Windows
Setup a new host on Windows
The hostd
desktop app provides a user-friendly web UI to start providing storage on the Sia network. By the end of this guide, you will have:
Installed the
hostd
desktop application.Created a
hostd
wallet
Pre-requisites
To run hostd
on Windows, your system should meet the following specifications:
Network Access:
hostd
requires a stable internet connection and open network access to store and retrieve data on the Sia network.System Requirements: Quad-core processor, 8GB RAM, and a minimum of 256GB SSD for consensus data, 4TB HDD for stored data.
Your machine must meet the minimum requirements to run a Sia storage provider node. Failure to meet these requirements may cause contract issues or penalties. A stable, technically sound setup is required.
Download
Go to Sia Software Downloads. Here you can find the latest software downloads for all our daemons.

From the dropdown menu, select Windows AMD64.

Before proceeding with downloading, please read our Terms of Service. Once you have reviewed and are satisfied, check the box to agree.
Click Download to get the latest
hostd
version for your operating system.
Run
After downloading the hostd
desktop application:
Install the app: Double-click the installer (e.g.,
hostd.<version>.Setup.exe
) and follow the prompts. The app installs to the default location.Launch the app: After installation, you can delete the installer, and launch
hostd
from the Start Menu like any other program.Initial setup (first-time users only): On first launch, the Welcome to
hostd
window will guide you to do the following:
Name your storage provider.
Generate a recovery phrase (which you can copy and lock).
Set a password to access web UI.

Access the Web UI (first-time users only): Click save and start daemon. It will open automatically, or if not, you can access it at http://localhost:9980 while
hostd
runs in the background.
When you first run hostd
, Windows Security may ask to allow public and private network access. This is normal - select Allow so hostd
can communicate properly through the firewall.

Success! hostd
is now running on your Windows system, and you’re ready to start providing storage on the Sia network.
Configure
You can customize hostd
through the desktop app, which provides full control over all available settings.
On Windows, you can access the hostd
configurations by going to the taskbar, expanding the up arrow to see hidden icons, and double-clicking the hostd
app. This will open the configuration window and let you customize its behavior.

There are several configurable settings in hostd
. Below is a breakdown of what each setting does:
Recovery Phrase
Your wallet recovery seed
Password
Set or update your wallet password
Automatically open the Web UI on startup
Enable this to launch the interface when hostd
starts
Data Directory
Where hostd
stores its data and config files
Log Level
Amount of detail in logs
HTTP Address
Local address for the Web UI
Syncer Address
Peer address hostd
uses to sync the blockchain and find other peers
RHP4 port
Listening port for incoming storage traffic
Always save and restart daemon after making configuration changes to ensure they are applied.
You can monitor your node’s activity and track changes by checking the logs. These provide detailed information about the system, network connections, API endpoints, S3 interface, and autopilot operations, helping you understand what your node is doing at any given time.

Update
hostd
updates regularly with bug fixes, performance improvements, and new features. Updating your node ensures stability and compatibility with the Sia network.
On Windows, the app downloads updates automatically and notifies you when they’re ready. Simply restart the app to run the latest version.
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