[BUG] Windows installer wants admin rights, can't install as standard user

Resolved 💬 1 comment Opened May 13, 2026 by kapela86 Closed Jun 12, 2026

Preflight Checklist

  • [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
  • [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
  • [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

When running "Claude Setup.exe" and then cancelling UAC prompt, an error shows up
<img width="406" height="185" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/64317c29-1883-40aa-96dc-bdf1f31770a2" />
I also tried MSIX installer but it also wants admin rights. Even running it from nonadmin powershell, it still wants admin rights.
Even Claude itself is useless and has wrong information https://claude.ai/share/fd853845-27e1-4619-b48c-82ee744918a3

What Should Happen?

Install without admin rights

Error Messages/Logs

---------------------------
Claude Setup
---------------------------
Administrator access is required to install Claude with full features. You can try again or install without Cowork.

Diagnostic log saved to:
C:\Users\PIOTR~1.KAP\AppData\Local\Temp\ClaudeSetup.log
---------------------------
OK   
---------------------------

Steps to Reproduce

Install Claude on Windows using account with admin rights, but without confirming elevated rights

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

latest

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

Other

Additional Information

_No response_

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