Launch UniFi Controller from Different User Profile

draft · network network-profileunifi

Generated by docuprocessor (prompt article/v3) · 2026-04-22 11:10

Source thread

thread_id: spaces/AAAA05BdS6s/threads/iQotKOhmLVU · 17 msgs · first 2024-09-19 · participants: Tech ATech BTech CTech D

Tech A 2024-09-19 15:03

@all Guys, how do I launch Unifi controller if its not under the user I am logged in under?

Tech B 2024-09-19 15:05

I think that Unifi is installed by profile, If I'm not wrong, the folders are at c:\users\username :/ not really sure if you are able to launch it trough another user

Tech A 2024-09-19 15:05

i know that but how do I launch it?

Tech C 2024-09-19 15:06

isnt the unifi controller a (java) jar executable file

Tech B 2024-09-19 15:06

yeah that's right

Tech B 2024-09-19 15:07

the shortcut normally points to a .jar file I think

Tech A 2024-09-19 15:08

i think it was the web page on a specific port

Tech C 2024-09-19 15:09

jar files need to be run via java.exe javaw.exe -jar "C:\path\to\Ubiquiti UniFi\lib\ace.jar" ui something like, can be made into a shortcut

Tech C 2024-09-19 15:10

the controller soft (jar file ) i believe is the engine that runs the web portal, so you still need it running

Tech A 2024-09-19 15:10

not working

Tech D 2024-09-19 15:10

i used to just find the shortcut from the other profile desktop and run it and it would work for me

Tech A 2024-09-19 15:11

looks like there is a problem with java

Tech D 2024-09-19 15:11

then run the java installer on top sometimes that fixes it

Tech C 2024-09-19 15:12

☝️ that could be, Joe had similar issue recently it was missing java runtime env on the computer

Tech B 2024-09-19 15:13

I think that openjdk11 works with unifi

Tech A 2024-09-19 15:13

this worked after installing java

Tech A 2024-09-19 15:14

and this is the page https://localhost:8443/manage

---
title: "Launch UniFi Controller from Different User Profile"
category: network
tags: ["network-profile", "unifi"]
source_thread_id: "spaces/AAAA05BdS6s/threads/iQotKOhmLVU"
source_space: "spaces/AAAA05BdS6s"
generated_at: "2026-04-22T11:10:59"
participants: ["Tech A", "Tech B", "Tech C", "Tech D"]
---

# Launch UniFi Controller from Different User Profile

## Problem
UniFi Controller was installed under a different user profile and could not be launched from the current logged-in user account. The controller is installed per-user profile with folders located at `c:\users\username`, making it inaccessible when logged in as a different user. Attempting to run the controller resulted in Java-related errors.

## Resolution
1. Install Java Runtime Environment if not already present on the system
2. Locate the UniFi Controller installation path (typically `C:\Users\[username]\Ubiquiti UniFi\lib\ace.jar`)
3. Run the controller using the Java executable with this command:
   ```
   javaw.exe -jar "C:\path\to\Ubiquiti UniFi\lib\ace.jar" ui
   ```
4. Access the controller web interface at `https://localhost:8443/manage`

Alternative method: Find the UniFi shortcut from the original user's desktop and run it directly.

Note: The UniFi Controller requires Java (OpenJDK 11 is compatible) to function properly. The controller runs as a Java application that provides the web portal interface.

## References
- Source discussion: `spaces/AAAA05BdS6s/threads/iQotKOhmLVU`

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