Why are admin privileges necessary when building on Win11? #829

mu88 · 2024-01-21T10:56:57Z

mu88
Jan 21, 2024

Hi,

First of all, a huge thank you for your amazing work!

I migrated my little project to use .NET 8 yesterday and I stumbled over the fact that I cannot build it locally on my Win11 device without admin privileges. Calling electronize build /target win without those privileges results in the following error:

errorOut=ERROR: Cannot create symbolic link : A required privilege is not held by the client

To be honest, I didn't follow the latest progress in the Electron.NET world (shame on me), but I cannot remember that these privileges were necessary some years ago when I created this project 🤔

This is the complete output:

Build Electron Application...
Arguments: 
	target = win
Build ASP.NET Core App for win-x64...
Executing dotnet publish in this directory: C:\Users\MyUser\Documents\Development\GitHub\BlazorFotoManager\FotoManager\obj\desktop\win
Build ASP.NET Core App for win-x64 under Release-Configuration...
dotnet publish -r win-x64 -c "Release" --output "C:\Users\MyUser\Documents\Development\GitHub\BlazorFotoManager\FotoManager\obj\desktop\win\bin" /p:PublishReadyToRun=true /p:PublishSingleFile=true --self-contained
dotnet publish -r win-x64 -c "Release" --output "C:\Users\MyUser\Documents\Development\GitHub\BlazorFotoManager\FotoManager\obj\desktop\win\bin" /p:PublishReadyToRun=true /p:PublishSingleFile=true --self-contained
MSBuild version 17.8.3+195e7f5a3 for .NET
  Determining projects to restore...
  All projects are up-to-date for restore.
  FotoManagerLogic -> C:\Users\MyUser\Documents\Development\GitHub\BlazorFotoManager\FotoManagerLogic\bin\Release\net8.0\FotoManagerLogic.dll
  FotoManager -> C:\Users\MyUser\Documents\Development\GitHub\BlazorFotoManager\FotoManager\bin\Release\net8.0\win-x64\FotoManager.dll
  FotoManager -> C:\Users\MyUser\Documents\Development\GitHub\BlazorFotoManager\FotoManager\obj\desktop\win\bin\


Start npm install...
npm install --production
npm WARN config production Use `--omit=dev` instead.

added 50 packages, and audited 51 packages in 7s

found 0 vulnerabilities


ElectronHostHook handling started...
Build Electron Desktop Application...
Executing electron magic in this directory: C:\Users\MyUser\Documents\Development\GitHub\BlazorFotoManager\FotoManager\bin\desktop
Create electron-builder configuration file...
node build-helper.js electron.manifest.json


Package Electron App for Platform win...
npx electron-builder --config=./bin/electron-builder.json --win --x64 -c.electronVersion=23.2.0 
  • electron-builder  version=24.9.1 os=10.0.22621
  • loaded configuration  file=C:\Users\MyUser\Documents\Development\GitHub\BlazorFotoManager\FotoManager\obj\desktop\win\bin\electron-builder.json
  • description is missed in the package.json  appPackageFile=C:\Users\MyUser\Documents\Development\GitHub\BlazorFotoManager\FotoManager\obj\desktop\win\package.json
  • packaging       platform=win32 arch=x64 electron=23.2.0 appOutDir=C:\Users\MyUser\Documents\Development\GitHub\BlazorFotoManager\FotoManager\bin\Desktop\win-unpacked
  • downloading     url=https://github.com/electron-userland/electron-builder-binaries/releases/download/winCodeSign-2.6.0/winCodeSign-2.6.0.7z size=5.6 MB parts=1
  • downloaded      url=https://github.com/electron-userland/electron-builder-binaries/releases/download/winCodeSign-2.6.0/winCodeSign-2.6.0.7z duration=1.437s
  ⨯ cannot execute  cause=exit status 2
                    out=
    7-Zip (a) 21.07 (x64) : Copyright (c) 1999-2021 Igor Pavlov : 2021-12-26
    
    Scanning the drive for archives:
    1 file, 5635384 bytes (5504 KiB)
    
    Extracting archive: C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\electron-builder\Cache\winCodeSign\438762831.7z
    --
    Path = C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\electron-builder\Cache\winCodeSign\438762831.7z
    Type = 7z
    Physical Size = 5635384
    Headers Size = 1492
    Method = LZMA2:24m LZMA:20 BCJ2
    Solid = +
    Blocks = 2
    
    
    Sub items Errors: 2
    
    Archives with Errors: 1
    
    Sub items Errors: 2
    
                    errorOut=ERROR: Cannot create symbolic link : A required privilege is not held by the client. : C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\electron-builder\Cache\winCodeSign\438762831\darwin\10.12\lib\libcrypto.dylib
    ERROR: Cannot create symbolic link : A required privilege is not held by the client. : C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\electron-builder\Cache\winCodeSign\438762831\darwin\10.12\lib\libssl.dylib
    
                    command='C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\npm-cache\_npx\009083ec26dc578f\node_modules\7zip-bin\win\x64\7za.exe' x -bd 'C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\electron-builder\Cache\winCodeSign\438762831.7z' '-oC:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\electron-builder\Cache\winCodeSign\438762831'
                    workingDir=C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\electron-builder\Cache\winCodeSign
  • Above command failed, retrying 3 more times
  • downloading     url=https://github.com/electron-userland/electron-builder-binaries/releases/download/winCodeSign-2.6.0/winCodeSign-2.6.0.7z size=5.6 MB parts=1
  • downloaded      url=https://github.com/electron-userland/electron-builder-binaries/releases/download/winCodeSign-2.6.0/winCodeSign-2.6.0.7z duration=1.219s
  ⨯ cannot execute  cause=exit status 2
                    out=
    7-Zip (a) 21.07 (x64) : Copyright (c) 1999-2021 Igor Pavlov : 2021-12-26
    
    Scanning the drive for archives:
    1 file, 5635384 bytes (5504 KiB)
    
    Extracting archive: C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\electron-builder\Cache\winCodeSign\073176111.7z
    --
    Path = C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\electron-builder\Cache\winCodeSign\073176111.7z
    Type = 7z
    Physical Size = 5635384
    Headers Size = 1492
    Method = LZMA2:24m LZMA:20 BCJ2
    Solid = +
    Blocks = 2
    
    
    Sub items Errors: 2
    
    Archives with Errors: 1
    
    Sub items Errors: 2
    
                    errorOut=ERROR: Cannot create symbolic link : A required privilege is not held by the client. : C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\electron-builder\Cache\winCodeSign\073176111\darwin\10.12\lib\libcrypto.dylib
    ERROR: Cannot create symbolic link : A required privilege is not held by the client. : C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\electron-builder\Cache\winCodeSign\073176111\darwin\10.12\lib\libssl.dylib
    
                    command='C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\npm-cache\_npx\009083ec26dc578f\node_modules\7zip-bin\win\x64\7za.exe' x -bd 'C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\electron-builder\Cache\winCodeSign\073176111.7z' '-oC:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\electron-builder\Cache\winCodeSign\073176111'
                    workingDir=C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\electron-builder\Cache\winCodeSign
  • Above command failed, retrying 2 more times
  • downloading     url=https://github.com/electron-userland/electron-builder-binaries/releases/download/winCodeSign-2.6.0/winCodeSign-2.6.0.7z size=5.6 MB parts=1
  • downloaded      url=https://github.com/electron-userland/electron-builder-binaries/releases/download/winCodeSign-2.6.0/winCodeSign-2.6.0.7z duration=1.208s
  ⨯ cannot execute  cause=exit status 2
                    out=
    7-Zip (a) 21.07 (x64) : Copyright (c) 1999-2021 Igor Pavlov : 2021-12-26
    
    Scanning the drive for archives:
    1 file, 5635384 bytes (5504 KiB)
    
    Extracting archive: C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\electron-builder\Cache\winCodeSign\378639987.7z
    --
    Path = C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\electron-builder\Cache\winCodeSign\378639987.7z
    Type = 7z
    Physical Size = 5635384
    Headers Size = 1492
    Method = LZMA2:24m LZMA:20 BCJ2
    Solid = +
    Blocks = 2
    
    
    Sub items Errors: 2
    
    Archives with Errors: 1
    
    Sub items Errors: 2
    
                    errorOut=ERROR: Cannot create symbolic link : A required privilege is not held by the client. : C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\electron-builder\Cache\winCodeSign\378639987\darwin\10.12\lib\libcrypto.dylib
    ERROR: Cannot create symbolic link : A required privilege is not held by the client. : C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\electron-builder\Cache\winCodeSign\378639987\darwin\10.12\lib\libssl.dylib
    
                    command='C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\npm-cache\_npx\009083ec26dc578f\node_modules\7zip-bin\win\x64\7za.exe' x -bd 'C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\electron-builder\Cache\winCodeSign\378639987.7z' '-oC:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\electron-builder\Cache\winCodeSign\378639987'
                    workingDir=C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\electron-builder\Cache\winCodeSign
  • Above command failed, retrying 1 more times
  • downloading     url=https://github.com/electron-userland/electron-builder-binaries/releases/download/winCodeSign-2.6.0/winCodeSign-2.6.0.7z size=5.6 MB parts=1
  • downloaded      url=https://github.com/electron-userland/electron-builder-binaries/releases/download/winCodeSign-2.6.0/winCodeSign-2.6.0.7z duration=915ms
  ⨯ cannot execute  cause=exit status 2
                    out=
    7-Zip (a) 21.07 (x64) : Copyright (c) 1999-2021 Igor Pavlov : 2021-12-26
    
    Scanning the drive for archives:
    1 file, 5635384 bytes (5504 KiB)
    
    Extracting archive: C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\electron-builder\Cache\winCodeSign\738743695.7z
    --
    Path = C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\electron-builder\Cache\winCodeSign\738743695.7z
    Type = 7z
    Physical Size = 5635384
    Headers Size = 1492
    Method = LZMA2:24m LZMA:20 BCJ2
    Solid = +
    Blocks = 2
    
    
    Sub items Errors: 2
    
    Archives with Errors: 1
    
    Sub items Errors: 2
    
                    errorOut=ERROR: Cannot create symbolic link : A required privilege is not held by the client. : C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\electron-builder\Cache\winCodeSign\738743695\darwin\10.12\lib\libcrypto.dylib
    ERROR: Cannot create symbolic link : A required privilege is not held by the client. : C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\electron-builder\Cache\winCodeSign\738743695\darwin\10.12\lib\libssl.dylib
    
                    command='C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\npm-cache\_npx\009083ec26dc578f\node_modules\7zip-bin\win\x64\7za.exe' x -bd 'C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\electron-builder\Cache\winCodeSign\738743695.7z' '-oC:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\electron-builder\Cache\winCodeSign\738743695'
                    workingDir=C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\electron-builder\Cache\winCodeSign
  • Above command failed, retrying 0 more times


... done

Beyondo · 2024-03-15T08:58:38Z

Beyondo
Mar 15, 2024

Same issue.

6 replies

darshitshah8 Apr 9, 2024

not worked for me

mu88 Apr 9, 2024
Author

same here 🤨

darshitshah8 Apr 9, 2024

Just enable developer mode in settings , it will work

mu88 Apr 9, 2024
Author

My problem is bound to the shell and not VS Code

jensstigaard Aug 6, 2024

Same issue here. When I am running Powershell as regular user, I experience this issue. When running Powershell as Administrator, the issue does not appear.

FlorianRappl · 2025-11-14T17:20:22Z

FlorianRappl
Nov 14, 2025
Maintainer

See #859:

electron-builder may require admin privileges on Windows to perform actions like creating symbolic links, installing to "per-machine" locations, or updating files. This is because certain build steps, like those involving the mklink command or system-wide installations, are restricted to administrators by default. You can address this by running the build as an administrator, or by configuring the build to avoid privileged operations where possible.

Why it happens?

Creating symbolic links: The mklink command, which electron-builder may use, requires administrator privileges to create symbolic links, especially when building on Windows.

"Per-machine" installs: If your application is configured for a "per-machine" installation, it needs administrator rights to install to system-wide locations like Program Files.

Auto-updates: Applications that are installed "per-machine" often need administrator privileges to install updates.

How to fix it?

Run the build as an administrator: The simplest solution is to run your command prompt or build tool as an administrator. You can right-click the shortcut and select "Run as administrator".

Configure "per-user" installation: If you don't need a "per-machine" installation, configure electron-builder to install on a per-user basis instead. This typically avoids the need for admin rights for the installation itself.

Disable UAC (User Account Control): You can disable UAC, but this is generally not recommended as it reduces security. This can be done through the "Local Security Policy" or registry editor.

Address "Create symbolic links" permission: To grant users the ability to create symbolic links, you can add them to the "Create symbolic links" policy in the Local Security Policy editor (secpol.msc).

I can only suspect that the Node.js installation (i.e., how electron-builder itself is run) might be responsible for the behavior. This could explain why it works for me in a non-elevated session.

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Why are admin privileges necessary when building on Win11? #829

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mu88 Jan 21, 2024

Replies: 2 comments · 6 replies

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Beyondo Mar 15, 2024

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darshitshah8 Apr 9, 2024

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mu88 Apr 9, 2024 Author

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darshitshah8 Apr 9, 2024

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mu88 Apr 9, 2024 Author

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jensstigaard Aug 6, 2024

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FlorianRappl Nov 14, 2025 Maintainer

mu88
Jan 21, 2024

Replies: 2 comments 6 replies

Beyondo
Mar 15, 2024

mu88 Apr 9, 2024
Author

mu88 Apr 9, 2024
Author

FlorianRappl
Nov 14, 2025
Maintainer