🎯 Automatically start UniFi Controller on Windows is a critical setup to ensure your network management system is always online, even after a system reboot or unexpected shutdown.

By default, UniFi Controller does NOT start automatically when Windows boots, which can lead to:

• ❌ Network monitoring downtime

• ❌ UniFi APs, switches, or gateways becoming unmanaged

• ❌ Missed logs and statistics

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to configure UniFi Controller to run as a Windows service, allowing it to start automatically with the operating system.
We’ll use NSSM (Non-Sucking Service Manager) to create a stable and reliable UniFi service on Windows.

👨‍💻 This guide is ideal for:

• IT Administrators

• Network Engineers

• UniFi Home Lab & Enterprise users

📌 After completing this setup, your UniFi Controller will always be running, even after a reboot.

🧩 Overview – What You’ll Do

✅ Install required dependencies
✅ Create a UniFi Controller Windows service using NSSM
✅ Configure automatic startup
✅ Verify service status
✅ Cleanly remove the service if needed

🔽 Step 1: Download & Install Required Components

☕ Install Java 21 (Required)

UniFi Controller requires Java to run properly.

🔗 Download Java 21 (Temurin – Eclipse Adoptium):
https://adoptium.net/temurin/releases/?version=21

🛠 Install NSSM (Non-Sucking Service Manager)

NSSM allows you to run UniFi Controller as a true Windows service.

🔗 Download NSSM:
https://nssm.cc/download

⚙️ Step 2: Create UniFi Controller Service with NSSM

📌 Open Command Prompt as Administrator

Run the following command to create the service:

🔧 Service Configuration Details

▶ Path:

▶ Startup directory:

▶ Arguments:

📌 These parameters ensure:

• Proper Java module access

• Stable memory allocation

• Correct UniFi Controller startup behavior

👉 Click Install service to complete the setup.

🚀 Verify UniFi Controller Startup

After installing the service:

• 🔁 Reboot Windows

• 🔍 Open Services (services.msc)

• ✅ Confirm UniFi service is running

• 🌐 Access UniFi Web UI via browser

Your UniFi Controller should now start automatically on every boot.

🧹 Optional: Remove UniFi Service (If Needed)

If the service fails or you need to recreate it, use the commands below:

📌 This cleanly removes the UniFi service from Windows.

✅ Final Notes

✔ UniFi Controller now runs automatically
✔ No manual startup required
✔ Ideal for production & lab environments
✔ Stable and reboot-safe configuration

🔔 Make sure Java and UniFi files remain in the same paths to avoid service errors.