MSYS2 Silent Install (How-To Guide)

MSYS2 is a collection of tools and libraries providing you with an easy-to-use environment for building, installing and running native Windows software. This article will serve as an informative guide and give you a clear understanding of how to perform a silent installation of MSYS2 from the command line using the EXE installer.

How to Install MSYS2 Silently

MYSYS Silent Install (EXE) – Option 1

Applies to MSYS2 Versions 2021 & Newer

1. Navigate to: https://www.msys2.org/
2. Download the msys2-x86_64-2022XXXX.exe to a folder created at (C:\Downloads)
3. Open an Elevated Command Prompt by Right-Clicking on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator
4. Navigate to the C:\Downloads folder
5. Enter the following command:

msys2-x86_64-2022XXXX.exe install --root C:\MSYS2 --confirm-command

After a few moments you will find MSYS2 entries in the Start Menu, Installation Directory, and Programs and Features in the Control Panel.

Software Title:	MSYS2
Vendor:	The MSYS2 Developers
Version:	2021 & Newer
Architecture:	x64
Installer Type:	EXE
Silent Install Switch:	msys2-x86_64-2022XXXX.exe install --root C:\MSYS2 --confirm-command
Silent Uninstall Switch (Option 1)	"C:\MSYS2\uninstall.exe" purge --confirm-command
Silent Uninstall Switch (Option 2)	"C:\MSYS2\maintenancetool.exe" purge --confirm-command
Download Link:	https://github.com/msys2/msys2-installer/releases
PowerShell Script:	https://silentinstallhq.com/msys2-install-and-uninstall-powershell/

---

MYSYS Silent Install (EXE) – Option 2

Applies to All MSYS2 Versions

1. Navigate to: https://repo.msys2.org/distrib/x86_64/
2. Download the msys2-x86_64-202XXXXX.exe file of your choice to a folder created at (C:\Downloads)

• Open Notepad or your favorite text editor
• Add the following lines:

var target_dir = installer.value("InstallDir")

function Controller()
{
    installer.setDefaultPageVisible(QInstaller.Introduction, true);

    var page = gui.pageWidgetByObjectName( "ComponentSelectionPage" );
    page.selectComponent( "com.msys2.root" );
    page.selectComponent( "com.msys2.root.base" );

    installer.setDefaultPageVisible(QInstaller.ComponentSelection, false);
    installer.setDefaultPageVisible(QInstaller.StartMenuSelection, false);
    installer.setDefaultPageVisible(QInstaller.LicenseCheck, false);
    installer.setDefaultPageVisible(QInstaller.ReadyForInstallation, false);
    installer.setDefaultPageVisible(QInstaller.PerformInstallation, true);
    installer.setDefaultPageVisible(QInstaller.InstallationFinished, true);
    installer.setDefaultPageVisible(QInstaller.FinishedPage, true);
    ComponentSelectionPage.selectAll();
    installer.autoRejectMessageBoxes();
    var result = QMessageBox.question("quit.question", "Installer", "Do you want to quit the installer?",
                                      QMessageBox.Yes | QMessageBox.No);
 
    installer.setMessageBoxAutomaticAnswer("OverwriteTargetDirectory", QMessageBox.Yes);
    installer.setMessageBoxAutomaticAnswer("stopProcessesForUpdates", QMessageBox.Ignore);
}

Controller.prototype.IntroductionPageCallback = function()
{
    gui.clickButton(buttons.NextButton);
}

Controller.prototype.TargetDirectoryPageCallback = function()
{
    gui.currentPageWidget().TargetDirectoryLineEdit.setText(target_dir);
    gui.clickButton(buttons.NextButton);
}

Controller.prototype.StartMenuDirectoryPageCallback = function()
{
    gui.clickButton(buttons.NextButton);
}

Controller.prototype.PerformInstallationPageCallback = function()
{
    var page = gui.pageWidgetByObjectName("PerformInstallationPage");
    installer.setAutomatedPageSwitchEnabled(true);
    gui.clickButton(buttons.NextButton);
}

Controller.prototype.InstallationFinishedPageCallback = function()
{
    var checkBox = gui.pageWidgetByObjectName("RunItCheckBox");

    var page = gui.pageWidgetByObjectName("InstallationFinishedPage");
    gui.clickButton(buttons.NextButton);
}

Controller.prototype.FinishedPageCallback = function()
{
    var page = gui.pageWidgetByObjectName("FinishedPage");
    page.RunItCheckBox.checked = false;
    gui.clickButton(buttons.FinishButton);
}

• Save the file to the C:\Downloads directory and name it: silent-install.js
• Reference: https://github.com/msys2/msys2-installer/blob/master/auto-install.js

1. Open an Elevated Command Prompt by Right-Clicking on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator
2. Navigate to the C:\Downloads folder
3. Enter the following command:

msys2-x86_64-2020XXXX.exe --platform minimal --script .\silent-install.js InstallDir=C:\MSYS2\

After a few moments you should see the MSYS2 entries in the Start Menu, Installation Directory, and Programs and Features in the Control Panel.

Software Title:	MSYS2
Vendor:	The MSYS2 Developers
Architecture:	x64
Installer Type:	EXE
Silent Install Switch:	msys2-x86_64-2020XXXX.exe --platform minimal --script .\silent-install.js InstallDir=C:\MSYS2\
Silent Uninstall Switch:	"C:\MSYS2\maintenancetool.exe" --platform minimal --script .\silent-uninstall.js
Download Link:	https://repo.msys2.org/distrib/x86_64/
PowerShell Script:	https://silentinstallhq.com/msys2-install-and-uninstall-powershell/

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.

---

How to Uninstall MSYS2 Silently

Check out the MSYS2 Install and Uninstall (PowerShell) post 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:

MSYS2 Silent Uninstall (EXE) – Versions 2021 & Newer

"C:\MSYS2\uninstall.exe" purge --confirm-command

Or

"C:\MSYS2\maintenancetool.exe" purge --confirm-command

---

MSYS2 Silent Uninstall (EXE) – All Versions

• Open Notepad or your favorite text editor
• Add the following lines:

function Controller()
{

}

Controller.prototype.IntroductionPageCallback = function()
{
    if (installer.isUninstaller()) {
        var widget = gui.currentPageWidget(); 
        if (widget != null) {
            widget.findChild("PackageManagerRadioButton").visible = false;
            widget.findChild("UpdaterRadioButton").visible = false;
            widget.findChild("UninstallerRadioButton").visible = false;
        }
    }
    gui.clickButton(buttons.NextButton);
}

Controller.prototype.ReadyForInstallationPageCallback = function()
{
    var page = gui.pageWidgetByObjectName("ReadyForInstallationPage");    
    gui.clickButton(buttons.CommitButton);
}

Controller.prototype.InstallationFinishedPageCallback = function()
{
    var page = gui.pageWidgetByObjectName("InstallationFinishedPage");    
    gui.clickButton(buttons.NextButton);
}

Controller.prototype.FinishedPageCallback = function()
{
    var page = gui.pageWidgetByObjectName("FinishedPage");
    gui.clickButton(buttons.FinishButton);
}

• Save the file to the C:\MSYS2 directory and name it: silent-uninstall.js

1. Open an Elevated Command Prompt by Right-Clicking on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator
2. Enter one of the following commands:

"C:\MSYS2\uninstall.exe" --platform minimal --script .\silent-uninstall.js

Or

"C:\MSYS2\maintenancetool.exe" --platform minimal --script .\silent-uninstall.js

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.