Copy UniFi Shortcut Between User Profiles to Access Controller

draft · network unifishortcutcopy

Generated by docuprocessor (prompt article/v3) · 2026-04-22 15:56

Source thread

thread_id: spaces/AAAA05BdS6s/threads/v6SQyazmOWY · 4 msgs · first 2025-02-14 · participants: Tech ATech B

Tech A 2025-02-14 15:44

@all I have 2 unifi folder under 2 different users but not under the one that I need. I cannot open it via localhost:8443 what are my options? This is for PDS Bronx Pedo

Tech A 2025-02-14 15:45

(no text)

image/png image.png

Two Windows File Explorer windows are open side by side, both navigating to the **C:\Users** directory — one pointing to **Administrator.HQRCMS** and the other to **Administrator**. In both windows, the **"Ubiquiti UniFi"** folder is highlighted/selected, with the version in the **Administrator** profile showing a **Date Modified of 11/24/2023 11:49**, while the **Administrator.HQRCMS** profile's folder shows no visible timestamp. The comparison appears to be documenting the presence of the Ubiquiti UniFi folder across two distinct user profiles on the same machine.

Tech B 2025-02-14 15:46

Not sure if this could work for you, but just now, I had the same where the unifi folder existed in an user I could not login. so i went to that user's desktop and noticed the uniif.exe shortcut was there, so I copied that same shortcut to the desktop where I actually needed it, ran it, and it did start the server and I was able to login just fine after

Tech A 2025-02-14 15:47

thanks, I keep forgetting abou this

---
title: "Copy UniFi Shortcut Between User Profiles to Access Controller"
category: network
tags: ["unifi", "shortcut", "copy"]
source_thread_id: "spaces/AAAA05BdS6s/threads/v6SQyazmOWY"
source_space: "spaces/AAAA05BdS6s"
generated_at: "2026-04-22T15:56:15"
participants: ["Tech A", "Tech B"]
---

# Copy UniFi Shortcut Between User Profiles to Access Controller

## Problem
UniFi controller folders exist under multiple user profiles on a Windows machine, but not under the currently logged-in user profile. The controller cannot be accessed via localhost:8443 from the current user session, preventing normal management access to the UniFi network infrastructure.

## Resolution
1. Navigate to the desktop of a user profile that has the UniFi installation
2. Locate the `unifi.exe` shortcut on that user's desktop
3. Copy the shortcut to the desktop of the user profile where access is needed
4. Run the copied shortcut from the target user's desktop
5. The UniFi server will start and localhost:8443 access will become available

This method allows the UniFi controller to run under the correct user context without requiring a full reinstallation or complex permission changes.

## References
- Source discussion: `spaces/AAAA05BdS6s/threads/v6SQyazmOWY`
- Attachments: - ![image.png](../attachments/v6SQyazmOWY.MWWtz4f_Akw/image.png) — Two Windows File Explorer windows are open side by side, both navigating to the **C:\Users** directory — one pointing to **Administrator.HQRCMS** and the other to **Administrator**. In both windows, the **"Ubiquiti UniFi"** folder is highlighted/selected, with the version in the **Administrator** profile showing a **Date Modified of 11/24/2023 11:49**, while the **Administrator.HQRCMS** profile's folder shows no visible timestamp. The comparison appears to be documenting the presence of the Ubiquiti UniFi folder across two distinct user profiles on the same machine.

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