How to click and run exe on Sharepoint

Question

Hi guys,

I have uploaded an exe file onto SharePoint, now looking for a way that users could run it directly when they click the file on SharePoint.

Welcome and many thanks if you have any idea =)

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Moved from Microsoft 365 and Office | SharePoint | Development

Answer 1

Dear @YanC,

Good day. Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum!

According to your description, I would like to clarify some information:

SharePoint cannot run an .exe directly in the browser or from the document library. This is by design for security reasons, SharePoint blocks execution of executable files. When a user clicks an .exe stored in SharePoint, the only supported behavior is Download, not Run.

Additionally, I found the workaround from Q&A Assist quite helpful, and I recommend you try it and check whether it works for you.

Regarding your inquiry, I sincerely recommend you go to Feedback community to vote this similar feedback: (find out similar feedback, if not provide the feedback forum link Ideas · Community). Our product team is in charge of the site, and they constantly check customer reviews and feedback. The higher votes, the more attention the related team will pay on. And a lot of the features are developed and improved based on customer feedback. 

Please notice and accept my apologies that as moderators in the community, we are not supported for the product design and have limited resources for the advanced info for Microsoft products. To help you send your feedback and requirement to the related development team, we have redirected you to the correct path. 

As I have already reported to the product team, if any updates or announcements are made regarding this feature, I will make sure to share them with you as soon as possible.

Again, I truly appreciate your patience and understanding. If you have any further questions or need clarification, please feel free to reach out. I'm looking forward to hearing from you. 

Your understanding and co-operation are highly appreciated. Thank you for your precious time. Have a nice day!

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Answer 2

Running an .exe file directly from SharePoint can be problematic due to security restrictions and the way browsers handle executable files. Typically, when users click on an .exe file in SharePoint, it will download the file rather than execute it directly. This is a security feature to prevent the execution of potentially harmful software.

To enable users to run an .exe file from SharePoint, consider the following workarounds:

1. Share the Executable via a Network Share: Instead of hosting the .exe file on SharePoint, you can place it on a network share that users have access to. Users can then run the executable directly from that location.
2. Use a Script: You could create a script (like a batch file) that users can run, which in turn executes the .exe file from a trusted location.
3. Provide Instructions: If the .exe must remain on SharePoint, provide users with instructions on how to download and run the file manually.

Keep in mind that running executables directly from web applications is generally discouraged due to security risks, and it's important to ensure that users have the necessary permissions and that the executable is safe to run.