Just introduced to KiCAD, no experience using it yet because of installation errors. I’ve downloaded it a couple of times, from two different servers, but during installation I get a raft of error messages about the installer not being able to create a file, because “the file can’t be found.” It’s as though the installer is looking for folders created previous to the installation process. Once the (incomplete) installation finishes, neither the Schematic or PCB Layout workspaces will open. I click and nothing happens. The Gerber viewer will open, and looks like a really good one, but I can’t start a board design. I must be doing something wrong, or my computer senses a threat and is refusing certain instructions, but no idea of what to look for.
OK. Let’s start here. What servers?
Hello, hermit, thanks for the reply. I was told this group is Johnny-on-the-spot to help. There were two servers listed, git hub and some university. I tried both, same size file in both cases: 1.04 GB (1,118,339,072 bytes).
OK. I’m on Linux and compile from git so didn’t even know there were server choices till now. I’m going to assume you got to those two servers from the page linked above. 
This is either Windows or Mac? Probably Windows if you didn’t think to post it? I know I’ve seen threads about permissions with Windows.
Are you installing this as an admin or regular user?
Yes, I’m running Windows 10, and it was the link you cited. I don’t mistrust the downloaded file; I’ll try as Admin, but thought installation defaulted to that. Thanks.
Do not install as Admin as this will cause trouble later. Be your normal user. A prompt should pop up requesting permission to install. I am assuming that you can grant temporary Admin right to the installer. A locked down machine would need your IT department to install.
O.o
- The installer no longer prompts to run as admin for some time, until
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The installer asks if you want to install as Current User or Globally
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If globally is selected, it will give the admin prompt
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Honestly this sounds like corrupted settings in %APPDATA%\kicad\9.0, just nuke that folder and try again
Thanks, davidsrsb. The first couple of times I tried to install, I was acting as a normal user. Seems to have made no difference. Here are the error messages I get toward the end of the installation cycle.
Not sure where to go from here. I do have another computer running Windows 10, and may try installing it there to see if I get similar results. Really appreciative of any help or tips from users; I’d really like to get this program running.
I think you may be right about the APPDATA config files.
On Windows you can still right click on the installer executable and select “Run as administrator”, which is what I meant to avoid doing.
Is the user account you are logged into named “lab”?
Yes, the account is ‘lab.’ I’ve tried both download links provided on the KiCAD Website, is there another English-language one?
Could security software (antivirus etc) be mis-detecting some of the installation files and silently blocking them?
Is the PC part of a domain with restrictive policies enabled?
Anything of interest showing up in the Windows event logs?
A correctly downloaded KiCad installer will show that it has been digitally signed by KiCad Services Corporation
It is worth of some effort to get it running.
I’m Windows user. First KiCad version I have been using was 4.0.7. To use version V6 I moved from Win7 PC to Win10 PC. I’m reading this thread with big surprise. I didn’t realize how many problems I had avoided because I had never had any problems installing KiCad and I didn’t imagine there could be any.
I’m not experienced in system subjects. I’m not sure but probably I am all the time working with administrator rights. I even don’t know how to check it because I have never had to do it.
I had installed it on Windows 11 twice without issues as an administrator.Both windows 10 and 11 are same for application installation. Do you have administrator account on the PC and can you make the account lab as administrator? Perhaps that is causing the issue. Before reinstalling, uninstall the previous installation of Kicad.
Perhaps downloading Kicad from a different server like AARNET or other may help. You generally have to get the file directly and there is no information on the server that provides the download as Kicad download page has all the info.
I had wondered that, but my antivirus is the default Windows Defender, with no special features, and I’m not behind any firewalls, save whatever my nothing-special router might have (that has never caused problems before). I do have O&O’s SU10 (Shut-Up, Windows Ten!) on this machine, and my Firefox browser has the Ghostery add-on active, but I don’t think either of those interferes with downloads from the Web (without telling me), or become active during any sort of install.
Earlier in this thread, marekr suggested:
”Honestly this sounds like corrupted settings in %APPDATA%\kicad\9.0, just nuke that folder and try again”
I have done an Uninstall prior to each time I try reloading KiCAD, wouldn’t this ‘nuke that folder,’ or do I need to do that separately? If so, where, exactly, is that folder? Sincerely, thanks eveyone!
I asked ChatGPT if Shut-Up could be the cause of the issue and it replied with:
“Yes, it could interfere, but only under specific conditions.
Direct interference risk:
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If you used aggressive or “all” settings, ShutUp10 can disable Windows services that installers depend on
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It may block access to temporary folders or change permissions via group policy and registry
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It can disable Windows Installer, Windows Update, or Windows Defender components that some installers rely on
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It can block outbound connections that the KiCad installer uses for package verification or online components
Most likely problem areas for KiCad:
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Disabled Windows Installer service
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Blocked access to %TEMP% or %APPDATA%
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Disabled cryptographic services
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Over-restricted Controlled Folder Access
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Group Policy rules blocking program execution from non-whitelisted locations
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Broken user profile permissions due to privacy hardening
Quick verification path:
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Open ShutUp10 and check if “Recommended” or “All” was applied
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Re-enable anything related to:
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Windows Installer
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User Account Control
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SmartScreen
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Windows Update
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Microsoft Defender
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Ensure Cryptographic Services and Windows Installer services are running in Services.msc
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Attempt install as normal user, not elevated admin
If the machine has had ShutUp10 run in the past and you want a clean test:
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In ShutUp10, use “Undo all changes”
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Reboot
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Re-attempt KiCad install
Based on the error you described earlier create file can’t be found and components won’t open, this kind of tool is one of the top suspects, especially if older folder paths or policy rules have been locked or redirected.”
In my experience it’s often wrong about these types of things but can be worth investigating.
To get to the %APPDATA%\kicad\9.0 folder you can go into File Manager and navigate through:
C: → users → lab → appdata → local → KiCad → 9.0
I also have a folder:
C: → users → lab → appdata → Roaming → kicad → 9.0
If you can’t see the appdata folder once you get into the “lab” folder then, under View on the menu, come down to “Show” and tick “Hidden Items”.
Hope this helps!
Just paste %APPDATA%\kicad\9.0 into the file explorer address bar:
Or press Win+R and paste it into the Run box:
Uninstalling KiCad does not remove this user settings folder.
Can you run cmd and execute (you can paste to the command prompt using Ctrl+V):
mkdir C:\Users\Lab\Documents\KiCad
does that create the KiCad directory in C:\Users\Lab\Documents successfully?