The Atera Agent is the backbone of Atera’s monitoring system. Installed on every device you want to monitor, it continuously tracks performance, availability, and health — securely sending data to the cloud for real-time insights. With low system impact, built-in auto-updates, and smart reporting intervals based on big-data analysis, the Atera Agent ensures you’re alerted only when it matters.
Note: Trial accounts are limited to 300 devices.
Supported operating systems
Using a supported operating system and setup ensures the agent installs correctly and performs reliably. The Atera Agent supports the following Windows versions and configurations:
- Windows 11
- Windows Server 2019
- Windows Server 2022
- Windows Server 2025
Additional requirement: Microsoft .NET Framework 4.7.2 or above.
Agents installed on unsupported OS versions may lead to unexpected issues or security risks, so we strongly recommend upgrading to a supported OS version for optimal performance and security. Please note that Atera is not responsible for any issues that arise from using agents on unsupported operating systems.
Agent versions and updates
Agents are updated automatically as part of ongoing rollouts. If your version isn’t the latest yet, don’t worry — it will update soon. If you prefer not to wait, you can reinstall the agent manually to get the newest version.
View an individual device’s agent version in its Agent Console (Overview tab), or track upgrade progress for all devices in the Windows agents support status report
Latest version: The latest version is automatically installed for all new agent downloads on active subscriptions.
Enhancements in Agent v2:
- Upgraded to .NET 8 for improved reliability and performance.
- Strengthened security with support for TLS 1.2 only.
Note:
- Agents will not yet be upgraded if they:
- Run on 32-bit systems
- Operate on an OS that isn’t compatible with .NET 8
- If you’re deploying the Atera Agent via a software distribution tool, make sure to download the latest installer and replace any older versions.
Features and capabilities
Silent installation
The Atera Windows Agent installs silently when installed on a device using the SYSTEM account (covers installations via GPO and Network Discovery).
Note: Silent installation is available for agent versions 1.8.5.7 and later.
Uninstall prevention
To prevent both intentional and accidental removal of the Atera Agent and ensure continuous monitoring and management of devices, end users cannot uninstall the agent via:
- Apps & Features
- Command Prompt with user privileges
- Right-clicking to uninstall from C:\Windows\Installers
You can enable uninstall prevention via Admin > My account > Account settings > Agents. If enabled, the Atera Windows Agent can only be removed via:
- SYSTEM user privileges (GPO, CMD, PowerShell, WMI)
- Deleting the device from the Atera console
Note:
- Uninstall prevention is available for agent versions 1.8.5.7 and later.
- When enabled, end users will still see "Atera" in Apps & Features.
- Uninstall prevention also applies retroactively to existing agents.
- The feature is not applicable to trial accounts.
Proxy environments
From version 2.5.8.0, the Atera Windows Agent supports HTTP forward proxy environments, where the device routes its traffic through a proxy server. The proxy can be set manually, through the operating system's settings, or automatically using a PAC (Proxy Auto-Config) file, typically pushed by Group Policy.
Because the AteraAgent service runs under the LocalSystem account, the proxy settings must be applied to LocalSystem and not to the logged-in user. This differs from the v1 agent.
Note: Transparent proxies require no configuration. Traffic is redirected at the network layer by a router, firewall, or switch, so the agent communicates normally with no changes on the device.
Before you begin
- Requires Atera Windows Agent v2.5.8.0 or later.
- The proxy server must not require authentication. Proxies that require a username and password aren't currently supported.
- Allow the Atera domains and ports listed in Firewall settings for Atera's integrations on your proxy.
- Full admin permissions are required.
Automate the configuration with a script
To apply the configuration across multiple devices, use the Set-AteraAgentProxy.ps1 script. It requires PowerShell 5.1 and an elevated session, and can safely be re-run on a device that's already configured.
Configure a static proxy:
.\Set-AteraAgentProxy.ps1 -Enable -Mode WinINet -ProxyHost '10.10.1.10' -Port 8080
Add a bypass list:
.\Set-AteraAgentProxy.ps1 -Enable -Mode WinINet -ProxyHost '10.10.1.10' -Port 8080 -BypassList '192.168.1.*;*.corp.local'
Use a PAC file:
.\Set-AteraAgentProxy.ps1 -Enable -Mode WinINet -Autoscript 'http://wpad.domain.com/proxy.pac'
Use auto detect:
.\Set-AteraAgentProxy.ps1 -Enable -Mode WinINet
Check the current configuration:
.\Set-AteraAgentProxy.ps1 -Status -Mode WinINet
Remove the configuration:
.\Set-AteraAgentProxy.ps1 -Disable -Mode WinINet
Note: The script is designed to run safely as a Group Policy startup script, which runs as SYSTEM and therefore meets the script's administrator requirement. To remove the configuration later, run it again with -Disable -Mode WinINet.
Configure the remote connection tool
When a device routes its traffic through a proxy, the remote connection tool installed on it must be adjusted as well. Otherwise, the device may appear online in Atera while remote connections fail.
For Splashtop, Atera's integrated remote access tool, use the Set-SplashtopProxy.ps1 script to enable its cloud proxy setting so the Splashtop streamer routes its traffic through the configured proxy. The script requires PowerShell 5.1 and an elevated (Run as Administrator) session. It restarts the Splashtop service only when the setting actually changes, so it can safely be re-run (including as a Group Policy startup script) without disrupting active remote sessions.
Enable the proxy for Splashtop:
.\Set-SplashtopProxy.ps1 -Enable
Check the current configuration:
.\Set-SplashtopProxy.ps1 -Status
Remove the configuration:
.\Set-SplashtopProxy.ps1 -Disable
Note: If you use a different remote connection tool, apply the equivalent proxy setting according to that tool's documentation.
Install Atera's Windows Agent
There are several ways to install Atera’s Windows Agent — by downloading the installer, copying the cURL command, or sharing the installation link. You may be prompted to enter a one-time verification token on the target device to confirm the installation’s authenticity. This step helps keep installations secure and is automatically skipped for system-level deployments (e.g., via GPO or other automated methods).
Note:
- Atera's Windows Agent is available for all IT Department plans.
- Atera's Windows Agent is available for all MSP plans.
- Full admin permissions are required to install the Atera Agent.
- Atera will install .Net Runtime 8 on Windows devices.
- If you're installing the Atera Agent via Microsoft Intune or in a Citrix environment, this may create duplicate devices in your console as each environment re-deploys the software after a certain period. For more info, see:
To install Atera's Windows agent:
1. Click Install agent in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
The Download agent installer window appears.
2. Select Windows (.msi). Then click Next.
3. Assign the agent to a site and folder (optional). Then click Next.
Note: Assigning the agent will automatically allocate all policies, configurations, and automations applied to that site and/or folder. This assignment also comes in handy with any IT automation profiles that are intended to run on newly added devices. However, you also have the option to assign the agent at a later time. For more info, see Assign a device
3. Assign the agent to a customer and folder (optional). Then click Next.
Note: Assigning the agent will automatically allocate all policies, configurations, and automations applied to that customer and/or folder. This assignment also comes in handy with any IT automation profiles that are intended to run on newly added devices. However, you also have the option to assign the agent at a later time. For more info, Assign a device
There are 3 installation methods:
Download installer package
- From the Download installer tab, click Download.
- Open the installer package (.msi file) and follow the onscreen instructions to install the Atera Agent.
OTP code
During interactive installation of the Atera Agent on a Windows device, end users may be prompted to verify the installation using a one-time password (OTP).
- All technicians will automatically receive an email containing the OTP. This means any one of them can provide the OTP to the end user to complete the agent installation.
- The OTP is dynamic and expires 30 minutes after the MSI file is opened. If the OTP expires or you're not receiving the verification email, please reinitiate the agent installation.
- In some cases, the OTP email may not be received because the device has certain servers blocked.
- The OTP code is sent from support@atera.com.
In this situation, run the troubleshooting script and make sure the required Atera domains and servers are whitelisted.
Note: The OTP prompt behavior is not enforced consistently. It is possible for one installation attempt on a device to trigger the OTP prompt, while a subsequent attempt on the same device may not require OTP verification.
Install via command line
- From the Install via command line tab, click Copy command.
- Open the terminal with elevated administrator privileges.
- Enter the installation script and hit Enter to install the Atera Agent.
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Note: During interactive installation of the Atera Agent on a Windows device, end users may be prompted to verify the installation using a one-time password (OTP).
- All technicians will automatically receive an email containing the OTP. This means any one of them can provide the OTP to the end user to complete the agent installation.
- The OTP is dynamic and expires 30 minutes after the MSI file is opened. If the OTP expires or you're not receiving the verification email, please reinitiate the agent installation.
Within a couple of minutes, the Atera Agent will appear on the Devices page.
Share download link
Note: Sharing the agent installer link by email won’t work, but you can use a file-sharing tool (e.g., SharePoint), or embed the link on your website. Atera agent installer links cannot be whitelisted in email or messaging platforms due to external provider security policies.
- From the Share download link tab, click Copy link.
- Share it with your end user to download and install the Atera Agent themselves.
-
Note: During interactive installation of the Atera Agent on a Windows device, end users may be prompted to verify the installation using a one-time password (OTP).
- All technicians will automatically receive an email containing the OTP. This means any one of them can provide the OTP to the end user to complete the agent installation.
- The OTP is dynamic and expires 30 minutes after the MSI file is opened. If the OTP expires or you're not receiving the verification email, please reinitiate the agent installation.
Once installed by the end user, the Atera Agent will appear on the Devices page.
Troubleshooting
If you experience any trouble with agent installation or stability, see:
