Installation and auto-updates
This article covers installation of Grunt on Windows machines. We recommend using Windows 10 or Windows 11, and at least PowerPoint 2016. If you are using Windows 365 (which will be the case for most users), the latest version of PowerPoint should already be installed.
Grunt can be downloaded directly from https://app.grunt.pro/download. A standard 64-bit MSI package will be downloaded which can be run directly. A 32-bit package is also available on the same webpage, but you are unlikely to need this package unless working on a legacy system.
Most users can follow the default installation method, but in certain cases it may be desirable to use non-default installation methods. Non-default installation refers to installation using command-line or software deployment schemes in more controlled IT environments (e.g. SCCM or Intune).
Default installation
To install Grunt, run the installer. Grunt will install itself under the user's local programs, typically found here:
C:\Users\<user-name>\AppData\Local\Programs\Grunt\
Default installation is recommended for most users and organizations. It does not require admin privileges. When using the default installation mode, auto-updates are turned on by default.
Installation to this location will, in most environments, not require elevated (admin user) privileges. Additionally, certain entries will be made to the user's Registry. Under default installation, changes will only be made to HKEY_CURRENT_USER. This should also not require elevated privileges on most systems.
During installation, Grunt will register itself with PowerPoint, thus making itself discoverable such that when PowerPoint is loaded, it will locate Grunt's main entry point and start it as an add-in.
Note that it is possible to turn off auto-updates in Grunt's back-end even when using the default installation mode, so you may yet prefer the default installation. Reach out to your main contact to turn off auto-updates for your organization.
Non-default installation (command-line)
Grunt also supports non-default installations using command-line. This type of installation requires elevated (admin user) privileges.
Non-default installation is recommended in organizations that disallow installation to the user's local programs, or when IT wishes to disallow auto-updating; auto-updating is off when using the non-default installation.
When installing Grunt from the command line, Grunt will install to Program Files (or Program Files (x86) for 32-bit versions):
C:\Program Files\
This method of installation is not available directly in the installer, but rather requires installation with specific MSI install flags through command line:
msiexec /i grunt-ev-2024.1-x64.msi MSIINSTALLPERUSER=0 /qn
Remember to change the file name to match the installer file!
This installation procedure will install per machine rather than per user. Accordingly, the Registry will updated with entries in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
Installation per machine turns off auto-updates. These features are mutually exclusive - you cannot turn on auto-updates when Grunt is installed in this way. This is by design, as per machine installation is intended for scenarios where the user doesn't have admin rights (which would be required for updates).
Non-default installation (SCCM, Intune or similar)
Installation through software deployment systems is supported. Normally, this type of installation would also be per machine as above. Please reach out to your main contact if you have issues.