Deploying Messenger on Windows via Command Line

Stephen Boss Updated by Stephen Boss

Introduction

Messenger is available as an msi on Windows for easy deployment via command prompt or for mass deployment via your favorite RMM, MDM, or other deployment solution.

Before proceeding, make sure you have completed the following:
1. Finished setting up messenger.
2. Understand the difference between Partner-level and Customer-level deployments.

About Messenger for Windows

Messenger lives in the tray and by default will auto start with Windows. To open the app, find the icon in your tray and open it.

Deploying via Command Prompt

Retrieving your App ID

You will need an App ID to deploy Messenger for your customers - this tells messenger to inherit your branding.

You can retrieve your partner-level App ID from the Thread Admin Panel -> Messenger -> Installation.

Base Command

msiexec /i "https://assets.getthread.com/messenger/downloads/desktop/messenger.msi" APP_ID=YOUR-APP-ID-HERE

We recommend this deployment method for most situations.
msiexec /i "https://assets.getthread.com/messenger/downloads/desktop/messenger.msi" APP_ID=YOUR-APP-ID-HERE FLOW=customer MSIINSTALLPERUSER="" /qn

Additional Arguments

Command Arguments

What it Does

APP_ID=YOUR_APP_ID

Deploy the .msi with your APP_ID & enter your parent or the client APP_ID. Required

msiexec /i "https://assets.getthread.com/messenger/downloads/desktop/messenger.msi" APP_ID=YOUR-APP-ID-HERE

FLOW=customer

This enables a support-only flow which allows you to bypass the first screen in the end-user messenger experience. This screen asks the question which routes to either a sales or service flow.

msiexec /i "https://assets.getthread.com/messenger/downloads/desktop/messenger.msi" APP_ID=YOUR-APP-ID-HERE FLOW=customer

MSIINSTALLPERUSER=""

By default, Messenger installs at the user context. Adding this flag allows you to deploy at the system context.

msiexec /i "https://assets.getthread.com/messenger/downloads/desktop/messenger.msi" APP_ID=YOUR-APP-ID-HERE MSIINSTALLPERUSER=""

STARTUP=disabled

By default, Messenger will auto start with Windows. Adding this flag allows you to deploy Messenger so that it doesn't auto start.

msiexec /i "https://assets.getthread.com/messenger/downloads/desktop/messenger.msi" APP_ID=YOUR-APP-ID-HERE STARTUP=disabled

/qn

Install silently

msiexec /i "https://assets.getthread.com/messenger/downloads/desktop/messenger.msi" APP_ID=YOUR-APP-ID-HERE FLOW=customer MSIINSTALLPERUSER="" /qn

/norestart

Prevent system restart, only needed for uninstallation.

Command Line Examples (PowerShell Scripts)

Uninstall Messenger without Restart
  1. Find IdentifyingNumber (UUID) of Thread .msi app with the command below and copy IdentifyingNumber with braces around.
Get-WmiObject -class Win32_Product | ? {$_.Name -eq "Messenger"}
  1. Uninstall the messenger silently without system restart. Replace {IDENTIFYING_NUMBER} with the one you found.
taskkill /f /im Messenger.exe ; msiexec /x "{IDENTIFYING_NUMBER}" /qn /norestart
Force Update Messenger

By default, Messenger will auto update itself. However, you may force an update manually.

taskkill /f /im Messenger.exe ; msiexec /i https://assets.getthread.com/messenger/downloads/desktop/messenger.msi APP_ID=YOUR_APP_ID /qn /norestart
Other Examples
# **Open Messenger from other applications using deep links**
# Trigger this url: 
chatgenie://?open=true
# With Powershell:  
Start-Process -FilePath "chatgenie://?open=true"

# Install .exe (nsis) file silently
Chatgenie-Setup-2.0.8.exe /S # -> silent install

Customizing Messenger Behavior

Forcing Messenger Window to Open when Launching from File Explorer

By default, Messenger runs from the Windows tray. Launching Messenger from the desktop will start the service and launch it to the tray but it won't open the Messenger window by default. To open the Messenger window on Desktop, you need to open it from the tray icon.

You can configure the Messenger window to open through the icon on your Desktop or the File Explorer (or other applications) using deep links.

  1. Find the Messenger icon on your Desktop or File Explorer
  2. Right click on the icon and click Properties.
  3. Under Start in, you will see the default start path in quotes, e.g. "C:\Program Files\Chatgenie\".
    The referenced start path above can vary based on your deployment context.
  4. Add the following url after the default start path.
    chatgenie://?open=true
  5. Click OK to save the changes.

App Auto-startup Windows 10+ (default: enabled)

When Messenger is installed and opened for the first time. Massenger gets registered to the registry of windows startup apps. The user can disable and enable autostart for Messenger from Windows 10 settings menu or from Taskbar → Startup tab

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