This guide walks you through the one-time install and explains what each prompt means, so nothing looks unexpected. You install Merlin Guild with a single command and your license key.

Where to find it

You receive a license key when you purchase Merlin Guild. Have it ready before you start.

Before you start

You will need:

Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit).
Your Merlin Guild license key.
PowerShell, which is built into Windows.
A working internet connection.

Estimated time: 5 minutes.

How it works

Run the install command

Open PowerShell from the Start menu. A standard, non-admin window is fine; the installer asks for elevation only when it actually needs it. Paste this command and press Enter:

iwr https://dl.merlinguild.com/install.ps1 -UseBasicParsing | iex

Enter your license key

The installer prompts you for your license key. Paste it and press Enter. Your license is then used to authorize the download and to unlock features in the app.

Approve the install prompt

Windows shows a User Account Control prompt to run the installer. It has a yellow shield and lists the publisher as Unknown. This is expected and does not mean anything is wrong: the app verifies that what you install is genuine before it runs, regardless of that label. Click Yes.

Finish

A progress bar appears briefly, and the installer reports that Merlin Guild is ready. Launch it from the Start menu.

Updates

There is no background auto-updater, so you stay in control of when you upgrade. To update, run the same install command again. If your license is still valid, the key prompt is skipped, the latest version downloads, and you approve the install prompt once more.

Safety behaviours

You choose when to update: nothing changes on your machine until you re-run the command yourself.
Genuine-build check: the installer confirms the download is authentic before running it, so a tampered file cannot install.
No browser download needed: installing straight from PowerShell avoids the browser reputation warning you might otherwise see.

Common issues

Forbidden or license expired: your key was revoked or its download window has ended. Contact support to renew it.
A protection dialog appeared: this should not happen on the command path above. If it does, you most likely downloaded a file from a browser instead. Close the dialog and re-run the command from PowerShell.
A corporate network blocks the installer: some workplace networks block downloads. Ask IT to allow the install, or use a home network.

Good practices

Re-run the one-line command from PowerShell whenever you want to update; do not download anything from a browser.
Keep your license key in a password manager; you need it for every fresh install.
If you ever uninstall, remember your license key so you can reinstall later.