> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.curator.interworks.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Windows Installation > Instructions for installing Curator on Windows. ## Installation Steps **1. Download the Installer** Log in to the server where you'd like to install Curator and [download the Curator installer for Windows](https://api.curator.interworks.com/CuratorSetup.exe). **2. Run the Installer** Locate your download and right-click the file, then select "Run as Administrator" to begin the installation process. ![Run .exe as admin](https://mintcdn.com/interworks/x0r9dMo3GyjABFAR/assets/images/setup/installation/windows_installation/run_as_admin.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=x0r9dMo3GyjABFAR\&q=85\&s=89aec2ac7651eb2221646df19ea3296b) Click the "Install" button to run initial installation process: ![Installer view](https://mintcdn.com/interworks/x0r9dMo3GyjABFAR/assets/images/setup/installation/windows_installation/click_install.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=x0r9dMo3GyjABFAR\&q=85\&s=8b74b6a87c83b6dbb386e3861d17eaca) Click "Options" to change the installation directory. **3. Credentials** The installer will generate credentials for use during installation and will store them in a file in the installation directory (Default: `/var/www/curator_info.txt` or `C:\InterWorks\Curator\curator_info.txt` in Windows). You will need these credentials to complete the installation and to log in to the Curator backend after installation. **4. License Key** Enter your license key when prompted. If you do not have a license key, please contact InterWorks to obtain one. ![License key prompt page](https://mintcdn.com/interworks/3RotvmSfKD9xBISI/assets/images/snippets/installation_enter_key.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=3RotvmSfKD9xBISI\&q=85\&s=f78214155c914ed84abf7a0cfbed9590) **5. Database Connection** You may be prompted to enter your database connection information if the installer is unable to automatically find the database for you. ![Database credentials prompt page](https://mintcdn.com/interworks/3RotvmSfKD9xBISI/assets/images/snippets/enter_database_credentials.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=3RotvmSfKD9xBISI\&q=85\&s=ac7b79590da93165c51793b36faffba2) **6. Success** If the installation is successful, you will be redirected to your new Curator homepage ![Database credentials prompt page](https://mintcdn.com/interworks/3RotvmSfKD9xBISI/assets/images/snippets/post_install_homepage.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=3RotvmSfKD9xBISI\&q=85\&s=b4fac79de5100b4aa4b4e76c6c4c88fb) Using the same auto-generated credentials created in the install script above, you can log into the Curator backend which can be accessed from `http://curatorexample.com/backend`. If you're on the server you installed, you may also use localhost. Keep in mind this may be an IP address or computer name until your IT team sets up DNS. ## Log Locations These paths are dependant on your installation location, but these are the default paths: * Apache: `C:\InterWorks\Curator\httpd_errors.log` * PHP: `C:\InterWorks\Curator\php_errors.log` * Installation Log (EXE): `C:\InterWorks\Curator\install.log` * Installation Log (PHP Installer): `C:\InterWorks\curator\htdocs\assets\install.log` ## Network Whitelist Requirements If you are installing Curator in a restricted network environment, the only external URL that must be reachable from the Curator server is: * `https://api.curator.interworks.com` This single host covers all outbound traffic Curator needs for installation and ongoing operation on Windows: * Downloading the installer (`CuratorSetup.exe`) * Checking for new versions and downloading upgrade packages * Validating your Curator license key Unlike the Linux installer, the Windows installer bundles all required dependencies (Apache, PHP, and MariaDB), so no package repository URLs need to be whitelisted. ### Testing Connectivity To confirm `api.curator.interworks.com` is reachable through your firewall or proxy before installing or upgrading, request the same endpoint Curator itself uses to check for new versions: ```powershell theme={null} Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://api.curator.interworks.com/widget/latest" -UseBasicParsing ``` A successful response returns a `StatusCode` of `200` with `Content` similar to: ```text theme={null} $('#iw_latest_widget_wrapper').html('
2026.08-03
'); ``` The version shown in the response is the latest Curator build available, so it will differ from the example above as new builds are released. > [!NOTE] > > If the request times out, fails a TLS handshake, or returns anything other than a `200` status, the > whitelist entry is not taking effect yet -- recheck your proxy and firewall rules before continuing with > installation or upgrades. ## Other Information These paths are dependant on your installation location, but these are the default paths: > [!NOTE] > > If Curator was installed on a different drive (e.g., `D:\`), all paths below will reflect that drive > instead. To confirm the exact `php.ini` path on your system, check the `php_ini_path` field returned > by the [/portal/info](https://docs.curator.interworks.com/curator_api/api_docs/curator_api.md#portalinfo) endpoint. * Webroot: `C:\InterWorks\Curator\htdocs` * Environment file: `C:\InterWorks\Curator\htdocs\.env` * HTTPD Config: `C:\InterWorks\Curator\web.conf` * PHP.ini: `C:\InterWorks\Curator\php.ini` * Start Process: `C:\InterWorks\Curator\start.bat` (Also desktop shortcut) * Stop Process: `C:\InterWorks\Curator\stop.bat` (Also desktop shortcut) * Apache Location: `C:\InterWorks\Curator\libs\Apache24` * Database Location: `C:\InterWorks\Curator\libs\MariaDB` * PHP Location: `C:\InterWorks\Curator\libs\PHP` ## Environment Configuration Optional settings can be added to the environment file (`C:\InterWorks\Curator\htdocs\.env`) to override Curator's defaults. Curator ships with sensible values for all of these, so only set them if you need to change the default behavior. Restart Curator using `stop.bat` and `start.bat` after editing the file. | Variable | Default | Purpose | | - | - | - | | `SESSION_LIFETIME` | `360` | How many minutes a session may stay idle before the user is signed out. | | `CACHE_PREFIX` | Derived from `APP_NAME` | The prefix applied to all cache keys. | | `FILESYSTEM_DRIVER` | `local` | The disk used for Curator media and uploads. | | `FILESYSTEM_DISK` | `local` | The application-wide default disk used for everything else. | | `APP_DEBUG` | `false` | Whether detailed error pages are shown when an error occurs. | | `DISABLE_CORE_UPDATES` | `false` | Prevents the update gateway from re-downloading core files, for installs where updates are managed via composer or git. | > [!NOTE] > > `FILESYSTEM_DRIVER` and `FILESYSTEM_DISK` are two separate settings, not old and new names for the same > thing. Curator media and uploads always follow `FILESYSTEM_DRIVER`. If you have only ever set > `FILESYSTEM_DRIVER`, your media and uploads continue to work unchanged and no action is required. > [!NOTE] > > `CACHE_PREFIX` is derived from your `APP_NAME` unless you set it explicitly. Changing either value > changes the cache keys, so Curator rebuilds its cache on the next page load. This is safe, but the first > load afterward may be slower than usual. > [!NOTE] > > `APP_DEBUG` defaults to `false`, so a generic error page is shown when something goes wrong. Set > `APP_DEBUG=true` temporarily while troubleshooting an installation to see the detailed error page with a > full stack trace, then set it back to `false` (or remove it) once you're done -- leaving it enabled can > expose sensitive information about your application and infrastructure to untrusted users. ## Changing the Install Path This is *not recommended* but may be necessary in rare circumstances. The installer will default to `C:\InterWorks\Curator` if no changes are made to the install path. If you must change the install path, click the "Options" button in the installer window ![Highlight options button](https://mintcdn.com/interworks/x0r9dMo3GyjABFAR/assets/images/setup/installation/windows_installation/click_options.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=x0r9dMo3GyjABFAR\&q=85\&s=346d94183d86e33d14727705647586df) then change the Install Location path: ![Change install path](https://mintcdn.com/interworks/x0r9dMo3GyjABFAR/assets/images/setup/installation/windows_installation/change_path.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=x0r9dMo3GyjABFAR\&q=85\&s=8501dbecf6e39ef1d103714905a6f217) Please note that the paths above may no longer be valid if you change the install path. ## Installing a Specific Version The Windows installer always installs the latest version of Curator. Unlike the [Linux installer](https://docs.curator.interworks.com/setup/installation/linux_installation.md), which supports a `-v` flag to specify a particular version, the Windows installer does not offer a version selection option. If you need to install a specific older version of Curator on Windows, please contact [InterWorks support](https://interworks.com/contact/) for assistance. This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.