Resetting Finale's preferences (using a tool crashes Finale, etc.)

As you work with Finale, you may find that a tool consistently causes the program to crash (for example when attempting to enter Expressions), a dialog box for Expressions, Articulations, Smart Shapes, etc. is oddly shaped or not appearing. 

If you find that you are running into some sort of tool or display malfunction as described above, a great first step is to reset Finale's preferences. To be clear, this will reset all of the Preferences set in Finale's global preferences found at Edit > Preferences (Windows) or Finale > Preferences (Mac).

Warning: Please save all of your work and close Finale before following these steps.

Finale (v25, v26, and v27)

Windows

These steps will remove the old preference files from their default location, causing Finale to recreate those files in their default state and thus reset its preferences. If resetting preferences does not resolve the issue, these preference files can be put back in their original location. If resetting preferences does resolve the issue, these old files can be deleted.

1. Close any open programs (including Finale). This web browser is an exception and may remain open.
2. Right-click on your desktop and choose New > Folder.
3. Name this folder "Old Preferences" (without quotes).
4. Hold down the Windows key on your computer keyboard and press the letter R at the same time to open the Run dialog box.
5. Type in the following directory...

%appdata%\MakeMusic

6. Click OK.
7. Open the folder called "Finale" or "Finale 26", depending on your version.
8. Click and drag the following two files from this folder to the "Old Preferences" folder on your desktop:

FINALE.ini

FINMIDI.ini

Note: The ".ini" extension may or may not appear depending on your system configuration.

9. Restart your computer and launch Finale.
10. You will see two prompts, one about anonymous feedback and one about MIDI Setup (these dialog windows do not appear with v26). Choose the options that work for you and test the issue (most of the time MIDI Setup is good to go by default and can be changed later if needed).

If resetting preferences fixed the issue, you can move the Old Preferences folder that contains the broken preference files to your Recycle Bin (or right-click it and choose Delete). Finale will then be back on the right track and you can continue working after you choose your desired preferences again (Edit > Preferences).

If resetting Finale's preferences did not fix the issue, you can save some time and move your preference files back into their original location. You can follow the steps below to do so...

1. Close any open programs (including Finale). This web browser is an exception and may remain open.
2. Hold down the Windows key on your computer keyboard and press the letter R at the same time to open the Run dialog box.
3. Type in the following directory...

%appdata%\MakeMusic

6. Click OK.
7. Open the folder called "Finale".
8. Delete the following two files...

FINALE.ini

FINMIDI.ini

9. Leave this folder window open, and open the Old Preferences folder on your desktop.
10. Drag the "FINMIDI.ini" and the "FINALE.ini" files from the Old Preferences folder to the Finale folder.
11. Restart your computer and relaunch Finale.

If the issue persists, please contact Customer Success.

Mac

These steps will remove the old preference files from their default location, causing Finale to recreate those files in their default state and thus reset its preferences. If resetting preferences does not resolve the issue, these preference files can be put back in their original location. If resetting preferences does resolve the issue, these old files can be deleted.

1. Close any open programs (including Finale). This web browser is an exception and may remain open.
2. Click the Finder icon on your applications dock; choose File > New Folder from the Finder program toolbar.
3. Name this folder "Old Preferences" (without quotes).
4. Choose Go > Go To Folder from the Finder program toolbar.
5. In the Go to Folder dialog box that appears type following directory...

~/Library/Preferences

Note: Please be sure to include the tilde (~) symbol at the beginning of the directory otherwise you will reach the wrong location.

6. Press RETURN.
7. Click and drag the file called "com.makemusic.Finale.fprf" or "com.makemusic.Finale26.frpf" from this folder to the Old Preferences folder on your desktop.

8. Restart your computer and launch Finale.
9. You will see two prompts, one about anonymous feedback and one about MIDI Setup. Choose the options that work for you and test the issue (most of the time MIDI Setup is good to go by default and can be changed later if needed).

If resetting preferences fixed the issue, you can move the Old Preferences folder that contains the broken preference files to Trash. Finale will then be back on the right track and you can continue working after you choose your desired preferences again (Finale > Preferences).

If resetting Finale's preferences did not fix the issue, you can save some time and move your preference files back into their original location. You can follow the steps below to do so...

1. Choose Go > Go To Folder from the Finder program toolbar.
2. In the Go to Folder dialog box that appears type following directory...

~/Library/Preferences

Note: Please be sure to include the tilde (~) symbol at the beginning of the directory otherwise you will reach the wrong location.

6. Press RETURN.
7. Move the "com.makemusic.Finale.fprf" file in this Preferences folder to the Trash. Leave this window open.
8. Click and drag the file called "com.makemusic.Finale.fprf" from the Old Preferences folder back to the Preferences folder.
9. Restart your computer and launch Finale.

If the issue persists, please contact Customer Success.

Finale 2014.5

Windows

These steps will remove the old preference files from their default location, causing Finale to recreate those files in their default state and thus reset its preferences. If resetting preferences does not resolve the issue, these preference files can be put back in their original location. If resetting preferences does resolve the issue, these old files can be deleted.

1. Close any open programs (including Finale 2014.5). This web browser is an exception and may remain open.
2. Right-click on your desktop and choose New > Folder.
3. Name this folder "Old Preferences" (without quotes).
4. Hold down the Windows key on your computer keyboard and press the letter R at the same time to open the Run dialog box.
5. Type in the following directory...

%appdata%\MakeMusic

6. Click OK.
7. Open the folder called "Finale 2014.5".
8. Click and drag the following two files from this folder to the "Old Preferences" folder on your desktop:

FINALE.ini

FINMIDI.ini

Note: The ".ini" extension may or may not appear depending on your system configuration.

9. Restart your computer and launch Finale.
10. You will see two prompts, one about anonymous feedback and one about MIDI Setup. Choose the options that work for you and test the issue (most of the time MIDI Setup is good to go by default and can be changed later if needed).

If resetting preferences fixed the issue, you can move the Old Preferences folder that contains the broken preference files to your Recycle Bin (or right-click it and choose Delete). Finale will then be back on the right track and you can continue working after you choose your desired preferences again (Edit > Preferences).

If resetting Finale's preferences did not fix the issue, you can save some time and move your preference files back into their original location. You can follow the steps below to do so...

1. Close any open programs (including Finale). This web browser is an exception and may remain open.
2. Hold down the Windows key on your computer keyboard and press the letter R at the same time to open the Run dialog box.
3. Type in the following directory...

%appdata%\MakeMusic

6. Click OK.
7. Open the folder called "Finale 2014.5".
8. Delete the following two files...

FINALE.ini

FINMIDI.ini

9. Leave this folder window open, and open the Old Preferences folder on your desktop.
10. Drag the "FINMIDI.ini" and the "FINALE.ini" files from the Old Preferences folder to the Finale 2014.5 folder.
11. Restart your computer and relaunch Finale.

If the issue persists, please contact Customer Success.

Mac

These steps will remove the old preference files from their default location, causing Finale to recreate those files in their default state and thus reset its preferences. If resetting preferences does not resolve the issue, these preference files can be put back in their original location. If resetting preferences does resolve the issue, these old files can be deleted.

1. Close any open programs (including Finale 2014.5). This web browser is an exception and may remain open.
2. Click the Finder icon on your applications dock; choose File > New Folder from the Finder program toolbar.
3. Name this folder "Old Preferences" (without quotes).
4. Choose Go > Go To Folder from the Finder program toolbar.
5. In the Go to Folder dialog box that appears type following directory...

~/Library/Preferences

Note: Please be sure to include the tilde (~) symbol at the beginning of the directory otherwise you will reach the wrong location.

6. Press RETURN.
7. Click and drag the file called "Finale 2014.5 Preferences" from this folder to the Old Preferences folder on your desktop.

8. Restart your computer and launch Finale.
9. You will see two prompts, one about anonymous feedback and one about MIDI Setup. Choose the options that work for you and test the issue (most of the time MIDI Setup is good to go by default and can be changed later if needed).

If resetting preferences fixed the issue, you can move the Old Preferences folder that contains the broken preference files to the Trash. Finale will then be back on the right track and you can continue working after you choose your desired preferences again (Finale 2014.5 > Preferences).

If resetting Finale's preferences did not fix the issue, you can save some time and move your preference files back into their original location. You can follow the steps below to do so...

1. Choose Go > Go To Folder from the Finder program toolbar.
2. In the Go to Folder dialog box that appears type following directory...

~/Library/Preferences

Note: Please be sure to include the tilde (~) symbol at the beginning of the directory otherwise you will reach the wrong location.

6. Press RETURN.
7. Move the "Finale 2014.5 Preferences" file in this Preferences folder to the Trash. Leave this window open.
8. Click and drag the file called "Finale 2014.5 Preferences" from the Old Preferences folder back to the Preferences folder.
9. Restart your computer and launch Finale.

If the issue persists, please contact Customer Success.

Finale 2014

Windows

These steps will remove the old preference files from their default location, causing Finale to recreate those files in their default state and thus reset its preferences. If resetting preferences does not resolve the issue, these preference files can be put back in their original location. If resetting preferences does resolve the issue, these old files can be deleted.

1. Close any open programs (including Finale 2014). This web browser is an exception and may remain open.
2. Right-click on your desktop and choose New > Folder.
3. Name this folder "Old Preferences" (without quotes).
4. Hold down the Windows key on your computer keyboard and press the letter R at the same time to open the Run dialog box.
5. Type in the following directory...

%appdata%\MakeMusic

6. Click OK.
7. Open the folder called "Finale 2014".
8. Click and drag the following two files from this folder to the "Old Preferences" folder on your desktop:

FINALE.ini

FINMIDI.ini

Note: The ".ini" extension may or may not appear depending on your system configuration.

9. Restart your computer and launch Finale.
10. You will see two prompts, one about anonymous feedback and one about MIDI Setup. Choose the options that work for you and test the issue(most of the time MIDI Setup is good to go by default and can be changed later if needed).

If resetting preferences fixed the issue, you can move the Old Preferences folder that contains the broken preference files to your Recycle Bin (or right-click it and choose Delete). Finale will then be back on the right track and you can continue working after you choose your desired preferences again (Edit > Preferences).

If resetting Finale's preferences did not fix the issue, you can save some time and move your preference files back into their original location. You can follow the steps below to do so...

1. Close any open programs (including Finale). This web browser is an exception and may remain open.
2. Hold down the Windows key on your computer keyboard and press the letter R at the same time to open the Run dialog box.
3. Type in the following directory...

%appdata%\MakeMusic

6. Click OK.
7. Open the folder called "Finale 2014".
8. Delete the following two files...

FINALE.ini

FINMIDI.ini

9. Leave this folder window open, and open the Old Preferences folder on your desktop.
10. Drag the "FINMIDI.ini" and the "FINALE.ini" files from the Old Preferences folder to the Finale 2014 folder.
11. Restart your computer and relaunch Finale.

If the issue persists, please contact Customer Success.

Mac

These steps will remove the old preference files from their default location, causing Finale to recreate those files in their default state and thus reset its preferences. If resetting preferences does not resolve the issue, these preference files can be put back in their original location. If resetting preferences does resolve the issue, these old files can be deleted.

1. Close any open programs (including Finale 2014). This web browser is an exception and may remain open.
2. Click the Finder icon on your applications dock; choose File > New Folder from the Finder program toolbar.
3. Name this folder "Old Preferences" (without quotes).
4. Choose Go > Go To Folder from the Finder program toolbar.
5. In the Go to Folder dialog box that appears type following directory...

~/Library/Preferences

Note: Please be sure to include the tilde (~) symbol at the beginning of the directory otherwise you will reach the wrong location.

6. Press RETURN.
7. Click and drag the file called "Finale 2014 Preferences" from this folder to the Old Preferences folder on your desktop.

8. Restart your computer and launch Finale.
9. You will see two prompts, one about anonymous feedback and one about MIDI Setup. Choose the options that work for you and test the issue (most of the time MIDI Setup is good to go by default and can be changed later if needed).

If resetting preferences fixed the issue, you can move the Old Preferences folder that contains the broken preference files to the Trash. Finale will then be back on the right track and you can continue working after you choose your desired preferences again (Finale 2014 > Preferences).

If resetting Finale's preferences did not fix the issue, you can save some time and move your preference files back into their original location. You can follow the steps below to do so...

1. Choose Go > Go To Folder from the Finder program toolbar.
2. In the Go to Folder dialog box that appears type following directory...

~/Library/Preferences

Note: Please be sure to include the tilde (~) symbol at the beginning of the directory otherwise you will reach the wrong location.

6. Press RETURN.
7. Move the "Finale 2014 Preferences" file in this Preferences folder to the Trash. Leave this window open.
8. Click and drag the file called "Finale 2014 Preferences" from the Old Preferences folder back to the Preferences folder.
9. Restart your computer and launch Finale.

If the issue persists, please contact Customer Success.

Finale 2012

Windows

These steps will remove the old preference files from their default location, causing Finale to recreate those files in their default state and thus reset its preferences. If resetting preferences does not resolve the issue, these preference files can be put back in their original location. If resetting preferences does resolve the issue, these old files can be deleted.

1. Close any open programs (including Finale 2012). This web browser is an exception and may remain open.
2. Right-click on your desktop and choose New > Folder.
3. Name this folder "Old Preferences" (without quotes).
4. Hold down the Windows key on your computer keyboard and press the letter R at the same time to open the Run dialog box.
5. Type in the following directory...

%appdata%\MakeMusic

6. Click OK.
7. Open the folder called "Finale 2012".
8. Click and drag the following two files from this folder to the "Old Preferences" folder on your desktop:

FINALE.ini

FINMIDI.ini

Note: The ".ini" extension may or may not appear depending on your system configuration.

9. Restart your computer and launch Finale.
10. You will see two prompts, one about anonymous feedback and one about MIDI Setup. Choose the options that work for you and test the issue (most of the time MIDI Setup is good to go by default and can be changed later if needed).

If resetting preferences fixed the issue, you can move the Old Preferences folder that contains the broken preference files to your Recycle Bin (or right-click it and choose Delete). Finale will then be back on the right track and you can continue working after you choose your desired preferences again (Edit > Preferences).

If resetting Finale's preferences did not fix the issue, you can save some time and move your preference files back into their original location. You can follow the steps below to do so...

1. Close any open programs (including Finale). This web browser is an exception and may remain open.
2. Hold down the Windows key on your computer keyboard and press the letter R at the same time to open the Run dialog box.
3. Type in the following directory...

%appdata%\MakeMusic

6. Click OK.
7. Open the folder called "Finale 2012".
8. Delete the following two files...

FINALE.ini

FINMIDI.ini

9. Leave this folder window open, and open the Old Preferences folder on your desktop.
10. Drag the "FINMIDI.ini" and the "FINALE.ini" files from the Old Preferences folder to the Finale 2012 folder.
11. Restart your computer and relaunch Finale.

If the issue persists, please contact Customer Success.

Mac

These steps will remove the old preference files from their default location, causing Finale to recreate those files in their default state and thus reset its preferences. If resetting preferences does not resolve the issue, these preference files can be put back in their original location. If resetting preferences does resolve the issue, these old files can be deleted.

1. Close any open programs (including Finale 2012). This web browser is an exception and may remain open.
2. Click the Finder icon on your applications dock; choose File > New Folder from the Finder program toolbar.
3. Name this folder "Old Preferences" (without quotes).
4. Choose Go > Go To Folder from the Finder program toolbar.
5. In the Go to Folder dialog box that appears type following directory...

~/Library/Preferences

Note: Please be sure to include the tilde (~) symbol at the beginning of the directory otherwise you will reach the wrong location.

6. Press RETURN.
7. Click and drag the file called "Finale 2012 Preferences" from this folder to the Old Preferences folder on your desktop.

8. Restart your computer and launch Finale.
9. You will see two prompts, one about anonymous feedback and one about MIDI Setup. Choose the options that work for you and test the issue (most of the time MIDI Setup is good to go by default and can be changed later if needed).

If resetting preferences fixed the issue, you can move the Old Preferences folder that contains the broken preference files to the Trash. Finale will then be back on the right track and you can continue working after you choose your desired preferences again (Finale 2012 > Preferences).

If resetting Finale's preferences did not fix the issue, you can save some time and move your preference files back into their original location. You can follow the steps below to do so...

1. Choose Go > Go To Folder from the Finder program toolbar.
2. In the Go to Folder dialog box that appears type following directory...

~/Library/Preferences

Note: Please be sure to include the tilde (~) symbol at the beginning of the directory otherwise you will reach the wrong location.

6. Press RETURN.
7. Move the "Finale 2012 Preferences" file in this Preferences folder to the Trash. Leave this window open.
8. Click and drag the file called "Finale 2012 Preferences" from the Old Preferences folder back to the Preferences folder.
9. Restart your computer and launch Finale.

If the issue persists, please contact Customer Success.