Install AceMoney Studio on your computer

Studio Desktop is downloaded from the AceMoney website and installed like any other program. This page covers the three platforms, what your computer needs, and how updates arrive.

Before you begin

Studio Desktop is available only from our downloads page. It is not in the Mac App Store or the Microsoft Store, and you should not install it from anywhere else.
The free version and the licensed version are the same download. An AceMoney Studio license is entered later in Settings ▸ Account, under Desktop license; see Free version and license.
No account and no internet connection are needed to install or use Studio.

What your computer needs

macOS 12 or later, on Apple silicon or Intel. One download runs on both.
Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit).
Linux on an x64 (64-bit Intel or AMD) processor with a desktop environment: Ubuntu 22.04 or later, or another distribution released in 2022 or later with comparable system libraries; older releases are not supported.

Install on macOS

macOS

Download the disk image for macOS.
Open the disk image. A window shows the AceMoney Studio icon and a shortcut to Applications.
Drag AceMoney Studio onto Applications.
Eject the disk image, then open AceMoney Studio from Applications or Launchpad.
The first time, macOS says the app was downloaded from the internet and asks whether you are sure you want to open it. Click Open. Studio is signed and notarized, so this is the only prompt; you never need to lower a security setting.

Install on Windows

Windows

Download the installer for Windows.
Run it. It first asks for the language of the setup steps: English, Italiano, Español or Français, with the language of Windows chosen for you when it is one of these.
Follow the steps. Studio installs for your Windows user account only, so no administrator password is needed and other people who use the PC are not affected.
Open AceMoney Studio from the Start menu.

On Windows the File and Tools menus sit inside the Studio window, at the top.

Install on Linux

Linux

Download the Linux archive (x64).
Extract it anywhere, for example in your Downloads folder.
Open a terminal in the extracted folder and run the install script it contains, install.sh.
The script installs Studio for your user only, without root or sudo. It adds AceMoney Studio to your application menu and an acemoney command to your terminal.
Open AceMoney Studio from the menu (log out and back in if it does not appear yet), or run acemoney.

Studio runs natively on Wayland and on X11. To remove it later, run the same script with --uninstall; it removes the program and never your documents.

Open Studio for the first time

Studio opens with its built-in default document and shows the Welcome to AceMoney Studio page, where you import your AceMoney Classic data, load sample data or start fresh. Continue with Get started.

Keep Studio up to date

Studio checks for updates shortly after launch and about once a day. Open Settings and choose the Software Update tab to see the Installed version and Last checked. When a new version has been downloaded, Restart to update appears there; Check for updates now forces a check. The update installs when you quit, and no administrator password is needed on any platform. Details: Software updates.

Move Studio to another computer

Install Studio on the new computer, then carry your document over as described in Backups and restore (Move a document to another computer). If you use an AceMoney Studio license, deactivate it on the old computer first; see Free version and license.

Uninstall

macOS: drag AceMoney Studio from Applications to the Trash.
Windows: open Windows Settings, go to the list of installed apps, choose AceMoney Studio and uninstall it.
Linux: run the install script with --uninstall.

Uninstalling removes the program, not your documents or their backups. The built-in default document lives in the app’s own data folder, which is left in place. To be safe, make a copy of any document you care about first with File ▸ Save a Copy As….

Common questions

Is Studio in the Mac App Store or the Microsoft Store?

No. Studio Desktop is a direct download from our downloads page, and the AceMoney Studio license is sold on our website. Only AceMoney Studio Mobile, coming with version 1.2, will be in the App Store and Google Play; see Install on your phone or tablet.

Can I install Studio on more than one computer?

The free version, yes, on any number. An AceMoney Studio license covers a set number of computers, called seats; see Free version and license.

Does it need administrator rights?

No. On every platform Studio installs and updates for your own user account.

Does it run on Apple silicon?

Yes. The macOS download is a single app that runs natively on Apple silicon and on Intel Macs.

Is there a Linux package for my distribution?

No. The archive with its install script is the only Linux format, and it is what lets Studio update itself without root. There is no .deb, .rpm, Flatpak or Snap.

Do I need an internet connection?

Not to install or use Studio. It goes online for investment quotes, a bank-feed refresh, AceMoney Cloud sync if you subscribe, the update check, and, once you activate a license, a short check-in described in Privacy and security. It also downloads exchange rates by itself while Update exchange rates automatically is on (the default, in Settings ▸ Currency & Quotes): when a document opens, every hour while it is open and when a new currency is used. Only currency codes are sent.

Can I try Studio before buying?

The free version is the trial. It has no time limit. It keeps three accounts you can edit, one goal and one portfolio, and Investments need the license; everything else works.

Where are my documents stored?

Where you choose. See Documents and files.

Troubleshooting

macOS says the app is damaged or cannot be opened. The download is incomplete or did not come from the website. Delete it, download again from our downloads page and reinstall. If macOS says it cannot check the app for malicious software, the copy did not come from the website either.
macOS runs Studio from the disk image. Eject the disk image and open Studio from Applications only.
Windows shows a warning about an unrecognized app. Make sure the installer came from our downloads page before continuing.
The Windows installer says Studio is running. Quit Studio first. Installing and updating need the app closed.
Linux: Studio is not in the application menu after installing. Log out and back in, or run acemoney from a terminal.
Linux: the install script says permission denied. Run it with sh install.sh, or make it executable first.
Linux: an error mentions a missing or too-old system library. The distribution is older than Studio supports. Studio needs Ubuntu 22.04 or later, or another distribution released in 2022 or later with comparable system libraries.
An update will not install, or the Software Update tab says “Updates are currently unavailable.” See Software updates.