Smallstep Desktop is the graphical interface for the Smallstep agent.
It surfaces device identity status, managed certificate lifecycle, and
onboarding flows. It connects to the Smallstep agent daemon over a
local IPC socket; the agent must be installed for the desktop to function.
Publisher’s description
What is step-desktop?
step-desktop by Smallstep Labs, LLC is proprietary Windows software in the customisation category. It is written in Shell.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides MSI installers for 64-bit and ARM64 Windows. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches. An MSI package is available for deployment with Group Policy, Intune or Configuration Manager.
Updates and version history
The current version is 0.70.0, released on September 24, 2026. The version history goes back to April 28, 2026: 13 releases, all linked to the official files.
Popularity and file types
The source code on GitHub (smallstep/step-agent) has 2 stars. Similar programs include PowerToys, Scribus and Mattermost.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Native ARM64 build for Windows on Arm
- MSI package for managed deployment
- Documented silent install
- Updated in the last two months
Cons
- Proprietary licence: check the terms and price
In short: step-desktop is a customisation tool for 64-bit and ARM64 PCs. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is step-desktop safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
843FB15829DB34E93BECD0CA9DC59E5965CECFC3B02E0EA931E065A4AE7F3FB8· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 13 versions ›| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.70.0Latest | September 24, 2026 | — | ARM64 MSI64-bit MSI |
| 0.69.3 | September 12, 2026 | — | ARM64 MSI64-bit MSI |
| 0.69.2 | August 31, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSIARM64 MSI |
| 0.69.1 | August 27, 2026 | — | ARM64 MSI64-bit MSI |
| 0.69.0 | August 1, 2026 | — | ARM64 MSI64-bit MSI |
| 0.68.0 | June 25, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSIARM64 MSI |
| 0.67.3 | May 19, 2026 | — | ARM64 MSI64-bit MSI |
| 0.67.2 | May 15, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSIARM64 MSI |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id Smallstep.step-desktop -emsiexec /i step-desktop_amd64.msi /qn /norestartRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- Smallstep Labs, LLC
- Category
- Customisation
- Licence
- Proprietary
- Price
- See the publisher’s site
- Source code
- github.com/smallstep/step-agent
- Written in
- Shell
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit, ARM64
- Installer
- MSI
- Version
- 0.70.0
- Released
- September 24, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- May 1, 2026
- Versions listed
- 13
- GitHub stars
- 2
- GitHub forks
- 1
- Website
- smallstep.com
- winget ID
- Smallstep.step-desktop
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is step-desktop free?
step-desktop is proprietary (closed-source) software (licence: Proprietary). Whether it costs money depends on the edition: check the publisher’s site for prices and free tiers.
Is step-desktop safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install step-desktop with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can step-desktop be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer, including msiexec for the MSI package.
Does step-desktop run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
Yes, there is a native ARM64 installer.
Where can I download an older version of step-desktop?
The versions page lists all 13 versions with links to their official installer files, back to April 28, 2026.
What are alternatives to step-desktop?
PowerToys, Scribus, Mattermost, Rainmeter and Lively Wallpaper. The alternatives page compares them.
