Any news on this topic?
Please make a portable version of Obsidian a reality.
+1 for a portable version.
I’ve been using Obsidian for around 4 years now, also at work. Back then I could still install it. Now I need administator rights to install it.
Since I do not use windows privately, I also cannot install it there and move the folder as suggested before.
Right now I’m stuck and the IT admins at my work suggested to use OneNote 
. With a couple of thousand notes in my vault, you might understand my frustration.
Update to my earlier post (couldn’t edit it anymore for some reason).
I used the option suggested by @DistractionRectangle and it worked.
Here some more details for anybody having the same issue like me.
Status-Quo:
Obsidian is already installed and cannot be updated due to missing admin privileges.
Solution:
Unzip the .exe file as described above. I just copied the User to a different folder in C:\opt.…
This way I was able to use the old Obsidian version alongside the new one without risking the installation altogether. Since the plugins and all other settings are in the Vault Folder, it worked like a charm.
What’s left to try out now, is whether I can replace the old files completely. Haven’t tried it yet, because I’m a scary cat 
I’m still +1 for a real portable version though. Would make things much easier
I have created a portable version of Obsidian for Windows, see this topic:
I switched jobs after a long run and am now subject to the dreaded “no third-party apps” rule that nearly ended my years-long run with Obsidian.
I can confirm the method shown by @AlanG above still works to this day, on the current public release (1.9.14), and saved me from migrating to a web app.
Super grateful to you for taking the time to find and share this!
Per @WhiteNoise, I’ve now posted my updated batch script which installs, launches, & updates here Portable Install & Update via batch file.