Notepadd++ General version update function

[Izzy Gonzalez]

Why does Notepad++ require an Admin to update the software when it is available? As a normal user in a Windows environment when the software detects that a new software version is available and you select to update, it then requires an administrator to provide admin rights to proceed with the update. Otherwise the update is not performed. Is there any way to allow a normal user to update the software without having to provide the user admin rights to the local PC?

[PeterJones]

@Izzy-Gonzalez said in Notepadd++ General version update function:

Is there any way to allow a normal user to update the software without having to provide the user admin rights to the local PC?

Microsoft has defined C:\Program Files\ (and equivalent, though I’ll use that as the generic path going forward in this post) as requiring UAC (elevated privileges, or “Admin privileges”). If someone installs Notepad++ into C:\Program Files\Notepad++\, then it will require admin rights (unless you have disabled UAC on your PC).

If you cannot disable UAC requirements, you could try changing the permission of the C:\Program Files\Notepad++\ directory (and all subdirectories) – which will require UAC/Admin once to be able to change the permissions, but should successfully update thereafter. (That’s what I do on my work machine, since I frequently update Notepad++ or its plugins, and got tired of entering my password every time I did.)

If changing permissions of the installation directory is not something you’re interested in, you might consider installing Notepad++ to a location where you do have write access, instead of in the default C:\Program Files\Notepad++\ – maybe you could create a directory called C:\LocalApps\, and install Notepad++ as C:\LocalApps\Notepad++\ . As long as you installed it as your local, non-privileged user and have appropriate permissions in the C:\LocalApps\ hierarchy, you shouldn’t be pestered for Admin rights on future updates.