The Egnyte Desktop App allows users to access cloud files seamlessly through Windows File Explorer. This application is available to all customers, but only Admins and Power Users are authorized to use the app.
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Install Desktop App for Windows
Uninstall Desktop App for Windows
Update Desktop App for Windows
Downgrade is Not Supported
Advanced Deployment Options
Install Desktop App for Windows
Follow the steps below to install the Egnyte Desktop App for Windows:
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Download the Windows installer and double-click on the .msi file.
- The setup wizard will open, displaying the app version that is about to be installed. Click Next to continue
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A prompt will be displayed to select the destination folder. By default, the app installs to:
C:\Program Files\Egnyte Connect\ - Use the default or click Change… to choose a different location. Then click Next.
Egnyte Desktop App for Windows version 3.31.1 and below is a 32-bit application, which will install in the Program Files (x86) directory, even on 64-bit systems.
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Select where the app should store cached data. The default location is:
C:\Users\[YourUserName]\AppData\Local\ - Use the default or click Change… to modify the location. Click Next to continue.
By default Desktop App stores data per user in the user directory. User can provide a different path for storage.
If the Desktop App is being installed on a shared device, ensure the selected path is accessible to all users. If a user does not have access to the specified location, the app will default to storing their data in their individual user directory.
- Confirm installation of Desktop App.
- The installer will begin installing the application.
- Once installation is complete, a confirmation screen will appear. Click Finish to close the setup wizard.
Sign In
- After installation, the Egnyte sign-in window will appear.
- Enter username and Egnyte domain.
If Single Sign-On (SSO) is enabled for the domain, the user will be redirected to the domain’s SSO login page. Follow the prompts to authenticate.
Access Desktop App
Once signed in, the application will mount the drive in Windows File Explorer and display a confirmation message. An email notification is also sent to the user upon successful login to the application
Click Open Folder to start accessing files and folders in Egnyte
An onboarding pop-up will also appear to highlight the available features—click Continue to explore or click the close button to skip.
Once installed, the Egnyte Desktop App can be accessed in multiple ways:
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From the Windows Taskbar (System Tray)
- Look for the Egnyte icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
- Right-click or double-click to open app options and Home Page.
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From the Windows Search Bar
- Click the Start menu or press the Windows key.
- Type "Egnyte" and click the application from the search results.
These options allow quick access without needing to relaunch the installer.
Uninstall Desktop App for Windows
A clean uninstallation of the Egnyte Desktop App can be completed by following these steps:
For Windows 11
- Select the Start button (Windows icon) and choose Settings.
- In the Settings window, navigate to Apps > Installed Apps.
- Locate Egnyte Desktop App in the list of installed applications.
- Select the three dots menu (or right-click the app) and choose Uninstall.
- Follow the instructions in the uninstallation wizard to complete the process.
For Windows 10
- Select the Start button and navigate to Settings.
- Choose Apps (or Apps & features).
- Locate Egnyte Desktop App in the list of installed applications.
- Select Egnyte Desktop App, then choose Uninstall.
- Follow the instructions in the uninstallation wizard to complete the process.
Update Desktop App for Windows
There are two primary ways the Egnyte Desktop App for Windows can be updated: automatic upgrade and manual installation.
Automatic Upgrade
By default, the Desktop App checks for new versions every 15 minutes.
When a new version of the Desktop App is released, it becomes available for automatic upgrade after a delay (typically a few weeks after release). This staged rollout allows organizations time to validate new versions before they are broadly distributed.
If auto-upgrade is enabled for the domain and not disabled by an administrator:
- The Desktop App detects that a new version is available.
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Users receive both a system notification and an in-app notification informing them that an upgrade is available.
System Notification
In-App Notification - Users can choose to upgrade immediately or at a later time.
- The upgrade requires a system restart to complete. Users have two options after receiving the notification:
- Restart immediately – the update will initiate during the reboot.
- Restart later – the update will be applied the next time the system restarts.
Even if the user takes no action, the update will still be applied automatically after the next system reboot, as long as auto-upgrade is enabled for the domain.
In practice, this means users typically do not need to perform any manual steps other than restarting their machine.
Manual Update
Users can also update the Desktop App manually by downloading the latest installer from the Egnyte Desktop App installers page and running it.
This option can be useful in the following situations:
- A user wants to install a newly released version immediately, before it becomes available through auto-upgrade.
- Auto-upgrade is disabled by the organization.
- IT administrators want to control when upgrades occur.
If the Desktop App is already installed, the installer will detect the existing installation and notify the user that a previous version has been detected and will be replaced with the newer version.
During this process:
- The Desktop App must be closed for the upgrade to proceed.
- Users should ensure that all files opened from Egnyte are closed, any unsaved work is saved, and that the Desktop App is not actively in use.
Once the installation completes, a system reboot is required to finalize the upgrade.
Skipping or postponing the reboot may result in the Desktop App becoming unstable or not functioning correctly, therefore, the reboot should be considered mandatory for the upgrade to complete properly.
Follow the steps below to manually update the Egnyte Desktop App for Windows:
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Download the Windows installer and double-click on the .msi file
- The setup wizard will open, displaying the app version that is about to be installed
- Click Next to continue
- The installer will begin installing the application
- Once installation is complete, a confirmation screen will appear
- Click Finish to close the setup wizard
- After the update, a system restart is required
- Click Yes to reboot immediately
Downgrade Not Supported
Installing an older version of the Desktop App over a newer version is not supported.
If a user attempts to run an installer for an older version, the installation will be blocked and the downgrade will not proceed.
Advanced Deployment Options
For information about installing or upgrading the Desktop App using MDM or enterprise deployment tools, see the Egnyte Desktop App for Windows Mass Deployment article.