How your app is deployed

Squirrel leverages specific features from the WiX toolset (in particular Windows Installer features and bootstrapping an installer from .NET) but take note of some distinctions we make from the full set of features available to WiX installers.

Your app is standalone

Squirrel treats your application as a standalone component.

Specifying prerequisites which need to be present before the installer starts is not currently supported

No elevated permissions required

Squirrel deploys the installer contents to the user's application data folder (%LOCALAPPDATA%), so local admin rights are not required.

It installs for the current user

As the application is installed into the user's application data folder, it is not shared with other users of the machine.

Shortcuts for everyone

To make it really easy to find the app, Squirrel will put an shortcut to the application on the desktop - as well as in the Start Menu. Want to do something different? Check out how extending the setup process for more details.

Integrates with Windows Installer

When you're done with the application, just go to Programs and Features and uninstall it. Easy.