Install DirWarden

System requirements

Requirement	Minimum
OS	Windows 10 22H2, Windows 11, or Windows Server 2016+
.NET runtime	.NET 8 Desktop Runtime (x64)
Network	Read access to a domain controller on TCP 389 (LDAP) or TCP 636 (LDAPS)
Account	Any Windows account; the AD service account is configured during setup

Note

DirWarden does not need to run on a domain-joined machine. You can install it on any Windows PC that has network access to a DC.

Download

1. Go to the releases page and download the latest DirWarden-Setup-x64.msi.
2. Verify the file signature — right-click the file, choose Properties → Digital Signatures and confirm the publisher is DirWarden Software Ltd.

Run the installer

1. Double-click DirWarden-Setup-x64.msi.
2. Accept the licence agreement and choose an install folder (the default is %ProgramFiles%\DirWarden).
3. Click Install. The installer places the app, creates a Start Menu shortcut, and registers the .NET 8 Desktop Runtime if it is not already present.
4. Click Finish. DirWarden launches automatically and opens the First Run Wizard.

First Run Wizard

The wizard runs once on first launch. It walks you through:

1. Connecting to your domain — see First connection
2. Assigning your operator role — see Operator roles
3. Configuring the telemetry preference — see Telemetry & privacy

If you close the wizard without finishing, it reopens on the next launch until all steps are complete.

Silent install

For mass deployment via Group Policy or Intune:

msiexec /i DirWarden-Setup-x64.msi /quiet /norestart INSTALLFOLDER="C:\Program Files\DirWarden"

The First Run Wizard still appears for each user on first launch; it cannot be skipped silently because it configures per-user preferences.

Uninstall

Use Settings → Apps → Installed Apps (Windows 11) or Control Panel → Programs and Features (Windows 10/Server). Uninstalling removes the application but leaves %AppData%\DirWarden\ intact so audit logs and preferences are preserved. Delete that folder manually if you want a clean removal.