--- title: "Installing and Uninstalling CTERA Agent" slug: "installing-ctera-agent-4" tags: ["7.8", "Protect", "Agent", "Share", "Drive", "macOS"] updated: 2026-06-14T07:40:10Z published: 2026-06-14T07:40:10Z canonical: "kb.ctera.com/installing-ctera-agent-4" --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://kb.ctera.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Installing and Uninstalling CTERA Agent **To install CTERA Agent:** 1. Double-click on the CTERA Agent installer. The **CTERA Agent Setup** window is displayed. ![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/30792387-cdcb-4791-aa14-94929bbcd3fe/Images/Documentation/image-QGZUS2MC.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-11T04%3A17%3A34Z&se=2026-11-11T05%3A17%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=jtvmdhWTv3ghxWC9NIkahYF3X5TueIrC9cRlrFnpg9g%3D) 2. Double-click **Install Agent**. The **Installation CTERA Agent** wizard opens displaying the **Welcome** window. 3. Click **Continue**. Read the End User License Agreement and then click **Continue** and then **Agree** to agree to the license agreement and continue with the installation. 4. Click **Install**. A popup is displayed requiring your password before the installation can continue. 5. Enter the password for this machine and then click **Install Software**. CTERA Agent is installed. The **Installation** window tracks the progress. 6. Click **OK** to allow the CTERA Agent to access **Finder**. Once installation is complete, the **Summary** window is displayed. 7. Click **Close**. 8. At the prompt, either click **Keep**, to keep the installer or **Move to Trash** to free up the space used by the installer.The CTERA Agent icon is added to the menu bar. An icon, ![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/30792387-cdcb-4791-aa14-94929bbcd3fe/Images/Documentation/image-V9H9CECB.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-11T04%3A17%3A34Z&se=2026-11-11T05%3A17%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=jtvmdhWTv3ghxWC9NIkahYF3X5TueIrC9cRlrFnpg9g%3D), is displayed in the menu bar. The **Welcome to CTERA Agent** window is displayed. ![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/30792387-cdcb-4791-aa14-94929bbcd3fe/Images/Documentation/image-J68S8RJB.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-11T04%3A17%3A34Z&se=2026-11-11T05%3A17%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=jtvmdhWTv3ghxWC9NIkahYF3X5TueIrC9cRlrFnpg9g%3D) 9. Enter the portal DNS name or IP address. Alternatively, if you want to configure CTERA Agent to connect to the CTERA Portal via a proxy click **Advanced**. 10. Click **Continue**. **Note** If the CTERA Portal does not have a valid certificate installed, a warning is displayed to the end user when logging the agent into the portal, offering the option to proceed anyway. ![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/30792387-cdcb-4791-aa14-94929bbcd3fe/Images/Documentation/image-5XQVYIWM.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-11T04%3A17%3A34Z&se=2026-11-11T05%3A17%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=jtvmdhWTv3ghxWC9NIkahYF3X5TueIrC9cRlrFnpg9g%3D) The CTERA Agent connects to the portal. When SSO is not implemented to access the CTERA Portal, the window to specify the username and password is displayed. ![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/30792387-cdcb-4791-aa14-94929bbcd3fe/Images/Documentation/image-J8OCZCX1.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-11T04%3A17%3A34Z&se=2026-11-11T05%3A17%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=jtvmdhWTv3ghxWC9NIkahYF3X5TueIrC9cRlrFnpg9g%3D) - In the **Username** and **Password** fields, enter your user name and password for accessing the portal, and click **Sign in**. The CTERA Agent signs you in to the portal. The CTERA Agent icon changes to ![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/30792387-cdcb-4791-aa14-94929bbcd3fe/Images/Documentation/image-FQ664VZI.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-11T04%3A17%3A34Z&se=2026-11-11T05%3A17%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=jtvmdhWTv3ghxWC9NIkahYF3X5TueIrC9cRlrFnpg9g%3D). If the CTERA Agent is **not** licensed for backup, and only CTERA Drive Share is available, the **CTERA Agent** window is displayed. ![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/30792387-cdcb-4791-aa14-94929bbcd3fe/Images/Documentation/image-KB2RWTG4.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-11T04%3A17%3A34Z&se=2026-11-11T05%3A17%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=jtvmdhWTv3ghxWC9NIkahYF3X5TueIrC9cRlrFnpg9g%3D) If the CTERA Agent is licensed for backup, the **Your Subscription Includes** window is displayed. ![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/30792387-cdcb-4791-aa14-94929bbcd3fe/Images/Documentation/image-NC2HD9WG.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-11T04%3A17%3A34Z&se=2026-11-11T05%3A17%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=jtvmdhWTv3ghxWC9NIkahYF3X5TueIrC9cRlrFnpg9g%3D) The **Your Subscription Includes** window shows the services you are subscribed to. 1. Click **Continue**. The **Set Up Your Cloud Backup** window is displayed. ![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/30792387-cdcb-4791-aa14-94929bbcd3fe/Images/Documentation/image-XD8OEJ9L.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-11T04%3A17%3A34Z&se=2026-11-11T05%3A17%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=jtvmdhWTv3ghxWC9NIkahYF3X5TueIrC9cRlrFnpg9g%3D) 2. Optionally, in the **Files to Back Up** section click **Add Files and Folders** to add files to be backed up to the cloud. **Note** You can create or change the list of folders and files to backup later. The **Files to Backup** window is displayed. ![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/30792387-cdcb-4791-aa14-94929bbcd3fe/Images/Documentation/image-YTDVFVS4.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-11T04%3A17%3A34Z&se=2026-11-11T05%3A17%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=jtvmdhWTv3ghxWC9NIkahYF3X5TueIrC9cRlrFnpg9g%3D) 1. Select the files you want to backup. - To select specific folders, expand the folder tree in the left pane, then make sure only the folders you want are checked. - To select individual files in a folder, select the folder in the left pane and then select the individual files in the right pane. 2. Click **Save**. 3. Optionally, in the **Schedule** section, click **Change** to override portal settings and configure a schedule for automatic cloud backup. **Note** You can create or change the schedule later. The **Backup Schedule** window is displayed. ![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/30792387-cdcb-4791-aa14-94929bbcd3fe/Images/Documentation/image-NY5VA8RZ.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-11T04%3A17%3A34Z&se=2026-11-11T05%3A17%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=jtvmdhWTv3ghxWC9NIkahYF3X5TueIrC9cRlrFnpg9g%3D) 1. Complete the **Backup Schedule** fields. **Periodically** – Automatic backups are performed every specified number of hours or minutes. **Specific Time** – Automatic backups are performed at a specified time on one or more specified days. - **Start Every** – The interval between backups. **Note** If a given backup extends past the scheduled time for the next automatic backup, the next automatic backup will commence immediately upon completion of the prior backup. - **Start Time** – The time at which a backup starts. - **Stop Time** – Either on completion of the backup or at a specific time, after which the backup is stopped even if it hasn’t completed. - **On Days** – The days backups occur. Click **Every Day** to backup every day. 2. Click **Save**. 4. Optionally, secure the backup folder with your own secret passphrase. In the **Encryption** section click **Change**. By default, CTERA Agent will use an automatically generated encryption key to protect the backup folder. **Note** You can only set the passphrase when setting up the cloud backup for the first time. The **Initialization Required** window is displayed. ![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/30792387-cdcb-4791-aa14-94929bbcd3fe/Images/Documentation/image-CLOWUFIR.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-11T04%3A17%3A34Z&se=2026-11-11T05%3A17%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=jtvmdhWTv3ghxWC9NIkahYF3X5TueIrC9cRlrFnpg9g%3D) If you later sign out and sign your agent into CTERA Portal, you will need to enter this passphrase. 1. Select **Use my own secret passphrase**, enter the desired passphrase in the **Secret Passphrase** and **Retype Passphrase** fields. The passphrase must contain at least one, letter, one digit, and one special character. 2. Click **Save**. 5. Click **All Done!** The **CTERA Agent** window is displayed. ![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/30792387-cdcb-4791-aa14-94929bbcd3fe/Images/Documentation/image-21X52H75.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-11T04%3A17%3A34Z&se=2026-11-11T05%3A17%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=jtvmdhWTv3ghxWC9NIkahYF3X5TueIrC9cRlrFnpg9g%3D) ## Enabling Full Disk Access (FDA) For the CTERA Agent macOS 10.14 (Mojave) introduced restrictions on third-party applications, including the CTERA Agent. The restrictions prevent, by default, full disk access to the CTERA Agent. This means that attempting to sync or back up system folders or sensitive folders such as *Documents*, fails. To work with CTERA Agent, **Full Disk Access** permissions, in the **Privacy & Security** settings under **System Settings**, must be enabled. ## Uninstalling the CTERA Agent **To uninstall CTERA Agent:** 1. Double-click on the CTERA Agent installer. The **Ctera Agent Setup** window is displayed. ![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/30792387-cdcb-4791-aa14-94929bbcd3fe/Images/Documentation/image-QGZUS2MC.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-11T04%3A17%3A34Z&se=2026-11-11T05%3A17%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=jtvmdhWTv3ghxWC9NIkahYF3X5TueIrC9cRlrFnpg9g%3D) 2. Double-click **Uninstall Agent**. The **Uninstall CTERA Agent** wizard starts. **Note** Click **Open** if a message that this application was downloaded from the Internet. 3. If requested, enter your username and password for this machine, then click **OK**. CTERA Agent is uninstalled. 4. Click **Quit**. 5. Manually delete the `/var/.ctera` and `/etc/ctera` folders. **Note** To delete the first folder run `sudo rm -rf /var/.ctera` and enter your password at the prompt. Then run `sudo rm -rf /etc/ctera` ## Re-installing the CTERA Agent Cleanly If the CTERA Agent does not work properly, a *clean re-install* of the agent may be necessary to resolve the issue or troubleshoot further. **Note** A clean uninstall deletes the CTERA Agent configuration settings and locally synced Cloud Drive data if syncing to the default location. This includes file and disk level backup settings. Before uninstalling, make a copy of these settings. **To re-install the CTERA Agent cleanly:** 1. Run the CTERA Agent uninstaller. Double-click on the CTERA Agent installer and double-click **Uninstall Agent**. 2. Manually delete the CTERA Agent application directory `/var/.ctera` and the configuration and Cloud Drive files `/etc/ctera` as described in [Uninstalling the CTERA Agent](/v1/docs/installing-ctera-agent-4#uninstalling-the-ctera-agent). Confirm that **ctera-agent** is not shown under **Applications**. Confirm that **/etc/ctera** does not exist. 3. Run the CTERA Agent installer and reconfigure the agent settings.