ERROR

sFatal Error Cannot create temporary folder: the program will exit

Last Published: October 22, 2021

Error Message

In some instances, when attempting to install ArcMap, the installation fails and returns the following error message:

Error:
sFatal Error 
Cannot create temporary folder: the program will exit.
The error sFatal Error Cannot create temporary folder: the program will exit is returend when installing ArcMap

Cause

  • The user does not have the administrator permission to do the software installation on the machine.
  • The installation file is corrupted.

Solution or Workaround

Follow the workarounds below to resolve the issue.

Note: 
The following workaround may require the assistance and permission of a system administrator. Consult a qualified computer systems professional if necessary.

Run the installation file as an administrator, and delete the content of the TEMP directory folder

To resolve the issue, run the downloaded installation executable (.exe) file as an administrator by right-clicking the file, and select The Run as administrator icon Run as administrator. Navigate to the TEMP directory as below, and delete the files and folder in the directory.

C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Temp

Reinstall ArcGIS Desktop

If the issue persists, delete the installation file, reboot the machine, and download the required software installation file from the My Esri site to redo the installation. Refer to How To: Download and install Esri software from My Esri for more information.

Article ID: 000026395

Software:
  • ArcMap 10 6
  • ArcMap 10 7
  • ArcMap 10 8

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