You can download a portable version of QGis 3.32.0 from this link
The compressed file is 1.4 GB. Once decompressed, it will occupy 2.6 GB on disk.
What is a portable application?
A portable application (or portable software) is a computer program characterized by its portability, i.e. its ability to run in different execution environments. It requires no prior installation, does not depend on external components, and does not entail any lasting modification of the system through its operation.
These applications are useful for working on a computer whose security policy does not allow installations, or for avoiding lasting modifications to a computer used temporarily. The application can then be used from a removable storage device such as a USB key.
Instructions for use
- Download the .zip file.
- Uncompress it on the desired medium: USB key, external disk, PC directory. The only condition is that you have write and read rights to the directory created: /QGIS 3.32.0
- To run QGis, double-click on the file \QGIS 3.32.0\launch_qgis_portable.bat
That’s all there is to it!

Plugin installation
The downloaded version works in the same way as the installer version: the plug-ins are installed in a directory of the key: /QGIS 3.32.0/QGIS_PROFILE
If you want to take QGis customizations with you, you will need to copy the C:\Users\user_name\AppData\Roaming\QGIS\QGIS3\profiles directory into this key directory: \QGIS 3.32.0\QGIS_PROFILE\profiles
is there portable version for new releases?
how can we find them
I’m receiving an error message that qgis_app.dll is missing.
do you mind dharing this DLL file, please
The file is present in the download
…\QGIS 3.32.0\QGIS 3.32.0\apps\qgis\bin
The error message probably comes from a previous installation of QGis on this machine.
Do not attempt to use a portable version of QGis on a machine that already has, or has had, regular QGis installed.
I have never had QGIS installed in my machine (it’s a brand new laptop) and I get the same error, unfortunately.
Hello
The problem with the portable version is that it’s very dependent on the particular configuration of the machine.
The only solution I can think of, having been unable to reproduce this problem, is to add the path to the directory of the dlls displayed in error in the path of the system variables.
For me, the error message complaining that qgis_app.dll is missing started appearing following the most recent QGIS update.
What is the link between the qgis update and the portable version? A portable version cannot be updated; it must be replaced.