Install or uninstall software on a single device

On a device's Software tab, you install, update and uninstall software directly on that one device. The action runs immediately and once: octoja does not repeat it and does not keep the software up to date afterwards. To install software on several devices and keep it up to date, use Deploy Software to Devices instead.

There are two ways:

Prerequisites

• The Software Management device action for this device. It is granted under Administration → Groups; see How Users, Groups & Permissions Work.
• The device is online. For an offline device, octoja hides the Install Software button and the uninstall icons.
• For a custom uninstall command, also the Run Script device action.

Manage software through the package manager

1. Open the device and switch to the Software tab.
2. Click Install Software. The Package Manager dialog opens.
3. On Windows devices, choose the package manager: Chocolatey (preselected), winget or Custom for your custom packages. On macOS, octoja uses Homebrew; on Linux, APT. The package manager does not support dnf or other RPM package managers.

The list shows the packages that the selected package manager knows on the device, with the installed and latest version. Packages with a newer version have the status Update available.

• Update: In the Actions column, click the arrow icon Update. If octoja reports that the package is already up to date, the installed version did not change.
• Uninstall: Click the trash icon Uninstall, check the package name in the Uninstall Software dialog and confirm with Uninstall.

Install new software

1. In the Package Manager dialog, click Install Software.
2. Type at least two characters of the name and select the package from the results. APT has no search: enter the exact package name, for example nginx, and click Install.
3. Under Version, choose the latest or a specific version.
4. For winget, choose under Install for whether octoja installs for All users or Current user only. Current user only requires someone to be signed in to the device.
5. Click Install and wait for the success notification.

For package-manager requirements and catalogues, see How software deployment works.

Uninstall programs from the software list (Windows)

The Installed Software list on the Software tab shows every program installed on the device, including programs that no package manager knows. On Windows devices, you can remove them there directly:

1. In the program's row, click the trash icon Uninstall.
2. Check the name in the Uninstall Software dialog and confirm with Uninstall.

The uninstall runs silently, without windows or prompts on the device. The agent uses the silent uninstall command the vendor registered, or recognizes MSI, WiX, Inno Setup and NSIS uninstallers. octoja does not start other uninstallers, because they could wait for input that nobody on the device can see. If a program is installed for one user only, octoja uninstalls it as that user, who must be signed in to the device.

octoja reports success only once the program has disappeared from the Windows program list; the row then disappears from the list too. If the uninstaller requires a restart, the notification says so. Restart the device to complete the removal.

Uninstall with a custom uninstall command

If octoja cannot remove the program silently, the error notification states the reason, for example a missing silent uninstall method or a timeout. If you have the Run Script device action, the notification offers Edit uninstall command:

1. In the error notification, click Edit uninstall command. The Custom uninstall command dialog shows the device's information under Reported by the device, such as the registered uninstall command.
2. Under Command line, enter the command with the vendor's silent switches, for example /S, /quiet or /silent.
3. Click Run uninstall.

The command runs silently as SYSTEM, or as the signed-in user for programs installed only for that user. If it waits for input, it times out after 4 minutes. octoja records the command in the device log.

Check the result

Every install, update and uninstall appears with its result on the Activities tab under Logs, with the source Remote Action. The Installed Software list shows a newly installed or changed version once the device reports its next inventory.

FAQ

Why is an application missing from the package manager?

The package manager only lists packages that the selected package manager recognizes on the device. Software installed manually or through another package manager does not appear there. On Windows devices, uninstall such programs with the trash icon in the Installed Software list. On macOS and Linux, use a vendor-supported uninstall method, for example through an automation.

Why is there no trash icon in the Installed Software list?

The icon appears only on Windows devices, when the device is online and you have the Software Management device action for this device.