How to fix 'The Installer Has Encountered an Unexpected Error 2203' error on Windows

Sometimes, you will get an installer error in Windows when you try to install a program. There are different types of installer errors, but if your error carries code 2203, it means the user account doesn't have enough permissions to install the software. Another common reason is that your anti-virus software is working and blocking the installer.

In this article, Tipsmake looks at some troubleshooting steps that you can try to fix this problem on your Windows system.

What causes Windows installer error code 2203?

Like the article mentioned above, the installer error code 2202 indicates that you do not have sufficient permissions to run the installer. The entire error message will look like this:

The installer has encountered an unexpected error installing this package. This may indicate a problem with this package. The error code is 2203

In many cases, you can simply run the installer with admin rights to fix the problem.

If that doesn't work, try to take ownership of the Temp folder. Alternatively, temporarily disabling security software can also help.

How to fix "The Installer Has Encountered an Unexpected Error 2203" error on Windows

1. Run the installer with admin rights

How to fix 'The Installer Has Encountered an Unexpected Error 2203' error on Windows Picture 1

Some programs require explicit permissions to run the installer or programs that can modify system files. So try to run the installer with admin rights to give the necessary privileges. In most cases, this will work and allow you to complete the installation.

To run the installer with admin rights:

1. Locate and right click on the installer you want to run.
2. Click the Run as administrator option from the context menu.
3. Click Yes when prompted by UAC (User Account Control).

2. Take ownership of the Temp . folder

Problems with the Windows Installer service and lack of permissions for the Temp folder can also cause installer error 2203.

You can end the Windows Installer service, then take ownership of the Temp folder to fix this problem. Here's how to do it.

Before you continue with the step below, create a restore point. System Restore allows you to undo any changes if you delete or modify the required files incorrectly.

2.1. End the Windows Installer service

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1. Press Win + R to open Run.
2. Type services.msc and click OK to open the Services Snap-in.
3. Locate and right-click the Windows Installer service.
4. Select Stop to end the service.
5. Next, open File Explorer and navigate to the following location:

C:/Windows/Temp

1. Click Yes if prompted by UAC.
2. Press Ctrl + A to select and delete all the contents of the folder. Ignore any files that cannot be deleted for any reason.

Next, follow the steps below to take ownership of the Temp folder.

2.2. Take ownership of the Temp . folder

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1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the following location:

C:/Users/Username/AppData/Local

1. In the above path, replace Username with your user account name.
2. Right-click the Temp folder and select Properties.
3. In the Temp Properties window, open the Security tab.
4. Click the Advanced button in the Permissions for System section.

How to fix 'The Installer Has Encountered an Unexpected Error 2203' error on Windows Picture 4

1. In the Advanced Security Settings for Temp window, click the Change for Owner link. Click Yes if prompted by UAC.

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1. Next, type Everyone in the Enter the object names to select box and click Check Names.
2. If an underline appears under Everyone, click OK. Then, click Apply to save the changes.
3. In the Temp Properties window, click the Edit button.
4. In the Permission for Temp window, click the Add button.
5. Next, type Everyone in the Enter the object names to select box and click Check Names.
6. Click OK to save the changes.
7. Next, under Permissions for Everyone, check the Allow for Full Control box.

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1. Click Apply and OK to save the changes. When prompted by UAC, click Yes to confirm action.
2. Next, press Windows key + R to open Run.
3. Type services.msc and click OK.
4. Right-click on Windows Installer and select Start.
5. Close the Services snap-in window and restart the PC. After reboot, run the installer and check if the error is resolved.

If you're still having trouble taking ownership, try these third-party tools to take ownership of files and folders on Windows.

3. Temporarily disable your antivirus and firewall

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Sometimes, a security program may flag an innocuous program as malware and block it from working or connecting to the Internet. To determine if your security solution is causing the error, temporarily disable the antivirus solution and firewall, and then run the installer.

If you are using third-party antivirus software, the steps to disable the tool may vary. For example, if you use Avast antivirus, click the system tray icon and right-click the Avast icon. Then, go to Avast shields control > Disable until computer is restarted.

For any other antivirus, check the database on the developer's website to disable the antivirus. Once disabled, run the installer and check if it runs without any errors. Don't forget to turn your anti-virus software back on when you're done.

If you use Windows Security, follow these steps to disable Real-Time Threat Protection and Windows Defender Firewall.

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. In the left pane, open the Privacy and Security tab.
3. Click Windows Security in the right pane.
4. Next, click Virus & threat protection.
5. In the Windows Security window, scroll down to Virus & threat protection. Then, click Manage Settings.

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1. Turn off the toggle next to Real-time protection. Click Yes if prompted by UAC.
2. Next, in the Windows Security window, click Firewall and network protection (left side).
3. Click Public Network. Then, turn off the toggle next to Microsoft Defender Firewall.

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Do the same for any other active Windows protection firewall configurations.

Now that you have security turned off on your computer, restart your PC to apply the changes. Next, run the installer and there won't be any errors.

Note that running the installer from untrusted sources can be harmful. After successful installation, re-enable Real-Time Protection and Windows Defender Firewall to protect your data and devices.

David Pac

Update 03 January 2022