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NSIS

The top-level nsis key contains set of options instructing electron-builder on how it should build NSIS target (default target for Windows).

These options also applicable for Web installer, use top-level nsisWeb key.

Unicode enabled by default. Large strings are supported (maximum string length of 8192 bytes instead of the default of 1024 bytes).

32 bit + 64 bit

If you build both ia32 and x64 arch (--x64 --ia32), you in any case get one installer. Appropriate arch will be installed automatically. The same applied to web installer (nsis-web target).

Web Installer

To build web installer, set target to nsis-web. Web Installer automatically detects OS architecture and downloads corresponding package file. So, user don’t need to guess what installer to download and in the same time you don’t bundle package files for all architectures in the one installer (as in case of default nsis target). It doesn’t matter for common Electron application (due to superb LZMA compression, size difference is acceptable), but if your application is huge, Web Installer is a solution.

To customize web installer, use the top-level nsisWeb key (not nsis).

If for some reasons web installer cannot download (antivirus, offline):

  • Download package file into the same directory where installer located. It will be detected automatically and used instead of downloading from the Internet. Please note — only original package file is allowed (checksum is checked).
  • Specify any local package file using --package-file=path_to_file.

Custom NSIS script

Two options are available — include and script. script allows you to provide completely different NSIS script. For most cases it is not required as you need only to customise some aspects, but still use well-tested and maintained default NSIS script. So, include is recommended.

Keep in mind — if you customize NSIS script, you should always state about it in the issue reports. And don’t expect that your issue will be resolved.

  1. Add file build/installer.nsh.

  2. Define wanted macro to customise: customHeader, preInit, customInit, customUnInit, customInstall, customUnInstall, customRemoveFiles, customInstallMode, customWelcomePage, customUnWelcomePage.

    Example

    !macro customHeader
  !system "echo '' > ${BUILD_RESOURCES_DIR}/customHeader"
!macroend

!macro preInit
  ; This macro is inserted at the beginning of the NSIS .OnInit callback
  !system "echo '' > ${BUILD_RESOURCES_DIR}/preInit"
!macroend

!macro customInit
  !system "echo '' > ${BUILD_RESOURCES_DIR}/customInit"
!macroend

!macro customInstall
  !system "echo '' > ${BUILD_RESOURCES_DIR}/customInstall"
!macroend

!macro customInstallMode
  # set $isForceMachineInstall or $isForceCurrentInstall
  # to enforce one or the other modes.
!macroend

!macro customWelcomePage
  # Welcome Page is not added by default for installer.
  !insertMacro MUI_PAGE_WELCOME
!macroend

!macro customUnWelcomePage
  !define MUI_WELCOMEPAGE_TITLE "custom title for uninstaller welcome page"
  !define MUI_WELCOMEPAGE_TEXT "custom text for uninstaller welcome page $\r$\n more"
  !insertmacro MUI_UNPAGE_WELCOME
!macroend

  3. BUILD_RESOURCES_DIR and PROJECT_DIR are defined.

  4. build is added as addincludedir (i.e. you don’t need to use BUILD_RESOURCES_DIR to include files).
  5. build/x86-unicode and build/x86-ansi are added as addplugindir.
  6. File associations macro registerFileAssociations and unregisterFileAssociations are still defined.
  7. All other electron-builder specific flags (e.g. ONE_CLICK) are still defined.

If you want to include additional resources for use during installation, such as scripts or additional installers, you can place them in the build directory and include them with File. For example, to include and run extramsi.msi during installation, place it in the build directory and use the following:

!macro customInstall
  File /oname=$PLUGINSDIR\extramsi.msi "${BUILD_RESOURCES_DIR}\extramsi.msi"
  ExecWait '"msiexec" /i "$PLUGINSDIR\extramsi.msi" /passive'
!macroend
Is there a way to call just when the app is installed (or uninstalled) manually and not on update?

Use ${isUpdated}.

${ifNot} ${isUpdated}
  # your code
${endIf}

GUID vs Application Name

Windows requires to use registry keys (e.g. INSTALL/UNINSTALL info). Squirrel.Windows simply uses application name as key. But it is not robust — Google can use key Google Chrome SxS, because it is a Google.

So, it is better to use GUID. You are not forced to explicitly specify it — name-based UUID v5 will be generated from your appId or name. It means that you should not change appId once your application in use (or name if appId was not set). Application product name (title) or description can be safely changed.

You can explicitly set guid using option nsis.guid, but it is not recommended — consider using appId.

It is also important to set the Application User Model ID (AUMID) to the appId of the application, in order for notifications on Windows 8/8.1 to function and for Window 10 notifications to display the app icon within the notifications by default. The AUMID should be set within the Main process and before any BrowserWindows have been opened, it is normally the first piece of code executed: app.setAppUserModelId(appId)

Portable

To build portable app, set target to portable (or pass --win portable).

For portable app, following environment variables are available:

  • PORTABLE_EXECUTABLE_FILE - path to the portable executable.
  • PORTABLE_EXECUTABLE_DIR - directory where the portable executable is located.
  • PORTABLE_EXECUTABLE_APP_FILENAME - sanitized app name to use in file paths.

Common Questions

How do change the default installation directory to custom?

It is very specific requirement. Do not do if you are not sure. Add custom macro:

!macro preInit
  SetRegView 64
  WriteRegExpandStr HKLM "${INSTALL_REGISTRY_KEY}" InstallLocation "C:\MyApp"
  WriteRegExpandStr HKCU "${INSTALL_REGISTRY_KEY}" InstallLocation "C:\MyApp"
  SetRegView 32
  WriteRegExpandStr HKLM "${INSTALL_REGISTRY_KEY}" InstallLocation "C:\MyApp"
  WriteRegExpandStr HKCU "${INSTALL_REGISTRY_KEY}" InstallLocation "C:\MyApp"
!macroend
Is it possible to made single installer that will allow configuring user/machine installation?

Yes, you need to switch to assisted installer (not default one-click).

package.json 

"build": {
  "nsis": {
    "oneClick": false
  }
}
electron-builder.yml 
nsis:
  oneClick: false

Configuration

Electron-Builder / app-builder-lib / NsisOptions

Extends

Extended by

Properties

allowElevation?

readonly optional allowElevation: boolean

assisted installer only. Allow requesting for elevation. If false, user will have to restart installer with elevated permissions.

Default
true
allowToChangeInstallationDirectory?

readonly optional allowToChangeInstallationDirectory: boolean

assisted installer only. Whether to allow user to change installation directory.

Default
false
artifactName?

readonly optional artifactName: null | string

The artifact file name template. Defaults to ${productName} Setup ${version}.${ext}.

Overrides

TargetSpecificOptions.artifactName

createDesktopShortcut?

readonly optional createDesktopShortcut: boolean | "always"

Whether to create desktop shortcut. Set to always if to recreate also on reinstall (even if removed by user).

Default
true
Inherited from

CommonWindowsInstallerConfiguration.createDesktopShortcut

createStartMenuShortcut?

readonly optional createStartMenuShortcut: boolean

Whether to create start menu shortcut.

Default
true
Inherited from

CommonWindowsInstallerConfiguration.createStartMenuShortcut

customNsisBinary?

readonly optional customNsisBinary: null | CustomNsisBinary

Allows you to provide your own makensis, such as one with support for debug logging via LogSet and LogText. (Logging also requires option debugLogging = true)

Inherited from

CommonNsisOptions.customNsisBinary

deleteAppDataOnUninstall?

readonly optional deleteAppDataOnUninstall: boolean

one-click installer only. Whether to delete app data on uninstall.

Default
false
displayLanguageSelector?

readonly optional displayLanguageSelector: boolean

Whether to display a language selection dialog. Not recommended (by default will be detected using OS language).

Default
false
guid?

readonly optional guid: null | string

See GUID vs Application Name.

Inherited from

CommonNsisOptions.guid

include?

readonly optional include: null | string

The path to NSIS include script to customize installer. Defaults to build/installer.nsh. See Custom NSIS script.

installerHeader?

readonly optional installerHeader: null | string

assisted installer only. MUI_HEADERIMAGE, relative to the build resources or to the project directory.

Default
build/installerHeader.bmp
installerHeaderIcon?

readonly optional installerHeaderIcon: null | string

one-click installer only. The path to header icon (above the progress bar), relative to the build resources or to the project directory. Defaults to build/installerHeaderIcon.ico or application icon.

installerIcon?

readonly optional installerIcon: null | string

The path to installer icon, relative to the build resources or to the project directory. Defaults to build/installerIcon.ico or application icon.

installerLanguages?

readonly optional installerLanguages: null | string | string[]

The installer languages (e.g. en_US, de_DE). Change only if you understand what do you do and for what.

installerSidebar?

readonly optional installerSidebar: null | string

assisted installer only. MUI_WELCOMEFINISHPAGE_BITMAP, relative to the build resources or to the project directory. Defaults to build/installerSidebar.bmp or ${NSISDIR}\\Contrib\\Graphics\\Wizard\\nsis3-metro.bmp. Image size 164 × 314 pixels.

language?

readonly optional language: null | string

LCID Dec, defaults to 1033(English - United States).

license?

readonly optional license: null | string

The path to EULA license file. Defaults to license.txt or eula.txt (or uppercase variants). In addition to txt, rtf and html supported (don’t forget to use target="_blank" for links).

Multiple license files in different languages are supported — use lang postfix (e.g. _de, _ru). For example, create files license_de.txt and license_en.txt in the build resources. If OS language is german, license_de.txt will be displayed. See map of language code to name.

Appropriate license file will be selected by user OS language.

readonly optional menuCategory: string | boolean

Whether to create submenu for start menu shortcut and program files directory. If true, company name will be used. Or string value.

Default
false
Inherited from

CommonWindowsInstallerConfiguration.menuCategory

multiLanguageInstaller?

readonly optional multiLanguageInstaller: boolean

Whether to create multi-language installer. Defaults to unicode option value.

oneClick?

readonly optional oneClick: boolean

Whether to create one-click installer or assisted.

Default
true
Overrides

CommonWindowsInstallerConfiguration.oneClick

packElevateHelper?

readonly optional packElevateHelper: boolean

Whether to pack the elevate executable (required for electron-updater if per-machine installer used or can be used in the future). Ignored if perMachine is set to true.

Default
true
perMachine?

readonly optional perMachine: boolean

Whether to show install mode installer page (choice per-machine or per-user) for assisted installer. Or whether installation always per all users (per-machine).

If oneClick is true (default): Whether to install per all users (per-machine).

If oneClick is false and perMachine is true: no install mode installer page, always install per-machine.

If oneClick is false and perMachine is false (default): install mode installer page.

Default
false
Overrides

CommonWindowsInstallerConfiguration.perMachine

preCompressedFileExtensions?

readonly optional preCompressedFileExtensions: null | string | string[]

The file extension of files that will be not compressed. Applicable only for extraResources and extraFiles files.

Default
[".avi", ".mov", ".m4v", ".mp4", ".m4p", ".qt", ".mkv", ".webm", ".vmdk"]
publish?

optional publish: Publish

Inherited from

TargetSpecificOptions.publish

removeDefaultUninstallWelcomePage?

readonly optional removeDefaultUninstallWelcomePage: boolean

assisted installer only. remove the default uninstall welcome page.

Default
false
runAfterFinish?

readonly optional runAfterFinish: boolean

Whether to run the installed application after finish. For assisted installer corresponding checkbox will be removed.

Default
true
Inherited from

CommonWindowsInstallerConfiguration.runAfterFinish

script?

readonly optional script: null | string

The path to NSIS script to customize installer. Defaults to build/installer.nsi. See Custom NSIS script.

selectPerMachineByDefault?

readonly optional selectPerMachineByDefault: boolean

Whether to set per-machine or per-user installation as default selection on the install mode installer page.

Default
false
shortcutName?

readonly optional shortcutName: null | string

The name that will be used for all shortcuts. Defaults to the application name.

Inherited from

CommonWindowsInstallerConfiguration.shortcutName

unicode?

readonly optional unicode: boolean

Whether to create Unicode installer.

Default
true
Inherited from

CommonNsisOptions.unicode

uninstallDisplayName?

readonly optional uninstallDisplayName: string

The uninstaller display name in the control panel.

Default
${productName} ${version}
uninstallerIcon?

readonly optional uninstallerIcon: null | string

The path to uninstaller icon, relative to the build resources or to the project directory. Defaults to build/uninstallerIcon.ico or application icon.

uninstallerSidebar?

readonly optional uninstallerSidebar: null | string

assisted installer only. MUI_UNWELCOMEFINISHPAGE_BITMAP, relative to the build resources or to the project directory. Defaults to installerSidebar option or build/uninstallerSidebar.bmp or build/installerSidebar.bmp or ${NSISDIR}\\Contrib\\Graphics\\Wizard\\nsis3-metro.bmp

warningsAsErrors?

readonly optional warningsAsErrors: boolean

If warningsAsErrors is true (default): NSIS will treat warnings as errors. If warningsAsErrors is false: NSIS will allow warnings.

Default
true
Inherited from

CommonNsisOptions.warningsAsErrors