Install the ActivTrak Agent on target computers by transferring the installer file via USB drive, network share, or other file transfer methods. This approach works well when you need to install on computers without direct internet access or want to avoid leaving a browser download trail.
Contents
- Before you begin
- Choose your method
- Download the installer
- Transfer the installer
- Install the Agent
- Verify installation
- Troubleshooting
- Best practices
- Next steps
Before you begin
- Admin access to ActivTrak and the target computer
- USB drive with enough space for the installer (typically under 100MB)
- A few minutes per computer
Important: These are manual installation methods. The transfer method (USB, network share, etc.) is just how you move the installer file to the target computer. For deploying to multiple computers simultaneously, see remote deployment methods.
Choose your method
USB drive transfer
Best for:
- Computers without network access
- Air-gapped or isolated systems
- Situations requiring no browser download history
- Installing on a handful of nearby computers
What you'll need:
- USB drive with at least 100MB free space
- Physical access to target computers
Network share transfer
Best for:
- Multiple computers on the same network
- Computers you can access remotely
- Organizations with existing file share infrastructure
- When you want one central installer location
What you'll need:
- Shared network location accessible by target computers
- Network credentials for the share
- Remote access to target computers (via Remote Desktop, etc.)
Other transfer methods
- Email attachment (for remote employees)
- Cloud storage services (Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive)
- Remote desktop file transfer
- Any method that gets the installer file to the target computer
Download the installer
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)
Important: Don't rename the installer file. Even automatic numbering, such as (1) or (2), will prevent installation.
Transfer the installer
USB drive method
- Download the installer from Settings > Users & Groups > Computer Agents directly to your USB drive (or copy it from Downloads)
- Safely eject the USB drive from your computer
- Insert the USB drive into the target computer
- Locate the installer file on the USB drive
Network share method
- Download the installer from Settings > Users & Groups > Computer Agents
- Copy the installer to a shared network location (e.g., \\FileServer\Software\ActivTrak\)
- From the target computer, access the network share
- Locate the installer file on the network location
Other methods
Follow your standard file transfer process to get the installer to the target computer. Remember: don't rename the file during transfer.
Install the Agent
Once the installer file is on the target computer:
- Locate the installer file (on USB drive, network share, or wherever you transferred it)
- Double-click to run the installer
- Follow the on-screen prompts
- 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.
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 target computer
- Confirm the installer ran to completion without errors
- Review the Agent Health Status dashboard for any issues
Installation failed?
- ActivTrak may be blocked by antivirus or firewall - add ActivTrak to your allowlist and try again
- Verify the installer file wasn't corrupted during transfer
Need to install on multiple computers?
For more than 5-10 computers, consider remote deployment over manual file transfer. Remote deployment lets you push the agent to many computers simultaneously without physically accessing each one.
Best practices
- Reuse the same installer: You can use the same installer file for multiple computers. Keep it on your USB drive or network share for future installations.
- Clear browser history after silent installations: If you're doing silent installations, clear the device's browser and download history after the agent installs to maintain privacy.
- Test first: Install on one computer first to identify any antivirus or permission issues before rolling out to multiple machines.
- Don't rename files: Always use the original filename. Renaming breaks the installation.
- Keep installers updated: Download a fresh installer every few months to ensure you're deploying the latest agent version.
Next steps
- Configure browser extensions for complete website tracking
- Set up tracking schedules based on work hours
- Set up proxy server configuration if your network requires it
- Monitor Agent Health Status regularly to catch issues early