Install Grafana 12 on Windows

Grafana is the go-to open-source platform for turning time-series data into sleek, interactive dashboards. If you’re running Windows, getting Grafana 12 set up is quick—let’s walk through it.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows PC (admin rights recommended)
• Internet access
• A modern browser

Step 1: Download Grafana 12

Grab the latest installer from the official site:
➡️ Latest Grafana Installer

Choose Windows as your platform and pick the Grafana 12.x version.

Step 2: Install Grafana

Option A: MSI Installer

1. Download the .msi file from the link above.
2. Run the installer and follow the prompts.

Option B: Standalone ZIP

1. Download the ZIP package.
2. Right-click → Properties → Unblock, then extract it.
3. Go to the bin folder and run grafana-server.exe.

Step 3: Run Grafana as a Service (Optional)

If you want Grafana to run in the background automatically:

• Use a tool like NSSM (Non-Sucking Service Manager) to register it as a Windows service.

Step 4: Access Grafana

Open your browser and go to:

http://localhost:3000/

• Default username: admin
• Default password: admin (change it immediately after login)

Step 5: Change the Port (Optional)

1. Go to your Grafana installation folder → conf.
2. Copy sample.ini to custom.ini.
3. Open custom.ini and edit http_port to a different value (e.g., 8080).

Step 6: Install Supporting Tools (Optional)

If you want to monitor Windows system metrics with Grafana, you’ll need Prometheus and the Windows Exporter:

• Download Prometheus
• Prometheus Windows Exporter

After installing them, configure Prometheus to scrape metrics from Windows Exporter, then add Prometheus as a data source in Grafana.

✅ You’re Done!
Grafana 12 is now running on Windows, ready to visualize anything from server stats to custom app metrics. Pair it with Prometheus + Windows Exporter for a full local monitoring setup.

Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!