How can I get MATLAB installation files for use on an offline machine?

I need to install MATLAB on an offline machine and I understand that the installer downloaded from the MathWorks website does not contain the necessary files. How can I get these files?

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

There are multiple ways to obtain the installation files for MATLAB, and other MathWorks products, depending on the release and requirements:

• Download Only (R2017b and newer)
• ISO Image (R2008b and newer)
• Downloads Page (R2008a and older)
• MATLAB Package Manager Download

Notes

• Offline installation files are unavailable on Home or Student licenses from R2017b-R2019b.
• You must either be an End User or License Administrator in order to get the necessary files.

Download Only (R2017b and newer)

As of R2020a, License End Users also can download installation files through the installer. For R2017b to R2019b, only License Administrators can download a complete set of installation files using the MathWorks installer. If you're using R2017b-R2019b, you won't have this option on Student nor Home licenses.

First, download MathWorks Product Installer. When selecting a platform, choose the platform of the computer you are performing the download on, not the platform of the target machine.

Next, once the installer is downloaded:

1. Select "Log in with a MathWorks account"
2. Enter your MathWorks account credentials
3. Agree to the Software License Agreement
4. For R2020a and newer: Click on Advanced Options and select "I want to download without installing"
5. For R2017b to R2019b: Choose "Download Only" when you reach the screen reading "Choose to install or download products". This option will only appear if you are a License Administrator on a license that is not a Student nor Home license.
6. Specify the Download Folder and Platform. You can download for multiple platforms if desired.
7. Specify Products to Download. (You can use the checkbox at the top to check or uncheck all boxes)
8. Confirm the products and platforms to download.
9. Complete the Download. Depending on your products and connection speed, this can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.

Note: For trial licenses, the ISO is only available for trial licenses generated by the MathWorks Sales Department.

ISO Image (R2008b and newer)

License End Users and Administrators can download the ISO image for releases R2008b to R2017a while only license Administrators can download the ISO image for releases R2017b and newer, which contains all of the installation files that are on the DVD.

MATLAB Updates were introduced in R2018b, for releases R2018b and newer License Administrators have the option to download an ISO image for each update level.

For more information about downloading .iso files, please see the following support article:

How do I download a MATLAB ISO archive?

Once done, you may refer to the link below for instructions on how to install using the ISO:

How do I install MathWorks products using an ISO image?

Downloads Page (R2008a and older)

For R2008a and older, the only method to install is by downloading the installation files via the Downloads page. The files are accessible by both the License Administrators and the Licensed End Users. 

For instructions on downloading R2008a and older, please refer to the following link:

How do I download MATLAB and other MathWorks products for R2008a and earlier releases?

MATLAB Package Manager Download

For R2017b and later, you can also use the MATLAB Package Manager to download the installation files. The MATLAB Package Manager enables automated MATLAB and Simulink installation via the command line.  

For instructions on how to get the MATLAB Package Manager and download the installation files, please refer to the following link:

Can I use MATLAB Package Manager (MPM) to install MATLAB on an offline machine? 

[Walter Roberson]

You would run the online installer in download only mode, having it write to the directory you intend to share from. You do not need to extract any further than that: the installer expects to deal with zip archives of the toolboxes.

[Walter Roberson]

Adel Sakkir :

The installation process had two setup.exe involved. The first one is present to download files. The second one does the installation once files have been downloaded, and has to be run from the directory the files are stored in. If you accidentally ran the second one thinking it was the one to download files, then you would run into the problems you describe.

[Rik]

You could try extracting the files yourself. The target folder will contain a zip file (and the files it did manage to unzip).