Foxit PDF Reader is a multilingual freemium PDF (Portable Document Format) tool that can create, view, edit, digitally sign, and print PDF files. This article will serve as an informative guide and give you a clear understanding of how to perform a silent installation of Foxit PDF Reader 12 from the command line using the EXE installer.
How to Install Foxit PDF Reader Silently
Foxit PDF Reader 12.x Silent Install (EXE)
- Navigate to: https://cdn01.foxitsoftware.com/product/reader/desktop/win/12.1.3/FoxitPDFReader1213_L10N_Setup_Prom.exe
- Download the FoxitPDFReader12xx_L10N_Setup_Prom.exe to a folder created at (C:\Downloads)
- Open an Elevated Command Prompt by Right-Clicking on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator
- Navigate to the C:\Downloads folder
- Enter the following command:
FoxitPDFReader12xx_L10N_Setup_Prom.exe /VERYSILENT /NORESTART |
After a few moments you should see the Foxit PDF Reader Desktop Shortcut appear. You will also find entries in the Start Menu, Installation Directory, and Programs and Features in the Control Panel.
| Software Title: | Foxit PDF Reader |
| Vendor: | Foxit Software Inc. |
| Version: | 12.x |
| Architecture: | x86 |
| Installer Type: | EXE |
| Silent Install Switch: | FoxitPDFReader12xx_L10N_Setup_Prom.exe /VERYSILENT /NORESTART |
| Silent Uninstall Switch (32-bit System) | "%ProgramFiles%\Foxit Software\Foxit PDF Reader\unins000.exe" /VERYSILENT /NORESTART |
| Silent Uninstall Switch (64-bit System) | "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Foxit Software\Foxit PDF Reader\unins000.exe" /VERYSILENT /NORESTART |
| Download Link: | Foxit PDF Reader 12 Download |
| PowerShell Script: | Foxit PDF Reader | PowerShell Script |
| Detection Script: | Foxit PDF Reader | Detection Script |
The information above provides a quick overview of the software title, vendor, silent install, and silent uninstall switches. The download links provided take you directly to the vendors website. Continue reading if you are interested in additional details and configurations.
Additional Configurations
Create a Foxit PDF Reader Installation Log File
The Foxit PDF Reader installer offers the option to generate a log file during installation to assist with troubleshooting should any problems arise. You can use the following command to create a verbose log file with details about the installation.
Foxit PDF Reader 12.x Silent Install (EXE) with Logging
FoxitPDFReader12xx_L10N_Setup_Prom.exe /VERYSILENT /NORESTART /LOG="%WINDIR%\Temp\FoxitReader12-Install.log" |
Change the Foxit PDF Reader Default Installation Directory
You can also change the default installation directory by using the following command line parameters. In this example, I’m installing Foxit PDF Reader to “C:\Foxit PDF Reader”
FoxitPDFReader12xx_L10N_Setup.exe /DIR="C:\Foxit PDF Reader" /VERYSILENT /NORESTART |
Exclude the Foxit PDF Reader Desktop Shortcut During Install
The Foxit PDF Reader installer creates a desktop shortcut by default. If you do not want the desktop shortcut, then you can run the following command line switches to exclude it.
Foxit PDF Reader 12.x Silent Install (EXE) with No Desktop Shortcut
FoxitPDFReader12xx_L10N_Setup_Prom.exe /VERYSILENT /NORESTART /MERGETASKS=!desktopicon |
Exclude the Foxit PDF Reader Start Menu Folder
Foxit PDF Reader 12.x Silent Install (EXE) with Start Menu Folder Excluded
FoxitPDFReader12xx_L10N_Setup_Prom.exe /VERYSILENT /NORESTART /MERGETASKS=!startmenufolder |
Exclude the Foxit PDF Reader Quick Launch Icon
Foxit PDF Reader 12.x Silent Install (EXE) with Quick Launch Icon Excluded
FoxitPDFReader12xx_L10N_Setup_Prom.exe /VERYSILENT /NORESTART /MERGETASKS=!quicklaunchicon |
Do Not Set Foxit as Default Reader
FoxitPDFReader12xx_L10N_Setup_Prom.exe /VERYSILENT /NORESTART /MERGETASKS=!setdefaultreader |
Disable Foxit PDF Reader Data Collection
Foxit PDF Reader 12.x Silent Install (EXE) with Data Collection Disabled
FoxitPDFReader12xx_L10N_Setup_Prom.exe /VERYSILENT /NORESTART /MERGETASKS=!setcollectdata |
Do Not Show PDF Files in Browsers
FoxitPDFReader12xx_L10N_Setup_Prom.exe /VERYSILENT /NORESTART /MERGETASKS=!displayinbrowser |
Exclude Shell Extensions, Plugin, and Foxit Spell Check Language
Foxit PDF Reader 12.x Silent Install (EXE) with Shell Extensions, Plugin, and Spell Check Excluded
FoxitPDFReader12xx_L10N_Setup_Prom.exe /COMPONENTS=pdfviewer,!ffse,!ffaddin,!ffspellcheck /VERYSILENT /NORESTART |
Exclude Shell Extensions
Foxit PDF Reader 12.x Silent Install (EXE) with Shell Extensions Excluded
FoxitPDFReader12xx_L10N_Setup_Prom.exe /COMPONENTS=pdfviewer,!ffse,ffaddin,ffspellcheck /VERYSILENT /NORESTART |
Exclude Plugin Used to Open PDF Files Inside Browser
Foxit PDF Reader 12.x Silent Install (EXE) with Open PDF Files Inside Browser Excluded
FoxitPDFReader12xx_L10N_Setup_Prom.exe /COMPONENTS=pdfviewer,ffse,!ffaddin,ffspellcheck /VERYSILENT /NORESTART |
Exclude Foxit Spell Check Language
Foxit PDF Reader 12.x Silent Install (EXE) with Spell Check Excluded
FoxitPDFReader12xx_L10N_Setup_Prom.exe /COMPONENTS=pdfviewer,ffse,ffaddin,!ffspellcheck /VERYSILENT /NORESTART |
Disable Foxit PDF Reader Registration
Foxit PDF Reader 12.x Silent Install (EXE) with Registration Disabled
- Open an Elevated Command Prompt by Right-Clicking on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator
- Enter the following commands:
REG ADD "HKLM\Software\Policies\Foxit\Reader\Preferences" /v DisableRegistration /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f |
REG ADD "HKLM\Software\Policies\Foxit\Reader\Ribbon\Ribbon_Category_Help\Help_Panel_Registration" /v Help_Registration_Registration /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f |
Disable Foxit PDF Reader Show Start Page
Foxit PDF Reader 12.x Silent Install (EXE) with Show Start Page Disabled
- Open an Elevated Command Prompt by Right-Clicking on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator
- Enter the following command:
REG ADD "HKLM\Software\Policies\Foxit\Reader\Preferences" /v ShowStartPage /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f |
Disable Foxit PDF Reader Advertisement
Foxit PDF Reader 12.x Silent Install (EXE) with Advertisement Disabled
- Open an Elevated Command Prompt by Right-Clicking on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator
- Enter the following command:
REG ADD "HKLM\Software\Policies\Foxit\Reader\Preferences" /v DisableAdvertise /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f |
Disable Foxit PDF Reader Data Collection
Foxit PDF Reader 12.x Silent Install (EXE) with Data Collection Disabled
- Open an Elevated Command Prompt by Right-Clicking on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator
- Enter the following command:
REG ADD "HKLM\Software\Policies\Foxit\Reader\Preferences" /v CollectData /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f |
Disable Foxit PDF Reader Automatic Updates
Foxit PDF Reader 12.x Silent Install (EXE) with Auto Updates Disabled
- Open an Elevated Command Prompt by Right-Clicking on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator
- Enter the following command:
REG ADD "HKLM\Software\Policies\Foxit\Reader\Preferences" /v DisableUpdate /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f |
How to Uninstall Foxit PDF Reader 12.x Silently
Check out the following posts for a scripted solution:
- Open an Elevated Command Prompt by Right-Clicking on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator
- Enter one of the following commands:
Foxit PDF Reader 12.x Silent Uninstall (EXE) on 32-bit System
"%ProgramFiles%\Foxit Software\Foxit PDF Reader\unins000.exe" /VERYSILENT /NORESTART |
Foxit PDF Reader 12.x Silent Uninstall (EXE) on 64-bit System
"%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Foxit Software\Foxit PDF Reader\unins000.exe" /VERYSILENT /NORESTART |
Always make sure to test everything in a development environment prior to implementing anything into production. The information in this article is provided “As Is” without warranty of any kind.