How to install Vim 8.1 Silently on Windows?

Question

I am trying to install gvim81.exe on multiple computers. The /s switch isn't working and /? doesn't give any results. Does anyone know how to silently install this version?

Answer 1

You can consider to use a gvim msi package, e.g. from https://github.com/petrkle/vim-msi/releases.

msiexec supports a wide variety command line options. /passive seams to be one you are looking for (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/msi/standard-installer-command-line-options).

Example: msiexec /package vim-8.1.55.msi /passive

Answer 2

I have been using the official Windows installer from the site. It worked pretty well on 10+ Windows machines, across multiple years (5+). They are the "best" in terms of the integration with Windows ==> when you right click on two files, there should be a Diff with Vim option.

• Download link: https://www.vim.org/download.php#pc

To note, there are other popular Vim builds, like the one salchint has suggested. Here goes one more:

• Cream's Windows installer for Vim without Cream. You can find the link at the bottom of the Cream download page

Lastly, I would recommend using scoop to install Vim on Windows. I have just updated all my Vim-on-Windows installation on 4 of my Windows 10 machines this afternoon using the scoop method. Bring up a Powershell with Admin right, and issue the following commands:

    set-executionpolicy remotesigned -scope currentuser
    iex (new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://get.scoop.sh')
    scoop install vim

In the end, you need to populate your home directory (C:\users\<username>) with one more file and one more folder:

• ~/_vimrc file (or .vimrc file), which configures all aspects of Vim;
• ~/vimfiles ==> on Windows, the autoload and ftplugin folders should go into this folder. (This should be the Unix equivalent of ~/.vim folder.

Answer 3

It is easy to install vim via scoop:

scoop install vim