Uninstalling Finale

Each version of Finale has its own directories. In most cases simply dragging the "Finale [version number if applicable]" application from your Applications folder (Mac) or uninstalling from the Programs and Features section of the Control Panel (Windows) is a good, basic uninstall process. For in-depth uninstall methods, please choose your OS and version of Finale below and then follow the steps therein.

These steps will remove the Finale application. They will not remove the ARIA Player or the Garritan instruments for Finale.

Note: You do not have to uninstall previous versions of Finale before installing the latest version; however, you can uninstall previous versions before or after installing the latest version. Beginning with version 26, the Finale installer will offer an option to uninstall previous versions if it detects them.

We suggest keeping previous versions of Finale on your computer until you find you are no longer using them.

Caution: When following these steps, please make sure that you do not have any personal files (Finale or otherwise) saved in the folders (and sub-folders) you are deleting.

Please also make sure, if you are removing Finale 2011 or earlier and think you may want to reinstall it at some point, that you have the installation disc available. The installation disc is the only method of reinstalling versions of Finale from 2011 and earlier. Finale 2012 and later are downloadable for registered users of those later versions.

Windows

Uninstall Finale (v26 and v27)

You will need to be logged into an account that has administrative permissions to complete these steps.

1. Close any open programs. This web browser can remain open.
2. Press the WINDOWS key on your computer keyboard to open the Start menu; type "Apps and Features".
3. Scroll down to locate "Finale," click this and choose Uninstall. If you have multiple versions of Finale installed, you can check the version number under the app icon.
4. Complete the uninstallation process and close the Apps and Features window.
5. Hold down the WINDOWS key and press the letter R at the same time to open the Run dialog box.
6. Type in the following directory:

C:\Program Files

7. In the window that opens, locate the MakeMusic folder. Inside this folder locate the Finale folder open this and delete the 26 or 27 folder inside it (right-click > Delete).
8. Close this folder window; use WINDOWS key+R to open the Run dialog box again.
9. Type in the following directory:

%programdata%\MakeMusic

10. In the folder window that appears, find the "Finale 26" or "Finale 27" folder and delete it.
11. Close this folder window; use the WINDOWS key+R shortcut to reopen the Run dialog box.
12. Type in the following directory:

%appdata%\MakeMusic

13. Find the "Finale 26" or Finale 27" folder in this location and delete it.
14. Close this folder window.
15. Restart your computer.

If you would like to reinstall a previous version of Finale, you can certainly do so. Use the installation disc (Finale 2011 and earlier) or download the installer from your MakeMusic account (Finale 2012 and later).

Uninstall Finale (Version 25)

You will need to be logged into an account that has administrative permissions to complete these steps.

1. Close any open programs. This web browser can remain open.
2. Press the WINDOWS key on your computer keyboard to open the Start menu; type "Programs and Features".
3. Right-click "Finale" and choose Uninstall.
4. Complete the uninstallation process and close the Programs and Features window.
5. Hold down the WINDOWS key and press the letter R at the same time to open the Run dialog box.
6. Type in the following directory:

C:\Program Files

7. Locate the "Finale" folder in the window that appears and delete it (right-click > Delete).
8. Close this folder window; use WINDOWS key+R to open the Run dialog box again.
9. Type in the following directory:

%programdata%\MakeMusic

10. In the folder window that appears, find the "Finale" folder and delete it.
11. Close this folder window; use the WINDOWS key+R shortcut to reopen the Run dialog box.
12. Type in the following directory:

%appdata%\MakeMusic

13. Find the "Finale" folder in this location and delete it.
14. Close this folder window.
15. Restart your computer.

If you would like to reinstall a previous version of Finale, you can certainly do so. Use the installation disc (Finale 2011 and earlier) or download the installer from your MakeMusic account (Finale 2012 and later).

Uninstall Finale 2014.5

You will need to be logged into an account that has administrative permissions to complete these steps.

1. Close any open programs. This web browser can remain open.
2. Press the WINDOWS key on your computer keyboard to open the Start menu; type "Programs and Features".
3. Right-click "Finale 2014.5" and choose Uninstall.
4. Complete the uninstallation process and close the Programs and Features window.
5. Hold down the WINDOWS key and press the letter R at the same time to open the Run dialog box.
6. Type in the following directory:

C:\Program Files (x86)

7. Locate the "Finale 2014.5" folder in the window that appears and delete it (right-click > Delete).
8. Close this folder window; use WINDOWS key+R to open the Run dialog box again.
9. Type in the following directory:

%programdata%\MakeMusic

10. In the folder window that appears, find the "Finale 2014.5" folder and delete it.
11. Close this folder window; use the WINDOWS key+R shortcut to reopen the Run dialog box.
12. Type in the following directory:

%appdata%\MakeMusic

13. Find the "Finale 2014.5" folder in this location and delete it.
14. Close this folder window.
15. Restart your computer.

If you would like to reinstall a previous version of Finale, you can certainly do so. Use the installation disc (Finale 2011 and earlier) or download the installer from your MakeMusic account (Finale 2012 and later).

Uninstall Finale 2014

You will need to be logged into an account that has administrative permissions to complete these steps.

1. Close any open programs. This web browser can remain open.
2. Press the WINDOWS key on your computer keyboard to open the Start menu; type "Programs and Features".
3. Right-click "Finale 2014d" and choose Uninstall.
4. Complete the uninstallation process and close the Programs and Features window.
5. Hold down the WINDOWS key and press the letter R at the same time to open the Run dialog box.
6. Type in the following directory:

C:\Program Files (x86)

7. Locate the "Finale 2014" folder in the window that appears and delete it (right-click > Delete).
8. Close this folder window; use WINDOWS key+R to open the Run dialog box again.
9. Type in the following directory:

%programdata%\MakeMusic

10. In the folder window that appears, find the "Finale 2014" folder and delete it.
11. Close this folder window; use the WINDOWS key+R shortcut to reopen the Run dialog box.
12. Type in the following directory:

%appdata%\MakeMusic

13. Find the "Finale 2014" folder in this location and delete it.
14. Close this folder window.
15. Restart your computer.

If you would like to reinstall a previous version of Finale, you can certainly do so. Use the installation disc (Finale 2011 and earlier) or download the installer from your MakeMusic account (Finale 2012 and later).

Uninstall Finale 2012 and earlier

Note: The steps below are designed to capture the majority of components in legacy versions. For some older versions, files/folders may not be present.

You will need to be logged into an account that has administrative permissions to complete these steps.

1. Close any open programs. This web browser can remain open.
2. Press the WINDOWS key on your computer keyboard to open the Start menu; type "Programs and Features".
3. Right-click "Finale [your version number here]" and choose Uninstall.
4. Complete the uninstallation process and close the Programs and Features window.
5. Hold down the WINDOWS key and press the letter R at the same time to open the Run dialog box.
6. Type in the following directory:

C:\Program Files (x86)

7. Locate the "Finale [your version number here]" folder in the window that appears and delete it (right-click > Delete).
8. Close this folder window; use WINDOWS key+R to open the Run dialog box again.
9. Type in the following directory:

%programdata%\MakeMusic

10. In the folder window that appears, find the "Finale [your version number here]" folder and delete it.
11. Close this folder window; use the WINDOWS key+R shortcut to reopen the Run dialog box.
12. Type in the following directory:

%appdata%\MakeMusic

13. Find the "Finale [your version number here]" folder in this location and delete it.
14. Close this folder window.
15. Restart your computer.

If you would like to reinstall a previous version of Finale, you can certainly do so. Use the installation disc (Finale 2011 and earlier) or download the installer from your MakeMusic account (Finale 2012 and later).

Mac

Uninstall Finale (v26 and v27)

You will need to be logged into an account that has administrative rights to complete these steps.

1. Close any open programs. This web browser can remain open.
2. In the Finder program toolbar, chose Go > Go To Folder. 
3. In the Go To Folder field type:

/Library/Application Support/MakeMusic

5. Click Go.
6. Delete the "Finale 26" or "Finale v27" folder from "MakeMusic" folder window that appears. Then close the window.
7. Reopen the Go To Folder dialog box (Go > Go To Folder).
8. Type in...

~/Library/Application Support/MakeMusic

10. Make sure that the tilde symbol (~) is included in the directory depicted above; click Go.
11. Delete the "Finale 26" or "Finale 27" folder from the folder window that appears.
12. Open the Go To Folder window again (Go > Go To Folder).
13. Type in...

~/Library/Preferences

14. Make sure that the tilde symbol (~) is included in the directory depicted above; click Go.
15. Locate the file called "com.makemusic.finale[26 or 27].fprf" and "com.makemusic.finale[26 or 27].plist and move these to the Trash.
16. Open your computer's Applications folder (Go > Applications).
17. Locate the "Finale" application and move it to the Trash.
18. Restart your computer.

If you would like to reinstall a previous version of Finale, you can certainly do so. Use the installation disc (Finale 2011 and earlier) or download the installer from your MakeMusic account (Finale 2012 and later).

Uninstall Finale (Version 25)

You will need to be logged into an account that has administrative rights to complete these steps.

1. Close any open programs. This web browser can remain open.
2. In the Finder program toolbar, chose Go > Go To Folder. 
3. In the Go To Folder field type:

/Library/Application Support/MakeMusic

5. Click Go.
6. Delete the "Finale" folder from "MakeMusic" folder window that appears.
7. Reopen the Go To Folder dialog box (Go > Go To Folder).
8. Type in...

~/Library/Application Support/MakeMusic

10. Make sure that the tilde symbol (~) is included in the directory depicted above; click Go.
11. Delete the "Finale" folder from the folder window that appears.
12. Open the Go To Folder window again (Go > Go To Folder).
13. Type in...

~/Library/Preferences

14. Make sure that the tilde symbol (~) is included in the directory depicted above; click Go.
15. Locate the file called "com.makemusic.finale.fprf" and move it to the Trash.
16. Open your computer's Applications folder (Go > Applications).
17. Locate the "Finale" application and move it to the Trash.
18. Restart your computer.

If you would like to reinstall a previous version of Finale, you can certainly do so. Use the installation disc (Finale 2011 and earlier) or download the installer from your MakeMusic account (Finale 2012 and later).

Uninstall Finale 2014.5

You will need to be logged into an account that has administrative rights to complete these steps.

1. Close any open programs. This web browser can remain open.
2. In the Finder program toolbar, chose Go > Go To Folder.
3. In the Go To Folder field type:

/Library/Application Support/MakeMusic

5. Click Go.
6. Delete the "Finale 2014.5" folder from "MakeMusic" folder window that appears.
7. Reopen the Go To Folder dialog box (Go > Go To Folder).
8. Type in...

~/Library/Application Support/MakeMusic

10. Make sure that the tilde symbol (~) is included in the directory depicted above; click Go.
11. Delete the "Finale 2014.5" folder from the folder window that appears.
12. Open the Go To Folder window again (Go > Go To Folder).
13. Type in...

~/Library/Preferences

14. Make sure that the tilde symbol (~) is included in the directory depicted above; click Go.
15. Locate the file called "Finale 2014.5 Preferences" and move it to the Trash.
16. Open your computer's Applications folder (Go > Applications).
17. Locate the "Finale 2014.5" application and move it to the Trash.
18. Restart your computer.

If you would like to reinstall a previous version of Finale, you can certainly do so. Use the installation disc (Finale 2011 and earlier) or download the installer from your MakeMusic account (Finale 2012 and later).

Uninstall Finale 2014

You will need to be logged into an account that has administrative rights to complete these steps.

1. Close any open programs. This web browser can remain open.
2. In the Finder program toolbar, chose Go > Go To Folder.
3. In the Go To Folder field type:

/Library/Application Support/MakeMusic

5. Click Go.
6. Delete the "Finale 2014" folder from "MakeMusic" folder window that appears.
7. Reopen the Go To Folder dialog box (Go > Go To Folder).
8. Type in...

~/Library/Application Support/MakeMusic

10. Make sure that the tilde symbol (~) is included in the directory depicted above; click Go.
11. Delete the "Finale 2014" folder from the folder window that appears.
12. Open the Go To Folder window again (Go > Go To Folder).
13. Type in...

~/Library/Preferences

14. Make sure that the tilde symbol (~) is included in the directory depicted above; click Go.
15. Locate the file called "Finale 2014 Preferences" and move it to the Trash.
16. Open your computer's Applications folder (Go > Applications).
17. Locate the "Finale 2014" application and move it to the Trash.
18. Restart your computer.

If you would like to reinstall a previous version of Finale, you can certainly do so. Use the installation disc (Finale 2011 and earlier) or download the installer from your MakeMusic account (Finale 2012 and later).

Uninstalling Finale 2012 and earlier

Note: The steps below are designed to capture the majority of components in legacy versions. For some older versions, files/folders may not be present.

You will need to be logged into an account that has administrative rights to complete these steps.

1. Close any open programs. This web browser can remain open.
2. In the Finder program toolbar, chose Go > Go To Folder.
3. In the Go To Folder field type:

/Library/Application Support/MakeMusic

5. Click Go.
6. Delete the "Finale [your version number here]" folder from "MakeMusic" folder window that appears.
7. Reopen the Go To Folder dialog box (Go > Go To Folder).
8. Type in...

~/Library/Application Support/MakeMusic

10. Make sure that the tilde symbol (~) is included in the directory depicted above; click Go.
11. Delete the "Finale [your version number here]" folder from the folder window that appears.
12. Open the Go To Folder window again (Go > Go To Folder).
13. Type in...

~/Library/Preferences

14. Make sure that the tilde symbol (~) is included in the directory depicted above; click Go.
15. Locate the file called "Finale [your version number here] Preferences" and move it to the Trash.
16. Open your computer's Applications folder (Go > Applications).
17. Locate the "Finale [your version number here]" application and move it to the Trash.
18. Restart your computer.

If you would like to reinstall a previous version of Finale, you can certainly do so. Use the installation disc (Finale 2011 and earlier) or download the installer from your MakeMusic account (Finale 2012 and later).