Windows Admin Center 2025: Step-by-Step Installation Guide
- Avijit Dutta
- Aug 12
- 5 min read
Published on: August 12, 2025
Author: Avijit Dutta
Category: Windows Admin Center 2025 | Microsoft | IT Infrastructure
💡 What is Windows Admin Center?
Windows Admin Center (WAC) is a locally deployed, browser-based management toolset designed to help IT professionals manage Windows clients, servers, and clusters without requiring a cloud connection.
With WAC, you get full administrative control over your entire server infrastructure, making it especially valuable for managing isolated or private networks that have no internet access.
It represents the modern evolution of traditional “in-box” management tools such as Server Manager and MMC, and serves as a complement to System Center, rather than a replacement.
This article will provide your complete Windows Admin Center 2025 - Step-by-Step Installation Guide.
⚙️ How Does Windows Admin Center Work?
Windows Admin Center runs directly in your web browser and supports the management of:
Windows Server: 2022, 2019, 2016, 2012 R2, 2012
Windows Client OS: Windows 11, Windows 10
Hybrid & On-Prem: Azure Stack HCI, Azure Local
It operates via the Windows Admin Center Gateway, which is installed on a Windows Server or a domain-joined Windows 10/11 machine.
The gateway communicates with your managed systems using Remote PowerShell and WMI over WinRM. The entire setup is packaged in a lightweight MSI installer, making deployment quick and straightforward.
🌐 Secure Remote Management Anywhere
When the Windows Admin Center gateway is:
Published in DNS
Allowed through corporate firewalls
…it enables secure remote administration from any location using Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome. This means you can monitor, configure, and troubleshoot your servers securely — whether you’re in the office, at a remote site, or working from home.
🛠️ Prerequisites for Installation
Before you install Windows Admin Center, ensure the following:
Requirement | Details |
Supported OS | Windows 10 (1809+) or Windows Server 2016/2019/2022 |
.NET Framework | 4.7.2 or later |
PowerShell | Version 5.1+ |
RAM | Minimum 2 GB |
Network | Access to managed nodes (WinRM ports open: 5985/5986) |
Admin Privileges | Required for installation and configuration |
🛠️Windows Admin Center 2025: Step-by-Step Installation Guide
1️⃣📥 Download the Installer
Visit the official Microsoft page: https://aka.ms/WACDownload
Download the latest MSI installer for WAC.
💡 Tip: Verify the digital signature to ensure authenticity.
2️⃣ 🖥️ Run the Installer
Double-click the .msi file to launch the installation wizard. And Click on Next
Note: It will start downloading the latest version and do the other checks
Once the check is complete, click on the Install button to start the installation.
Click on Next to begin the process
Accept the License agreement and click on Next
Note: The Installer will prepare the environment for WAC
After preparation, you will receive two installation options:
Express Setup - Express setup configures network access and port selection based on your operating system. It does not allow for the configuration of additional features.
Custom Setup. Custom setup enables configuration of network access, port numbers, TLS certificate types and thumbprints, the fully qualified domain name of the endpoint, trusted hosts mode, and WinRM over HTTPS.
⚙️Custom Setup
Click on Custom Setup Option and then click on the Next Button
In Network Access, choose how you want to access the WAC. I have selected the Localhost access only option and then click on the Next button.
You need to choose the type of Login Authentication to access the WAC. Select Windows Authentication, which is more secure and reliable. It will use your Windows credentials for authentication. Then, click on the Next button.
Select the port number to access the WAC. The default port is 443 (HTTPS). Do not change anything and then click the Next button.
Select the TLS certificate. If you have a preinstalled TLS certificate for the server, use that; otherwise, Generate a self-signed certificate and click the Next button.
In the Trusted Hosts screen, select the type of remote host you want to manage: domain-joined or non-domain joined. I have chosen the option to Allow access to any computer. Then, click the Next button to proceed with the installation.
In WinRM over HTTPS screen, choose how WinRM will communicate via HTTP (default, non-secure) or HTTPS (Secure). Then click on the Next button to continue.
In the Automatic Updates screen, choose how you want to install the updates or security patches for the WAC. Then click on the Next button.
In the Send diagnostic data to the Microsoft screen, select how WAC will send the data to Microsoft to enhance the product. Then, click on the Next button.
In the Ready to Install screen, review your options and then click on the Install button to start the installation.
⚡ Express Setup
In the Select Installation Mode screen, select Express Setup and click on the Next button
Select the TLS certificate. If you have a preinstalled TLS certificate for the server, use that; otherwise, Generate a self-signed certificate and click the Next button.
In the Automatic Updates screen, choose how you want to install the updates or security patches for the WAC. Then click on the Next button.
In the Send diagnostic data to the Microsoft screen, select how WAC will send the data to Microsoft to enhance the product. Then, click on the Next button.
In the Ready to Install screen, review your options and then click on the Install button to start the installation.
It will now prepare to install and then start the installation process.
Installation started
Click on the Finish button to complete the installation.
You will find a Desktop Shortcut for Windows Admin Center on your desktop. Double-click it to launch the application.
Since we selected a self-signed certificate, we encountered the error "Your connection isn't private." If you choose an appropriate signed TLS certificate, you will be directed to the login page immediately.
Now, in this page click on Advanced
Then, click on the Continue to "<yourServerHostname> (unsafe)".
Provide your login credentials to sign in to the server.
After installation, when you run the program for the first time, you will see a message stating, "Successfully installed version 2410." You can simply close this prompt to explore the options.
Click on the Server Hostname and explore all the options and monitoring components.
For more information about the options available, refer to the Microsoft Learn article on Managing servers in Windows Admin Center.
🏁 Conclusion
Windows Admin Center is more than just a modern replacement for legacy server management tools — it’s a centralised, secure, and browser-based platform that empowers system administrators to manage Windows Servers, clusters, and hybrid environments with greater efficiency and control.
Whether you’re running an on-premises data center, leveraging Azure hybrid capabilities, or managing isolated networks without internet access, WAC offers the flexibility, performance, and scalability that modern IT demands.
Its lightweight deployment, agentless architecture, and intuitive interface make it an essential addition to any sysadmin’s toolkit in 2025 and beyond. By adopting Windows Admin Center, you’re not just simplifying your management workflow — you’re future-proofing your infrastructure.
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