diff --git a/changelog/fragments/1720713910-Fix-issue-with-Windows-install-when-user-has-no-home-directory.yaml b/changelog/fragments/1720713910-Fix-issue-with-Windows-install-when-user-has-no-home-directory.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9f0e6badfac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/fragments/1720713910-Fix-issue-with-Windows-install-when-user-has-no-home-directory.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+# Kind can be one of:
+# - breaking-change: a change to previously-documented behavior
+# - deprecation: functionality that is being removed in a later release
+# - bug-fix: fixes a problem in a previous version
+# - enhancement: extends functionality but does not break or fix existing behavior
+# - feature: new functionality
+# - known-issue: problems that we are aware of in a given version
+# - security: impacts on the security of a product or a user’s deployment.
+# - upgrade: important information for someone upgrading from a prior version
+# - other: does not fit into any of the other categories
+kind: bug-fix
+
+# Change summary; a 80ish characters long description of the change.
+summary: Fix issue with Windows install when user has no home directory
+
+# Long description; in case the summary is not enough to describe the change
+# this field accommodate a description without length limits.
+# NOTE: This field will be rendered only for breaking-change and known-issue kinds at the moment.
+#description:
+
+# Affected component; usually one of "elastic-agent", "fleet-server", "filebeat", "metricbeat", "auditbeat", "all", etc.
+component:
+
+# PR URL; optional; the PR number that added the changeset.
+# If not present is automatically filled by the tooling finding the PR where this changelog fragment has been added.
+# NOTE: the tooling supports backports, so it's able to fill the original PR number instead of the backport PR number.
+# Please provide it if you are adding a fragment for a different PR.
+pr: https://github.com/elastic/elastic-agent/pull/5118
+
+# Issue URL; optional; the GitHub issue related to this changeset (either closes or is part of).
+# If not present is automatically filled by the tooling with the issue linked to the PR number.
+issue: https://github.com/elastic/elastic-agent/issues/5019
diff --git a/internal/pkg/agent/cmd/enroll_unix.go b/internal/pkg/agent/cmd/enroll_unix.go
index 228b0bc624c..26d86e228d0 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/agent/cmd/enroll_unix.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/agent/cmd/enroll_unix.go
@@ -31,7 +31,10 @@ func getFileOwnerFromCmd(cmd *cobra.Command) (utils.FileOwner, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return utils.FileOwner{}, err
 	}
-	ownership := utils.CurrentFileOwner()
+	ownership, err := utils.CurrentFileOwner()
+	if err != nil {
+		return utils.FileOwner{}, err
+	}
 	if uid != -1 {
 		ownership.UID = uid
 	}
diff --git a/internal/pkg/agent/cmd/run.go b/internal/pkg/agent/cmd/run.go
index fe9aa61f37c..e9f2cc4e406 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/agent/cmd/run.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/agent/cmd/run.go
@@ -724,7 +724,11 @@ func ensureInstallMarkerPresent() error {
 	// Otherwise, we're being upgraded from a version of an installed Agent
 	// that didn't use an installation marker file (that is, before v8.8.0).
 	// So create the file now.
-	if err := install.CreateInstallMarker(paths.Top(), utils.CurrentFileOwner()); err != nil {
+	ownership, err := utils.CurrentFileOwner()
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to get current file owner: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := install.CreateInstallMarker(paths.Top(), ownership); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("unable to create installation marker file during upgrade: %w", err)
 	}
 
diff --git a/internal/pkg/agent/install/install_test.go b/internal/pkg/agent/install/install_test.go
index c3a36dfb885..d12cc00ef16 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/agent/install/install_test.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/agent/install/install_test.go
@@ -177,7 +177,9 @@ func TestCopyFiles(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestSetupInstallPath(t *testing.T) {
 	tmpdir := t.TempDir()
-	err := setupInstallPath(tmpdir, utils.CurrentFileOwner())
+	ownership, err := utils.CurrentFileOwner()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	err = setupInstallPath(tmpdir, ownership)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.FileExists(t, filepath.Join(tmpdir, paths.MarkerFileName))
 }
diff --git a/internal/pkg/agent/install/uninstall.go b/internal/pkg/agent/install/uninstall.go
index 703aef69e4e..c3deb43ca33 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/agent/install/uninstall.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/agent/install/uninstall.go
@@ -136,7 +136,10 @@ func EnsureStoppedService(topPath string, pt *progressbar.ProgressBar) (service.
 func checkForUnprivilegedVault(ctx context.Context, opts ...vault.OptionFunc) (bool, error) {
 	// check if we have a file vault to detect if we have to use it for reading config
 	opts = append(opts, vault.WithReadonly(true))
-	vaultOpts := vault.ApplyOptions(opts...)
+	vaultOpts, err := vault.ApplyOptions(opts...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
 	fileVault, fileVaultErr := vault.NewFileVault(ctx, vaultOpts)
 	if fileVaultErr == nil {
 		ok, keyErr := fileVault.Exists(ctx, secret.AgentSecretKey)
diff --git a/internal/pkg/agent/install/uninstall_test.go b/internal/pkg/agent/install/uninstall_test.go
index 50b41fc4898..9f83c2b658e 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/agent/install/uninstall_test.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/agent/install/uninstall_test.go
@@ -106,7 +106,9 @@ func Test_checkForUnprivilegedVault(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func initFileVault(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, testVaultPath string, keys map[string][]byte) {
-	newFileVault, err := vault.NewFileVault(ctx, vault.ApplyOptions(vault.WithVaultPath(testVaultPath)))
+	opts, err := vault.ApplyOptions(vault.WithVaultPath(testVaultPath))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	newFileVault, err := vault.NewFileVault(ctx, opts)
 	require.NoError(t, err, "setting up test file vault store")
 	defer func(newFileVault *vault.FileVault) {
 		err := newFileVault.Close()
diff --git a/internal/pkg/agent/perms/opts.go b/internal/pkg/agent/perms/opts.go
index 1735b084dcf..67c0a696210 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/agent/perms/opts.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/agent/perms/opts.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 package perms
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"os"
 
 	"github.com/elastic/elastic-agent/pkg/utils"
@@ -35,13 +36,17 @@ func WithOwnership(ownership utils.FileOwner) OptFunc {
 	}
 }
 
-func newOpts(optFuncs ...OptFunc) *opts {
+func newOpts(optFuncs ...OptFunc) (*opts, error) {
+	ownership, err := utils.CurrentFileOwner()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get current file owner: %w", err)
+	}
 	o := &opts{
 		mask:      defaultMask,
-		ownership: utils.CurrentFileOwner(),
+		ownership: ownership,
 	}
 	for _, f := range optFuncs {
 		f(o)
 	}
-	return o
+	return o, nil
 }
diff --git a/internal/pkg/agent/perms/unix.go b/internal/pkg/agent/perms/unix.go
index 098c5b3462d..81b02eb7bbc 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/agent/perms/unix.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/agent/perms/unix.go
@@ -16,7 +16,10 @@ import (
 
 // FixPermissions fixes the permissions so only root:root is the owner and no world read-able permissions
 func FixPermissions(topPath string, opts ...OptFunc) error {
-	o := newOpts(opts...)
+	o, err := newOpts(opts...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	return filepath.Walk(topPath, func(name string, info fs.FileInfo, err error) error {
 		if errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
 			return nil
diff --git a/internal/pkg/agent/perms/windows.go b/internal/pkg/agent/perms/windows.go
index 6a2fb208f5e..07124e590f1 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/agent/perms/windows.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/agent/perms/windows.go
@@ -22,7 +22,10 @@ import (
 
 // FixPermissions fixes the permissions so only SYSTEM and Administrators have access to the files in the install path
 func FixPermissions(topPath string, opts ...OptFunc) error {
-	o := newOpts(opts...)
+	o, err := newOpts(opts...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 
 	// SYSTEM and Administrators always get permissions
 	// https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/243330/well-known-security-identifiers-in-windows-operating-systems
diff --git a/internal/pkg/agent/vault/vault.go b/internal/pkg/agent/vault/vault.go
index 22ae9ccc769..83e9ccfdce3 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/agent/vault/vault.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/agent/vault/vault.go
@@ -27,7 +27,10 @@ type Vault interface {
 }
 
 func New(ctx context.Context, opts ...OptionFunc) (Vault, error) {
-	options := ApplyOptions(opts...)
+	options, err := ApplyOptions(opts...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
 
 	if runtime.GOOS == "darwin" && !options.unprivileged {
 		return NewDarwinKeyChainVault(ctx, options)
diff --git a/internal/pkg/agent/vault/vault_file_test.go b/internal/pkg/agent/vault/vault_file_test.go
index 526c58961ea..80f73db76ef 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/agent/vault/vault_file_test.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/agent/vault/vault_file_test.go
@@ -33,7 +33,10 @@ func TestFileVaultRekey(t *testing.T) {
 	defer cn()
 
 	vaultPath := getTestFileVaultPath(t)
-	options := ApplyOptions(WithVaultPath(vaultPath))
+	options, err := ApplyOptions(WithVaultPath(vaultPath))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
 	v, err := NewFileVault(ctx, options)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
@@ -83,7 +86,10 @@ func TestFileVault(t *testing.T) {
 
 	ctx, cn := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 	defer cn()
-	options := ApplyOptions(WithVaultPath(vaultPath))
+	options, err := ApplyOptions(WithVaultPath(vaultPath))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
 	v, err := NewFileVault(ctx, options)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
@@ -209,7 +215,10 @@ func TestFileVaultConcurrent(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func doCrud(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, vaultPath, key string) error {
-	options := ApplyOptions(WithVaultPath(vaultPath))
+	options, err := ApplyOptions(WithVaultPath(vaultPath))
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	v, err := NewFileVault(ctx, options)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("could not create new vault: %w", err)
diff --git a/internal/pkg/agent/vault/vault_options.go b/internal/pkg/agent/vault/vault_options.go
index 81b2a976903..157616e081b 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/agent/vault/vault_options.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/agent/vault/vault_options.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 package vault
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/elastic/elastic-agent/internal/pkg/agent/application/paths"
@@ -70,7 +71,11 @@ func WithUnprivileged(unprivileged bool) OptionFunc {
 }
 
 // ApplyOptions applies options for Windows, Linux and Mac, not all the options may be used
-func ApplyOptions(opts ...OptionFunc) Options {
+func ApplyOptions(opts ...OptionFunc) (Options, error) {
+	ownership, err := utils.CurrentFileOwner()
+	if err != nil {
+		return Options{}, fmt.Errorf("failed to get current file owner: %w", err)
+	}
 	o := Options{
 		CommonVaultOptions: CommonVaultOptions{
 			readonly:     false,
@@ -79,7 +84,7 @@ func ApplyOptions(opts ...OptionFunc) Options {
 		FileVaultOptions: FileVaultOptions{
 			vaultPath:      paths.AgentVaultPath(),
 			lockRetryDelay: defaultFlockRetryDelay,
-			ownership:      utils.CurrentFileOwner(),
+			ownership:      ownership,
 		},
 		KeychainVaultOptions: KeychainVaultOptions{
 			entryName: paths.AgentKeychainName(),
@@ -89,5 +94,5 @@ func ApplyOptions(opts ...OptionFunc) Options {
 	for _, opt := range opts {
 		opt(&o)
 	}
-	return o
+	return o, nil
 }
diff --git a/pkg/utils/perm_unix.go b/pkg/utils/perm_unix.go
index 4adcfc178aa..97d428d18ff 100644
--- a/pkg/utils/perm_unix.go
+++ b/pkg/utils/perm_unix.go
@@ -18,11 +18,11 @@ type FileOwner struct {
 }
 
 // CurrentFileOwner returns the executing UID and GID of the current process.
-func CurrentFileOwner() FileOwner {
+func CurrentFileOwner() (FileOwner, error) {
 	return FileOwner{
 		UID: os.Getuid(),
 		GID: os.Getgid(),
-	}
+	}, nil
 }
 
 // HasStrictExecPerms ensures that the path is executable by the owner, cannot be written by anyone other than the
diff --git a/pkg/utils/perm_windows.go b/pkg/utils/perm_windows.go
index 16d66c09a25..bcdf03df62f 100644
--- a/pkg/utils/perm_windows.go
+++ b/pkg/utils/perm_windows.go
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@
 package utils
 
 import (
-	"os/user"
+	"fmt"
+	"syscall"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -26,20 +27,38 @@ type FileOwner struct {
 }
 
 // CurrentFileOwner returns the executing UID and GID of the current process.
-//
-// Note: Very unlikely for this to panic if this function is unable to get the current
-// user. Not being able to get the current user, is a critical problem and nothing
-// can continue so a panic is appropriate.
-func CurrentFileOwner() FileOwner {
-	u, err := user.Current()
+func CurrentFileOwner() (FileOwner, error) {
+	// os/user.Current() is not used here, because it tries to access the users home
+	// directory. It is possible during installation that the users home directory
+	// is not created yet. See issue https://github.com/elastic/elastic-agent/issues/5019
+	// for more information.
+	t, err := syscall.OpenCurrentProcessToken()
 	if err != nil {
-		// should not fail; if it does then there is a big problem
-		panic(err)
+		return FileOwner{}, fmt.Errorf("failed to open current process token: %w", err)
 	}
-	return FileOwner{
-		UID: u.Uid,
-		GID: u.Gid,
+	defer func() {
+		_ = t.Close()
+	}()
+	u, err := t.GetTokenUser()
+	if err != nil {
+		return FileOwner{}, fmt.Errorf("failed to get token user: %w", err)
 	}
+	pg, err := t.GetTokenPrimaryGroup()
+	if err != nil {
+		return FileOwner{}, fmt.Errorf("failed to get token primary group: %w", err)
+	}
+	uid, err := u.User.Sid.String()
+	if err != nil {
+		return FileOwner{}, fmt.Errorf("failed to convert token user sid to string: %w", err)
+	}
+	gid, err := pg.PrimaryGroup.String()
+	if err != nil {
+		return FileOwner{}, fmt.Errorf("failed to convert token primary group sid to string: %w", err)
+	}
+	return FileOwner{
+		UID: uid,
+		GID: gid,
+	}, nil
 }
 
 // HasStrictExecPerms ensures that the path is executable by the owner and that the owner of the file