TigerVNC is an open source Virtual Network Computing (VNC) server and client software, started as a fork of TightVNC in 2009. The client supports Windows, Linux and macOS. The server supports Linux. There is no server for macOS and as of release 1.11.0 the Windows server is no longer maintained.
Red Hat, Cendio AB, and TurboVNC maintainers started this fork because RealVNC had focused on their enterprise non-open VNC and no TightVNC update had appeared since 2006. The past few years however, Cendio AB who use it for their product ThinLinc is the main contributor to the project. TigerVNC is fully open-source, with development and discussion done via publicly accessible mailing lists and repositories.
TigerVNC has a different feature set than TightVNC, despite its origins. For example, TigerVNC adds encryption for all supported operating systems and not just Linux. Conversely, TightVNC has features that TigerVNC doesn't have, such as file transfers.
What is TigerVNC?
TigerVNC by TigerVNC project is open-source Windows software in the remote desktop category. It ranks 3rd by popularity among remote desktop in this catalogue. It is written in C, C++, and Java. Besides Windows, it is available for Linux.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides EXE (Inno Setup) installers for 64-bit and 32-bit Windows. The main installer is 4.6 MB. Installation asks for administrator rights. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches.
Updates and version history
The current version is 1.16.2, released on March 26, 2026. The version history goes back to November 10, 2021: 8 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 1.8 releases a year.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 74,618 times. The source code on GitHub (TigerVNC/tigervnc) has 7,628 stars. Wikipedia has an article about it in 5 of our languages. Similar programs include TeamViewer, TightVNC and UltraVNC.
Project description on GitHub: “High performance, multi-platform VNC client and server”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Documented silent install
- Small download (4.6 MB)
- Also runs on Linux
- Large user base
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
- Installation needs administrator rights
In short: TigerVNC is an open-source remote desktop tool for 64-bit and 32-bit PCs. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is TigerVNC safe to download?
- The file is served by sourceforge.net; check that it is the publisher’s official mirror
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
96A0117C8D0D55EA2E2C20E3D9D9A798011DA8C5A813A35CD0B9E006D58BB7F4· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 8 versions ›8 versions over 4 years · about 1.8 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.16.2Latest | March 26, 2026 | 4.6 MB | 32-bit EXE (Inno Setup)64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 1.16.1 | March 25, 2026 | 4.6 MB | 32-bit EXE (Inno Setup)64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 1.16.0 | January 27, 2026 | 4.6 MB | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 1.15.0 | February 16, 2025 | 4.5 MB | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 1.14.1 | October 24, 2024 | 4.5 MB | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 1.14.0 | July 24, 2024 | 4.5 MB | 32-bit EXE (Inno Setup)64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 1.13.1 | March 4, 2023 | 7.1 MB | 32-bit EXE (Inno Setup)64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 1.12.0 | November 10, 2021 | 4.6 MB | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id TigerVNC.TigerVNC -echoco install tigervnc -ydownload /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART /SP-Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Also for other systems
brew install --cask tigervncbrew install tiger-vncflatpak install flathub org.tigervnc.vncviewerInformation
- Publisher
- TigerVNC project
- Category
- Remote desktop
- Licence
- GPL-2.0
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/TigerVNC/tigervnc
- Written in
- C, C++, and Java
- Content rating
- All ages
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit, 32-bit
- Installer
- EXE (Inno Setup)
- Other platforms
- Linux
- Version
- 1.16.2
- Released
- March 26, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- November 1, 2024
- Versions listed
- 8
- Updates / year
- 1.8
- Chocolatey downloads
- 74,618
- GitHub stars
- 7,628
- GitHub forks
- 1,218
- Website
- tigervnc.org
- winget ID
- TigerVNC.TigerVNC
- Chocolatey package
- tigervnc
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is TigerVNC free?
Yes. TigerVNC is open-source software under the GPL-2.0 licence.
Is TigerVNC safe to download?
The download comes from sourceforge.net; 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 TigerVNC 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 TigerVNC be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does TigerVNC run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit and 32-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of TigerVNC?
The versions page lists all 8 versions with links to their official installer files, back to November 10, 2021.
What are alternatives to TigerVNC?
TeamViewer, TightVNC, UltraVNC, NETworkManager and Terminals. The alternatives page compares them.
