -report-client-info ^ |
| 52 | + -auto-activate |
| 53 | + ``` |
| 54 | +
|
| 55 | + **Note**: Replace `<your_config_id>` with your actual NextDNS Configuration ID (e.g., `abc123`). |
| 56 | +
|
| 57 | +### Command Options |
| 58 | +
|
| 59 | +- `-config <your_config_id>`: Specifies your NextDNS profile. |
| 60 | +- `-report-client-info`: Enables device identification in the NextDNS dashboard. |
| 61 | +- `-auto-activate`: Automatically configures Windows DNS settings to use NextDNS. |
| 62 | +
|
| 63 | +## Verification |
| 64 | +
|
| 65 | +After installation, verify NextDNS is running: |
| 66 | +
|
| 67 | +```dos |
| 68 | +"C:\Program Files\NextDNS\nextdns.exe" status |
| 69 | +``` |
| 70 | + |
| 71 | +You should see active status and the configured profile ID. |
| 72 | + |
| 73 | +## Important Considerations |
| 74 | + |
| 75 | +- **Administrator Rights**: Both installation methods require Administrator privileges. |
| 76 | +- **Windows Firewall**: The installer automatically configures firewall rules. |
| 77 | +- **DNS Conflicts**: Disable other DNS services or VPN DNS overrides if they conflict. |
| 78 | +- **Updates**: The GUI app can auto-update. For CLI installations, manually download new releases. |
| 79 | + |
| 80 | +## Reference |
| 81 | + |
| 82 | +- [NextDNS Downloads](https://nextdns.io/download) |
| 83 | +- [NextDNS CLI GitHub](https://github.com/nextdns/nextdns) |
| 84 | +- [NextDNS CLI Wiki](https://github.com/nextdns/nextdns/wiki) |
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