The offline installation of Altium extensions is a classic case of "it works, but you have to know the trick." For a single user installing a niche translator, the process is manageable. For an IT administrator trying to deploy a standardized installation across an air-gapped company, the process is unnecessarily arduous due to the difficulty of obtaining the installation files and the fragility of the local installation pointers.
Rating: 5/10 It gets the job done, but it requires significant user intervention and knowledge that should be documented better by the vendor.
Installing Altium Designer extensions in an offline environment—such as on a secure machine or one behind a strict firewall—requires the use of an Offline Installation Package. This package is a standalone ZIP archive that contains the core software and all necessary extension files, allowing you to bypass the standard cloud-based installation. Step 1: Obtain the Offline Installer
You cannot download the offline installer directly without a specific request.
Sign In: Log into your AltiumLive account on the Downloads page.
Request Access: Look for the "Need Offline Installer?" link below the main download button. You will be prompted to provide a reason for the request (e.g., security restrictions).
Download: Once approved, the link will change to a ZIP file download link. You may need to sign out and back in to see the update.
Transfer: Download the ZIP file on an internet-connected machine and transfer it to the target offline computer via a USB drive. Step 2: Configure Altium for Offline Installation
After unzipping the package on your offline PC, you must tell Altium Designer to look at the local folder instead of the cloud. Go to DXP > Preferences (or click the gear icon). Navigate to System > Installation. Select the radio button for Offline installation.
Use the browse button to select the folder where you unzipped the offline installation package. Step 3: Install Extensions
With the source set to the local folder, you can manage extensions through the standard interface. altium extension offline install
Extensions & Updates: Go to the Extensions & Updates page (from the home page or the DXP/System menu).
Purchased Tab: Click the Purchased tab to see a list of available extensions. Because you are pointed to the offline folder, the software will "see" these as available for install.
Install: Click the download icon on the desired extension. Once complete, you must restart Altium Designer to register the new functionality. Alternative: Altium Infrastructure Server
Installing Altium Designer extensions in an offline environment requires using the Offline Installation Package, which serves as a local repository for both the core software and its optional extensions. 1. Obtain the Offline Installer Package
Because Altium Designer typically retrieves extensions from the Altium Cloud, you must first download a complete offline set from a computer with internet access.
Log in: Visit the Altium Downloads page and sign in with your AltiumLive account.
Request the Installer: Look for the link titled "Need Offline Installer?".
Download: After submitting a brief request, the link will eventually change to a ZIP file download link (you may need to sign out and back in to see the update).
Transfer: Transfer this ZIP file (typically ~3GB) to your offline machine via a USB drive or local network and unzip it to a known directory. 2. Configure Altium Designer for Offline Use
Once the package is on your target machine, you must redirect Altium Designer to use this local folder instead of the internet. The offline installation of Altium extensions is a
Open Preferences: Navigate to DXP > Preferences (or the gear icon). Installation Settings: Go to System > Installation.
Set Source: Select the radio button for "Offline installation".
Browse to Source: Use the browse button to select the root folder where you unzipped the Offline Installer package. Apply: Click OK to save these settings. 3. Install Extensions Offline
With the local path set, you can now manage extensions without an active internet connection.
Access Extensions Management: Go to your user profile icon (top right) and select Extensions and Updates. Select Extensions:
Purchased Tab: Browse here to find available extensions. Since you are pointed to the offline source, Altium will list what is included in that local package.
Available Tab: This tab will now list extensions found in your local repository.
Install: Click the download/install icon on the specific extension you need (e.g., specialized importers/exporters or simulation tools).
Restart: After the installation completes, restart Altium Designer to activate the new functionality. 4. Important Considerations
Updates: The "Offline installation" setting prevents Altium from checking for new online updates. To update extensions later, you must download a newer version of the entire Offline Installer package. The first hurdle is obtaining the files
Licenses: Ensure you have already added your Standalone License file (*.alf) or are connected to a local Private License Service, as the software still requires valid licensing to run these extensions. AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more
For large teams, this is the most scalable method.
The first hurdle is obtaining the files. Altium does not host individual extension .zip files on a public downloads page for easy grabbing.
Altium provides a standalone utility called ExtensionDownloader.exe (located in the \Extras\OfflineInstallation folder of the Altium installation media).
Step-by-step for IT admins:
Altium Designer is a beast of a software, but out of the box, it is a lean beast. Its true power lies in its extensions—libraries, integration tools, simulation engines, and fabricator outputs. By default, Altium wants to pull these from its cloud-based "Content Vault." It is a seamless, frictionless experience—until the internet cuts out.
Most users interact with the "Extensions and Updates" view, a friendly GUI that lists available updates with shiny green download arrows. But behind that GUI is a robust file system that doesn't actually care if the internet exists. It only cares about the file format.
Stuck without internet but need that Altium extension now? No panic. Here’s a crisp, hands-on guide that gets you from “download” to “designing” with minimal fuss — plus a few tips to avoid hiccups.
To keep your sanity and your design flow smooth, follow these golden rules:
Altium Designer relies on extensions to provide core functionality (e.g., PCB layout, routing, simulation, version control integration). While the default installation method requires an active internet connection to fetch extensions from Altium’s cloud repository, many enterprise or secure environments restrict internet access. This guide covers the offline installation of Altium extensions using local package sources.