Electron Windows Installer is a free, open-source npm module for JavaScript and TypeScript developers who ship desktop applications built with Electron. It takes a finished app and wraps it in a Windows installer, so end users can install, update and remove it like any other Windows program. The package is published under the name electron-winstaller.
This is a developer tool, not a cryptocurrency program. It does not handle coins, keys or transactions itself. It is useful for teams that build wallet front ends, node dashboards or trading tools on Electron and need a repeatable way to deliver them to Windows users. The latest release is v5.0.0, and the code was last updated on July 16, 2026, so the project is actively maintained.
What Electron Windows Installer Does in a Desktop Build
Electron lets developers write a desktop app with web technologies, but it does not by itself create the setup file that Windows users expect. A packaged app folder is not enough for most people, who want a single installer, a Start menu entry and a clean way to uninstall.
This module sits between your packaged output and the finished setup file. It reads the settings you pass in, invokes the Squirrel tooling and produces the installer. The result is a predictable step in your release process rather than a series of manual actions that different team members might perform differently each time.
Who Needs a Windows Installer Builder for Electron Apps
Developers who ship Electron apps to Windows are the main audience. A typical case is a small team maintaining a desktop wallet interface that talks to a separate node or service. Such a team needs regular releases, and each release must install over the previous version without leaving old files behind.
Solo developers who distribute internal tools also benefit. If the app is used by a handful of colleagues, a scripted installer removes the need to copy folders by hand, and it keeps the version history visible in one place.
If your project does not use Electron, this package will not apply. Tools built with other frameworks typically rely on different packaging systems.
How Squirrel Update Events Change App Startup
Most desktop apps start, run and close. An app packaged for Squirrel has an extra start-up path. When the installer runs, Windows may launch the app with a flag that means install, update or uninstall rather than a normal launch. If the app opens its main window in that case, the user sees a flash of UI and the operation can time out.
For that reason, the startup code should check for these flags before anything else. The app handles the event, performs any shortcut or file work, and exits. Developers often use a small helper package for this check, and the lifecycle is easier to test when it is kept in its own module.
Key features
Scripted installer generation
Handling of Squirrel lifecycle events
How to install Electron Windows Installer on Windows
- 1
Add the package to your project
Open a terminal in your Electron project folder and run npm install --save-dev electron-winstaller. Node.js and npm must already be installed. The package is fetched from the npm registry, and it is listed as a development dependency, so it does not ship inside your app.
- 2
Create a build script
Add a script such as tasks/electron-winstaller.js. In it, require the package and call createWindowsInstaller with the paths to your packaged app, the output folder and your app name and version. Use await so the script waits for the installer to finish before reporting success.
-
Run the build and enable debug output if needed
Run the script with node tasks/electron-winstaller.js. If the build fails, set the environment variable DEBUG=electron-windows-installer:main before the command to print detailed messages from the package. Remove the variable for routine builds to keep the output short.
System requirements
- Node.js and npm, because the package is installed with npm and run from a Node.js build script
- A Windows machine to run the build and to test the generated installer
How to use Electron Windows Installer
Electron Windows Installer is used inside a build pipeline, not as a standalone application. Once the package is installed, the workflow is straightforward: prepare the app, point the installer at its output and run the script each time you want a new release.
- Package your Electron app so the output folder contains the finished application files.
- Make sure your main process checks for Squirrel startup flags and exits right after handling them.
- Open your build script and set the app name, version, output directory and icon path.
- Run the script with node and wait until it reports that the installer is ready.
- Install the generated setup file on a clean Windows test machine, then run an update and an uninstall to confirm the lifecycle works.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with the code available on GitHub
- Lightweight npm module that fits into an existing Electron build script
- Covers install, update and uninstall events through the Squirrel framework
- Actively maintained, with v5.0.0 as the latest release
- A developer tool only, so end users cannot run it directly
- Your app must handle Squirrel startup flags correctly or installs can fail
- Adds no cryptocurrency features; it only packages software
- Requires an existing Electron project before it is useful
Is Electron Windows Installer safe?
Because this package sits in your build chain, its code runs on your development machine and its output reaches your users. Install it only from the npm registry or the official GitHub repository at github.com/exodusmovement/electron-windows-installer. Check the package name carefully, since look-alike packages exist. Your lockfile records integrity hashes, so keep it under version control and review any changes to it. Where a release provides a SHA-256 checksum or signature, verify it before use. If your app handles wallets or private keys, never let a build script prompt for a seed phrase, and never enter one on a third-party site. Check the latest version on the official website before starting a new project.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/exodusmovement/electron-windows-installer. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Most entries in this catalog are wallets, PSBT tools or blockchain libraries. PSBT Commander focuses on creating partially signed Bitcoin transactions, and Subzero is about keeping Bitcoin reserves offline. Those tools solve signing and custody problems. Electron Windows Installer solves a different problem: getting a finished desktop app onto a Windows machine in a repeatable way.
If you are building a wallet, you may use both kinds of tools. The packaging module wraps the interface, while a transaction library handles the cryptography. Compare them by their role in your stack rather than by how often they appear in search results.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v5.0.0
- Last update
- 16 Jul 2026
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/exodusmovement/electron-windows-installer
Frequently asked questions
It is a widely used open-source npm module, and its safety depends on where you get it and how you use it. Install it from npm or the official GitHub repository, keep your lockfile under version control and review updates. Never give a build script access to seed phrases or private keys.
Run npm install --save-dev electron-winstaller in your Electron project folder. Node.js and npm must already be installed. After that, write a build script that calls createWindowsInstaller with your app settings and run it with Node.
Yes, the package is free and open source. You can read the code on GitHub and use it in personal or commercial Electron projects. The tool itself charges nothing, although your own build servers or signing certificates may carry costs.
Squirrel is an update framework that Electron apps use on Windows. It launches the app with special flags during installs, updates and uninstalls. Your app must recognize these flags early and quit quickly, or the operation may fail.
You can package a wallet interface with it, but the tool only creates the installer. Key handling, transaction logic and security are your responsibility. Keep private keys out of the installer and test the update path carefully before releasing.
Other Electron packaging tools exist, and some teams use general-purpose installer builders instead. Compare how each handles Squirrel events, update delivery and build automation. Choose the option that matches your existing Node.js build process.
Verdict
Electron Windows Installer is a practical choice for developers who ship Electron apps to Windows and want a scripted, repeatable installer. It is free, open source and actively maintained. It suits teams building wallet interfaces or internal tools on Electron. It is not a wallet or a cryptocurrency program, and people who want a ready-to-use app will not find it useful on its own.