Build a Launcher Installer
📦 Building Your Installer
The Build Installer tool allows you to package your launcher into a professional installation experience for your users. This is the recommended way to distribute your launcher.
Using the built-in installer provides a smoother setup experience, better system compatibility, and significantly improves install success rates compared to distributing raw files.
🚀 Why Use Build Installer?
While you can distribute your launcher files manually, using the installer gives you several key advantages:
- Higher installation success rates across different systems
- Cleaner installs into the correct user directory
- Fewer permission issues compared to Program Files installs
- Better compatibility with Windows security and antivirus systems
- Professional user experience with a guided setup process
Distributing raw launcher files without an installer can lead to permission errors, missing dependencies, and users placing files in incorrect locations.
📂 Before You Start
Before building your installer, make sure you have:
- A successfully built launcher using Build Launcher
- Your launcher files ready in an export folder
- Tested your launcher at least once
The installer packages your existing launcher build. Always build your launcher first before creating the installer.
🧱 How to Build Your Installer
Step 1: Open Build Installer
- Open your launcher project
- Open the main menu
- Click Build Installer
Step 2: Configure your installer
You will be presented with installer options such as:
- Installer name and basic information
- Optional welcome screen and license agreement
- Installation behaviour and settings
These allow you to customise how your installer looks and behaves.
Step 3: Choose your output location
Select where the final installer file should be created.
Step 4: Build the installer
Start the build process and wait for it to complete. The installer will be compiled into a single executable file.
The output file is typically named Install.exe and is ready to distribute directly to your users.
📁 Where Your Launcher Gets Installed
The installer places your launcher into the user's application data directory.
Default install location:
%appdata%\YourLauncherName\
This location is intentionally used because:
- It avoids administrator permission requirements
- It works consistently across all Windows systems
- It prevents issues with restricted folders like Program Files
Installing to the application data directory ensures your launcher runs smoothly without requiring elevated permissions.
🛡️ Antivirus and SmartScreen Considerations
Using the installer improves how your launcher is handled by Windows security systems.
- Installers are more trusted than raw executable downloads
- Consistent usage helps build reputation over time
- Structured installs reduce false positives
Brand new executables may still trigger SmartScreen warnings initially. This is normal and improves as more users install and run your launcher.
💡 Best Practices
- Always test your launcher before building the installer
- Use a clean output folder for each installer build
- Keep installer naming simple and consistent
- Distribute the installer instead of raw files whenever possible
- Host the installer on a reliable download source
A polished installer experience increases user trust and reduces support requests.
❓ Troubleshooting
Build Installer is disabled
Make sure a launcher project is loaded before attempting to build an installer.
Installer build failed
Check that:
- Your launcher has been built successfully
- You selected a valid output location
- No required files are missing from your launcher build
Installer runs but nothing installs
This can happen if the installation path is incorrect or restricted. The default application data directory should always be used.
Users report antivirus warnings
This is common for new software. Encourage users to keep the installer and run it normally. Over time, reputation improves and warnings reduce.
🚀 Recommended Workflow
- Build your launcher using Build Launcher
- Test the launcher to confirm everything works
- Use Build Installer to create your installer
- Distribute the installer to your users
For best results: Test → Build Launcher → Build Installer → Distribute.