How to Silently Install AKS desktop

Achieve a reliable rollout and predictable detection when deploying AKS desktop across your organization. Streamlining machine-level software deployment requires a precise, automated approach to ensure seamless integration without end-user interruption. This guide provides IT administrators managing environments via Intune, SCCM, or PDQ with the essential framework needed to execute a successful deployment. By leveraging the verified silent install command, you can efficiently handle administrative requirements and maintain strict compliance through proper detection rules.

Microsoft.AKSdesktop.0.43.0.X64.exe /S /allusers

Overview

Silent install steps

Run any one of the methods below to install AKS desktop silently with zero user interaction. Command Prompt and PowerShell produce the same result — use whichever fits your deployment workflow.

Method 1: Install with Command Prompt

1. Download or stage the installer (Microsoft.AKSdesktop.0.43.0.X64.exe) to a local folder, for example C:\Installers.

2. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
   Press Start→Type cmd→Right-click Command Prompt→Choose Run as administrator

3. Switch to the installer folder, then run the silent install command:

Microsoft.AKSdesktop.0.43.0.X64.exe /S /allusers

C:\> cd /d "C:\Installers"C:\Installers> Microsoft.AKSdesktop.0.43.0.X64.exe /S /allusersInstalling AKS desktop 0.40.0…100%Installation complete — exit code 0.C:\Installers> ▋

Method 2: Install with PowerShell

Run the same silent install through PowerShell (elevated).

1. Download or stage the installer (Microsoft.AKSdesktop.0.43.0.X64.exe) to a local folder, for example C:\Installers.

2. Open PowerShell as Administrator — right-click Start (or press Win+X), then:
   • On Windows 10: choose Windows PowerShell (Admin).
   • On Windows 11: choose Terminal (Admin) — it opens Windows Terminal running PowerShell.

3. Run the command:

Start-Process -FilePath Microsoft.AKSdesktop.0.43.0.X64.exe -ArgumentList '/S /allusers' -Wait

PS C:\> Set-Location 'C:\Installers'PS C:\Installers> Start-Process -FilePath Microsoft.AKSdesktop.0.43.0.X64.exe -ArgumentList '/S /allusers' -WaitInstalling AKS desktop 0.40.0…100%Installation complete — exit code 0.PS C:\Installers> ▋

Deployment Notes

Key facts to confirm before rolling this out to production machines — permissions required, scope of install, and reboot behavior.

Detection Rules

Configure your deployment tool with the detection rule below to confirm a successful install of AKS desktop. The same rule work for Microsoft Intune, SCCM, PDQ Deploy, and most RMM platforms — just paste the values into the matching fields.

Registry detection

PowerShell detection script

Prefer a script-based check? Use this as a custom detection script in Microsoft Intune (or any tool that supports detection scripts). It exits 0 when AKS desktop is detected and 1 otherwise.

$Key = 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\c0837d4a-3830-5b28-851d-d52b0fdbed2e'
$Value = (Get-ItemProperty -Path $Key -Name 'DisplayVersion' -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue).'DisplayVersion'
if ($Value -eq '0.43.0') { exit 0 }
exit 1

Silent Uninstall Steps

Remove AKS desktop silently from one machine or your entire fleet. The commands below uninstall without prompts and suppress automatic reboots so you control the timing.

Method 1: Uninstall with Command Prompt

Run the uninstall command from an elevated Command Prompt.

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Run the silent uninstall command.

"%ProgramFiles%\AKS desktop\Uninstall AKS desktop.exe" /allusers /S

Method 2: Uninstall with PowerShell

Run the same silent uninstall command through PowerShell.

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator.
2. Run the silent uninstall command.

Start-Process -FilePath "%ProgramFiles%\AKS desktop\Uninstall AKS desktop.exe" -ArgumentList '/allusers /S' -Wait

Deployment Examples

Drop one of the snippets below into your deployment tool, Group Policy, or scheduled task. Each script wraps the silent install command for AKS desktop as a batch file or PowerShell script — copy, save, and run.

Batch file example

Save the following content as install-aks-desktop.bat in the same folder as the installer.

@echo off
cd /d "%~dp0"
Microsoft.AKSdesktop.0.43.0.X64.exe /S /allusers
exit /b %errorlevel%

PowerShell script example

Save the following content as install-aks-desktop.ps1 in the same folder as the installer.

Set-Location -Path $PSScriptRoot
$Installer = 'Microsoft.AKSdesktop.0.43.0.X64.exe'
& $Installer /S /allusers
exit $LASTEXITCODE

Frequently asked questions

Troubleshooting

If the install fails, exits with a non-zero code, or leaves no trace on the target machine, work through the checks below. Most issues come down to permissions, paths, or exit code handling.