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Install the Agent

ActivTrak Product Team
published
updated

Install the ActivTrak Agent directly by downloading and running the installer on the target computer. This is the fastest way to get started with ActivTrak and works well for individual installations or when you have direct access to each computer.

Contents

Before you begin

  • Admin access to both ActivTrak and the target computer
  • Direct access to the computer (physical access or remote desktop connection)
  • A few minutes per installation
Important:
  • Don't rename the downloaded installer file—this prevents proper installation
  • For silent installations, plan to clear the browser and download history afterward

When to use manual installation

Manual installation works best when:

  • Setting up ActivTrak on a few computers (typically under 20)
  • Testing ActivTrak before wider rollout
  • Installing on devices not managed by IT tools
  • Remote employees are installing on their own devices
  • You have direct access to each computer (physical or remote desktop)

For larger deployments: If you're installing on 20+ computers, consider remote deployment methods that let you push the agent to multiple machines simultaneously.

Install the Agent

Download the Agent

First-time users

When you log into ActivTrak without any agents installed, you'll land on the Activation page. Click the green Download Agent button.

 

Existing Users

From the Admin Panel (Home > Admin Panel): Click the Install/Share Agent File in the Quick Actions bar at the top of the Dashboard. Then, click the teal Download Agent button in the window that opens.

 

From the Activity Dashboard: Click the download Agent button in the top right and select your operating system ( Windows, Mac or Chrome).

 

ChromeOS Agent

For instructions on installing and deploying the ChromeOS Agent, see our ChromeOS documentation.

Run the installer

Once the installer file is on the target computer:

  1. Locate the installer file (on USB drive, network share, or wherever you transferred it)
  2. Double-click to run the installer
  3. Follow the on-screen prompts
  4. Wait for installation to complete (typically takes about a minute)

For Mac users: You'll need to grant accessibility and screen recording permissions when prompted. Users must do this manually—it can't be done remotely.

For Windows users: The installation completes automatically with minimal user interaction.

Clean up (optional)

These steps are essential for silent deployments where you want to maintain privacy about the installation:

  1. Log out of ActivTrak
  2. Clear browser history
  3. Delete the installer from Downloads

Note: This applies only to silent installations. For transparent installations where employees are aware of monitoring, cleanup isn't necessary.

Verify installation

After deploying ActivTrak agents, use the Agent Health Status feature to verify successful installation and identify any configuration issues before they impact data collection. By monitoring Agent Health Status immediately after deployment and regularly thereafter, administrators can ensure agents remain properly installed and functional across their organization. Learn more about verifying Agent installation.

Troubleshooting

Agent not appearing?

  • Verify you didn't rename the installer file
  • Check that you have admin rights on the computer
  • Confirm the installer ran to completion without errors
  • Review the Agent Health Status dashboard for issues
  • Check that ActivTrak isn't blocked by antivirus or firewall

Installation failed?

  • Add ActivTrak to your allowlist before installing
  • Verify you have sufficient disk space (at least 100MB)
  • Check that you meet system requirements
  • Try downloading a fresh installer file

Mac permissions issues?

  • Accessibility and screen recording permissions must be granted manually
  • System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy
  • Add ActivTrak to both Accessibility and Screen Recording
  • Restart the agent after granting permissions

Need to install on multiple computers?

For more than 10-20 computers, manual installation becomes time-consuming. Consider remote deployment methods that allow you to deploy the agent to multiple computers simultaneously from a central location.

Best practices

  • Test on one computer first: Before rolling out to multiple computers, install on a test machine to identify any antivirus, firewall, or permission issues.
  • Don't rename the installer: Always use the original filename from ActivTrak. Even automatic numbering like (1) or (2) breaks installation.
  • Keep the installer handy: If you're installing on multiple computers one at a time, you can reuse the same installer file. Just don't rename it.
  • Use remote desktop tools: Tools like Windows Remote Desktop, TeamViewer, or AnyDesk let you perform manual installations on computers you can't physically access.
  • Document your process: Keep notes about any issues encountered during installation to help streamline future deployments.

Next steps

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