Unifi Controller as a Windows Service

How to Set Up the UniFi Network Controller as a Windows Service

1. Close any instances of the UniFi software on the computer. If the UniFi Network Controller was just installed, make sure to open the controller software manually at least once, or let it run at the end of the wizard. Once you see the message UniFi Controller (a.b.c) started, the controller may be closed.

2. Launch the Command Prompt as an Administrator. On Windows 10 this would entail right-clicking and selecting "Run as administrator". Please see Windows documentation to identify the appropriate method for your specific Windows version.

3. Change directory to the location of UniFi in the computer using the following command (exactly as it is here, no need to substitute anything):

cd "%UserProfile%\Ubiquiti UniFi\"

4. Once in the root of the UniFi folder, issue the following command to install the UniFi Network Controller service:

java -jar lib\ace.jar installsvc

5. Once you're at a new command prompt line, after it says “Complete Installation…”, issue the following:

java -jar lib\ace.jar startsvc

6. Close the command prompt window either by entering the exit command, or clicking the X.

7. To access the UniFi Network Controller now open a browser and go to https://localhost:8443. Alternatively, the desired interface IP, or FQDN that is mapped to that host (in place of “localhost”) may be used.

How to Upgrade a UniFi Network Controller that is Running as a Windows Service

1. Open the UniFi Network Controller and make a backup.

3. Change directory to the location of UniFi in the computer using the following command (exactly as it is here, no need to substitute anything):

cd "%UserProfile%\Ubiquiti UniFi\"

4. Once in the root of the UniFi folder, issue the following to stop and uninstall the UniFi Network Controller service:

java -jar lib\ace.jar stopsvc

java -jar lib\ace.jar uninstallsvc

5. Once a new command prompt line is presented, that means uninstalling the service was successful. Update the UniFi Network Controller application's version with any of the regular methods. Go to Settings > Maintenance in the Controller to upgrade to the latest public released version, or alternatively download the UniFi Network Controller installation package for Windows from the Downloads page or the Releases section of the Community.

6. Once the software update is successful, close the UniFi Network Controller application before going back to the Command Prompt.

7. In the Command Prompt issue the following to install the UniFi Network Controller service once again:

java -jar lib\ace.jar installsvc

8. Once you're at a new command prompt line, after seeing the "Complete Installation…" message, issue the following:

java -jar lib\ace.jar startsvc

9. Close the Command Prompt window either by entering the exit command, or clicking the X.

10.To access the UniFi Network Controller now open a browser and go to https://localhost:8443. Alternatively, the desired interface IP, or FQDN that is mapped to that host (in place of “localhost”) may be used.