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FileZilla is a popular, open-source FTP client developed by the FileZilla Project that enables users to transfer files between local and remote computers seamlessly. Whether you’re managing multiple devices in an organization or configuring a few personal machines, installing or uninstalling FileZilla silently and automatically on Windows computers can save time and effort, especially for IT administrators. This guide provides detailed methods to silently install or uninstall FileZilla, ensuring the process is efficient and automated without requiring user intervention.
Software Name | FileZilla |
Version | 3.68.1 |
Installer Type | EXE |
Architecture | 32-bit |
Download Path | https://download.filezilla-project.org/client/FileZilla_3.68.1_win64_sponsored2-setup.exe |
Install Location | C:\Program Files\FileZilla FTP Client |
Silent Installation Switch | FileZilla_3.68.1_win64_sponsored2-setup.exe /S /user=all |
Silent Uninstallation Switch (CMD) | "%ProgramFiles%\FileZilla FTP Client\uninstall.exe" /S |
Silent Uninstallation Switch (PowerShell) | & "$env:ProgramFiles\FileZilla FTP Client\uninstall.exe" /S |
What is Silent Installation?
Silent installation refers to installing software without showing any prompts, dialogs, or requiring user interaction. This is particularly useful for IT administrators, automated scripts, or bulk deployments. It brings a host of benefits that streamline software deployment. Here’s a concise look at why silent installation is advantageous:
- Time and effort savings: Automate the installation process, eliminating manual intervention and saving valuable time and effort.
- User-friendly experience: Minimize interruptions and prompts, providing a seamless installation process for users, and enhancing productivity.
- Customization and control: Tailor the installation to your organization’s needs by specifying parameters such as location, language, and components.
- Scalability and efficiency: Easily deploy software on a large scale, saving time and ensuring a streamlined installation process.
Download link for the FileZilla installer
1. The first step is to obtain the direct download link for the FileZilla installer, which is available as an .exe file, from the link provided below:
Official download link: https://filezilla-project.org/download.php
2. Right-click on the download button → and select Copy link. Take note of this link, as we will use it in automation scripts in the upcoming sections.
Below is the direct download link of the latest version of the FileZilla at the time of writing this blog post.
https://download.filezilla-project.org/client/FileZilla_3.68.1_win64_sponsored2-setup.exe
Method 1: PowerShell Script (*.ps1)
The first method described below is a basic PowerShell script designed to automate the silent installation of FileZilla. The script explanation:
- Declare the variables for FileZilla download link and the download file path in temporary folder.
- Downloads the FileZilla installer to the temporary location,
- Installs it silently using Start-Process with a silent install switch (no user prompts or UI).
- And then cleans up by deleting the temporary installer file.
# Declare variables
$DownloadLink = "https://download.filezilla-project.org/client/FileZilla_3.68.1_win64_sponsored2-setup.exe"
$InstallerPath = "$env:TEMP\setup.exe"
# Download and install the app
Write-Output "Downloading the installer..."
Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $DownloadLink -OutFile $InstallerPath -Headers @{
'User-Agent' = 'Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64; rv:92.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/92.0';
'Referer' = 'https://filezilla-project.org/'
}
# Install the app silently
Write-Output "Installing the app silently..."
Start-Process -FilePath "$env:TEMP\setup.exe" -ArgumentList "/S /user=all" -Wait
Write-Output "The app has been successfully."
# Cleanup
Remove-Item -Path $InstallerPath -Force
You can copy the code snippets and paste them into a PowerShell console to execute them directly. Alternatively, you can create a PowerShell script, save it on your computer (e.g., C:\scripts\install.ps1) with a .ps1 file extension, and then run the script within a PowerShell console.
After a few moments, the FileZilla shortcut should appear. You will also find entries in the Start Menu, installation directory, and Programs and Features in the Control Panel.
Advanced PowerShell script
The below updated script is significantly more robust, user-friendly, and reliable compared to the basic one. Features like error handling, installation verification, and detailed logging make it better suited for professional environments or scenarios where reliability is a priority. You can get the script by clicking on the button below.
# Declare variables
$DownloadLink = "https://download.filezilla-project.org/client/FileZilla_3.68.1_win64_sponsored2-setup.exe"
$InstallerPath = "$env:TEMP\setup.exe"
# Download and install the app
Write-Output "Downloading the installer..."
Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $DownloadLink -OutFile $InstallerPath -Headers @{
'User-Agent' = 'Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64; rv:92.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/92.0';
'Referer' = 'https://filezilla-project.org/'
}
# Install the app silently
Write-Output "Installing the app silently..."
try {
Start-Process -FilePath "$env:TEMP\setup.exe" -ArgumentList "/S /noUpdater" -Wait
} catch {
Write-Output "The installation failed. Error: $($_.Exception.Message)"
}
# Verify Installation
Write-Output "Verifying the installation..."
$RegKeys = @(
'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\',
'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\'
)
$AppInstalled = $RegKeys | Get-ChildItem -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
Get-ItemProperty -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -like '*filezilla*' }
if ($AppInstalled) {
Write-Output "The app is installed. Version: $($AppInstalled.DisplayVersion)"
} else {
Write-Output "Failed to verify installation status."
}
# Cleanup
Write-Output "Cleaning up temporary files..."
Remove-Item -Path $InstallerPath -Force -ErrorAction Stop
Write-Output "Temporary files cleaned up successfully."
Write-Output "All tasks completed successfully."
# Output Advanced PowerShell script
PS C:\Windows\system32> & "C:\scripts\install.ps1"
Downloading the installer...
Installing the app silently...
Verifying the installation...
The app is installed. Version: 3.68.1
Cleaning up temporary files...
Temporary files cleaned up successfully.
All tasks completed successfully.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
- Command Not Recognized: Please ensure that the installer file path is correct and use the absolute paths instead of relative paths.
- Permissions Error: Execute PowerShell or Command Prompt with administrative privileges.
No Silent Switch: Please double-check that you are using the correct installation switch.
Debugging with Logs: Use the /log option to generate a detailed log file:
Method 2: Batch Scripts (*.bat, *.cmd)
The next method is using batch script. Batch scripting is great for quick, simple, and legacy tasks, but for powerful automation workflows, PowerShell is the modern solution. Unless you have a legacy requirement, familiarity with PowerShell will generally provide much greater flexibility and capability in the long run.
Explanation of the Batch Version:
- Declare the variables for FileZilla download link and the download file path in temporary folder.
- The script uses PowerShell inline (powershell -Command) to download the installer file,
- Silent install the application using the appropriate installation switches (no UI prompts are displayed).
- Deletes the installer file after installation to ensure no leftover files.
@echo off
setlocal
rem Declare variables
set "DownloadLink=https://download.filezilla-project.org/client/FileZilla_3.68.1_win64_sponsored2-setup.exe"
set "InstallerPath=%TEMP%\setup.exe"
rem Download the installer using curl (Windows 10 and above include curl by default)
echo Downloading the installer...
curl -L -A "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64; rv:92.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/92.0" -e "https://filezilla-project.org/" -o "%InstallerPath%" "%DownloadLink%"
if %ERRORLEVEL% neq 0 (
echo Failed to download the installer.
exit /b 1
)
rem Install the app silently
echo Installing the app silently...
start /wait "" "%InstallerPath%" /S /user=all
rem Check for installation success
if %ERRORLEVEL% neq 0 (
echo Installation failed.
exit /b 1
)
echo The app has been successfully installed.
rem Cleanup
del /f /q "%InstallerPath%"
endlocal
pause
How to run the batch script
1. First, create a batch script by copying the above code snippets to a new text file and saving it with the .bat extension (e.g., “C:\scripts\install.bat”).
2. Run the batch file with administrative privileges by right-clicking on the .bat file → Run as administrator.
3. Verify the output to ensure that FileZilla has been installed successfully.
Method 3: Install FileZilla with package managers
Furthermore, on Windows computers, package managers can be used as an alternative to silently downloading and installing applications like FileZilla. Package managers make installations easier, faster, and repeatable, especially for IT administrators or developers managing multiple machines. Here’s an overview of using some of the most common Windows package managers to silently install FileZilla.
Package Manager | Ease of use | Silient instructions | Official suuport | Popular apps |
Chocolatey | Moderate | Yes | Community-driven | 10000+ |
Scoop | Moderate | Yes | Community-driven | 1500+ |
Install FileZilla with Chocholatey
Chocolatey is one of the most popular Windows package managers. It simplifies software installation by automating the process. The code snippets below will install the Chocolatey package manager on your system:
Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser -Force
irm https://community.chocolatey.org/install.ps1 | iex
choco feature enable -n allowGlobalConfirmation
Once Chocolatey is installed, execute the following code to install FileZilla silently:
choco install filezilla
# Output is truncated
...
Chocolatey v2.4.3
Installing the following packages:
filezilla
By installing, you accept licenses for the packages.
Downloading package from source 'https://community.chocolatey.org/api/v2/'
Progress: Downloading filezilla 3.68.1... 100%
filezilla v3.68.1 [Approved]
filezilla package files install completed. Performing other installation steps.
Installing 64-bit filezilla...
filezilla has been installed.
The install of filezilla was successful.
Software installed as 'exe', install location is likely default.
Install FileZilla with Scoop
Scoop is a free and open-source command line installer for Windows-based systems. If you are a command line lover or a Linux user who recently switched to Windows, then this is the tool you would like to use to manage your programs and plugins in your computer.
Execute the following commands to install the Scoop package manager and add the required Scoop bucket.
Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser -Force
iex "& {$(irm get.scoop.sh)} -RunAsAdmin"
scoop install git
scoop bucket add extras
# Output is truncated
...
PS C:\Windows\system32> iex "& {$(irm get.scoop.sh)} -RunAsAdmin"
Initializing...
Downloading...
Extracting...
Creating shim...
Adding ~\scoop\shims to your path.
Scoop was installed successfully!
After installing Scoop, execute the following command to install FileZilla silently and automatically.
scoop install extras/filezilla
# Output is truncated
...
Scoop was updated successfully!
Installing 'filezilla' (3.68.1) [64bit] from 'extras' bucket
filezilla.3.68.1.nupkg (24.0 MB) [====================================] 100%
Checking hash of filezilla.3.68.1.nupkg ... ok.
Extracting filezilla.3.68.1.nupkg ... done.
Running pre_install script...done.
Linking ~\scoop\apps\filezilla\current => ~\scoop\apps\filezilla\3.68.1
Creating shim for 'filezilla'.
Making C:\Users\chris\scoop\shims\filezilla.exe a GUI binary.
Creating shortcut for FileZilla (filezilla.exe)
Persisting config
'filezilla' (3.68.1) was installed successfully!
Uninstall FileZilla Silently
If the application is no longer required, it can also be uninstalled silently. Below are several methods to remove it depending on how it was installed.
Using CMD (Batch script) to uninstall silently
Below is a one-line command to uninstall FileZilla silently and automatically. The command can be executed in Command Prompt (CMD) or by creating a batch script and then executing it.
"%ProgramFiles%\FileZilla FTP Client\uninstall.exe" /S
Using PowerShell to uninstall silently
Alternatively, the following code provides an advanced script to uninstall FileZilla with error handling.
# Unstall Silently
Write-Output "Uninstalling the app silently..."
try {
Start-Process -FilePath "$env:ProgramFiles\FileZilla FTP Client\uninstall.exe" -ArgumentList "/S" -Wait -ErrorAction Stop
Write-Output "The app uninstallation successfully"
} catch {
Write-Output "The installation failed. Error: $($_.Exception.Message)"
}
Using package manager to uninstall silently
If FileZilla was installed via a package manager, run this command in an elevated Command Prompt or PowerShell to uninstall it silently:
# Chocolatey
choco uninstall -y filezilla
# Scoop
scoop uninstall extras/filezilla
Method 4: Group Policy (GPO)
Deploying FileZilla across your domain-joined Windows machines can be quick and hassle-free with the help of Group Policy. Advantages of GPO Deployment:
- Centralized management: No need to manually touch individual machines.
- Silent and automated installation: Perfect for enterprise scenarios.
- Easy to configure additional settings using Group Policy.
Group policy software deployment does not support exe files by default. So, you will need to use a script and group policy to deploy software with an exe. I’ll show you these steps below.
1. First, download the FileZilla installer file (*.exe) and rename it to setup.exe, and then copy it to a network-accessible shared folder that all domain computers and domain users can access.
The installer can be saved on a file server. For demonstration purposes, it will be stored in \\tv2.local\SYSVOL\tv2.local\scripts. Please remember to replace tv2.local with your local domain name.
2. Next, create a PowerShell script as follows (Ensure to replace the $filepath with your specific path).
# Script to install via Group Policy
# Steps in this script:
# 1. Check the file exists to determine if the program is already installed.
# 2. If the file doesn’t exist then it will start the install process.
# 3. If it does exist it will move to the else line and do nothing.
$installPath = 'C:\Program Files\FileZilla FTP Client\FileZilla.exe'
if (-not (Test-Path -Path $installPath)) {
$filePath = '\\tv2.local\SYSVOL\tv2.local\scripts\setup.exe'
Start-Process -FilePath $filePath -ArgumentList '/S /user=all'
} else {}
It is a very basic PowerShell script. You can modify it and add logging or other options. The advantage of PowerShell is that you can customize it to your needs. We have saved it as install.ps1 for future use.
3. Now, on a domain controller, open the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) then:
- Navigate to the Organizational Unit (OU) that contains the computers where you want to deploy FileZilla.
- Right-click the OU, and select Create a GPO in this domain, and link it here.
- Name your GPO something relevant, such as “TV2 – GPO Application Deployment”.
4. Next, edit the GPO by right clicking your newly created GPO and selecting Edit.
5. In the Group Policy Management Editor:
- Navigate to Computer Configuration → Policies → Windows Settings → Scripts (Startup/Shutdown).
- Double click on the Startup option to edit.
6. A new window opened. In this window, select the PowerShell Scripts tab → then click on the button.
7. Click on the Browse... button.
8. With the browser window opened, you need to copy and paste the install.ps1 file that you’ve created in the previous step into this window.
The GPO configuration is now complete. Reboot the computer in the targeted OU, and the software should be installed automatically.
7. To apply the GPO immediately, on a client machine, open Command Prompt or PowerShell as an administrator and then run gpupdate /force command.
# Output
PS C:\Windows\system32> gpupdate /force
Updating policy...
Computer Policy update has completed successfully.
The following warnings were encountered during computer policy processing:
Group Policy Client Side Extension Software Installation was unable to apply one or more settings because the
changes must be processed before system startup or user logon. The system will wait for Group Policy processing
to finish completely before the next startup or logon for this user, and this may result in slow startup and
boot performance.
User Policy update has completed successfully.
For more detailed information, review the event log or run GPRESULT /H GPReport.html from the command line to
access information about Group Policy results.
Certain Computer policies are enabled that can only run during startup.
OK to restart? (Y/N)
8. After applying the GPO, restart the computer. Then, check the Programs and Features or the Start Menu to confirm that FileZilla is installed. Alternatively, you can run the following command to check the status of GPO applied to the computer.
gpresult /r /scope:computer
# Output
PS C:\Windows\system32> gpresult /r /scope:computer
...
RSOP data for on PC-001 : Logging Mode
----------------------------------------
OS Configuration: Member Workstation
OS Version: 10.0.19045
Site Name: Default-First-Site-Name
COMPUTER SETTINGS
------------------
CN=PC-001,OU=TEST_OU,DC=tv2,DC=local
Last time Group Policy was applied: 3/8/2025 at 7:24:54 PM
Group Policy was applied from: DC01.tv2.local
Group Policy slow link threshold: 500 kbps
Domain Name: TV2
Domain Type: Windows 2008 or later
Applied Group Policy Objects
-----------------------------
TV2 - GPO Application Deployment
Default Domain Policy
The following GPOs were not applied because they were filtered out
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Local Group Policy
Filtering: Not Applied (Empty)
...
Key Notes and Troubleshooting
- File Paths: Always use the UNC path ( \\tv2.local\SYSVOL\tv2.local\scripts\setup.exe) when referencing the MSI file in Group Policy to ensure accessibility.
- Permissions: Ensure the shared installer path has proper Read permissions for Domain Computers or Authenticated Users.
- Testing: Always test your GPO on a small group of computers before applying it to the entire domain.
Installer Not Downloading: Ensure that shared folder permissions are correctly set and confirm that the UNC path is accessible from the client machines.
Group Policy Not Applied: Ensure the policy is linked to the correct OU containing client computers.
Conclusion
Silently installing FileZilla on Windows offers a streamlined, efficient approach for deploying the app across multiple systems, particularly in organizational or enterprise environments. By leveraging command-line parameters, users can automate installations without disruptive interfaces, ensuring consistency and saving time. This method is especially valuable for IT administrators and system managers tasked with large-scale deployments, as it minimizes user interaction and reduces potential errors.
Not a reader? Watch this related video tutorial: