This article is published in conjunction with the sunset of Finale, announced by MakeMusic on August 26th, 2024.
Contents:
- What is happening and why?
- Will my software continue to function?
- Will there be any future updates to Finale?
- Can I still purchase Finale or PrintMusic?
- Can I still get technical support for Finale?
- What if my computer crashes? Can I redownload Finale?
- What happens when Apple releases macOS 15 (Sequoia) later this year?
- Can I get a refund for Finale?
- What are my options?
- Why should I switch to Dorico Pro?
- What about all my files?
- Can I open Finale files (.mus or .musx) directly in Dorico?
- I own Finale SongWriter, Allegro, Guitar, or NotePad. What are my options?
- My organization owns a Finale Site License. What are my options?
- I have questions not addressed here.
- Additional Resources & Quick Links
What is happening and why?
After careful consideration, MakeMusic has made the difficult decision to discontinue Finale, Finale PrintMusic, and Finale NotePad effective August 26th, 2024. For more information on this impactful announcement, please refer to this letter from our President, Greg Dell’era.
Will my software continue to function?
Yes! Your existing authorized Finale installations will continue to work as long as your current computer is working.
Mac users, see What happens when Apple releases macOS 15 (Sequoia) later this year? below.
Will there be any future updates to Finale?
No. As of August 26th, 2024, Finale will no longer receive any future updates and will not be tested on any future major operating system releases.
Mac users, please see macOS 15 Sequoia and Finale Notation Products.
Can I still purchase Finale or PrintMusic?
No. As of August 26th, 2024, Finale and PrintMusic are no longer available for sale from MakeMusic.
Can I still get technical support for Finale?
Yes, MakeMusic is committed to providing technical support for the latest version, Finale v27, on compatible operating systems, for the next twelve months through August 25th, 2025. Click Submit a request above to contact Customer Support.
Effective August 26th, 2025, you will no longer be able to receive Finale technical support from MakeMusic.
What if my computer crashes? Can I redownload Finale?
Yes, you will still have access to download registered products from your MakeMusic account page, and you can continue to authorize Finale on compatible operating systems until further notice.
We originally announced that it would no longer be possible to reauthorize Finale after August 26th, 2025. But as a result of our community’s feedback, Finale authorization will remain active for the foreseeable future. Please note that future OS changes can still impact your ability to use Finale on new devices.
What happens when Apple releases macOS 15 (Sequoia) later this year?
Apple will relase macOS 15 (Sequoia) on Monday, September 16, 2024.
Finale will not be considered compatible with Sequoia, and any compatibility issues that may arise between Finale and Sequoia will not be fixed.
We recommend Mac users relying on Finale do not upgrade their OS to Sequoia and check their System Settings to disable automatic macOS updates. For more information:
Can I get a refund for Finale?
Per our return policy, if you purchased Finale or PrintMusic directly from MakeMusic, you may return the software for a full refund within 30 days of your purchase. If you have authorized Finale on any computers, please know that you’ll be asked to deauthorize Finale in-app under the Help menu before your refund can be issued. Please click Submit a request above to contact us about a return.
If you purchased from a dealer other than MakeMusic, please contact that dealer to inquire about your return options.
As a reminder, authorized installations of Finale will continue to work as long as your current computer is working, and you may continue to reauthorize and contact support through August 25th, 2025.
What are my options?
We have partnered with Steinberg, creators of Dorico. If you have an individual license for Finale or PrintMusic, you are eligible to purchase a crossgrade to Dorico Pro for $149 USD for a limited time. This is 50% off their usual competitive crossgrade offer and 74% off their full retail price. Please visit MakeMusic’s online store to find your special offer.* You will be prompted to log in to your MakeMusic account during checkout to qualify for this discount.
*If you are located in Japan, you should purchase your crossgrade from Steinberg's online shop.
Why should I switch to Dorico Pro?
Dorico Pro is the professional-level application best situated to meet your notation needs moving forward because of its intuitive interface, advanced engraving capabilities, and regular updates.
Additionally, Steinberg offers tutorials specifically for users switching from Finale to Dorico, an active user forum community, and a 60-day trial version to evaluate before you buy.
For more information on Dorico specifically, please visit their website.
Will I keep my Finale license if I crossgrade to Dorico Pro?
Yes! When you crossgrade to Dorico Pro, you will also keep your registered Finale license on your MakeMusic account.
What about all my files?
While Dorico cannot directly import Finale .mus or .musx files, it can import MusicXML files exported from Finale.
Finale can convert both individual files and batches of files to MusicXML. Choose File > Export from Finale’s top menu to see the available export options. For more details, please review the following support resources from MakeMusic and Steinberg:
- Exporting MusicXML Files from Finale (Article)
- Import MusicXML into Dorico (Video)
Can I open Finale files (.mus or .musx) directly in Dorico?
Finale’s proprietary file format was specifically designed to be read only by Finale, making it difficult for other software to interpret. Much of the way a score is displayed in Finale depends on algorithms and routines unique to Finale’s code, which process the document when opened.
In contrast, MusicXML is designed for file exchange between different notation programs and is more suitable for this purpose. Steinberg is gathering tips and tricks to help ensure a smooth export/import process, which will be published on the Dorico blog soon. Since Dorico is actively being developed, MusicXML imports will likely continue to improve over time.
In the meantime, please review the follow resources:
- Exporting MusicXML Files from Finale (Article)
- Import MusicXML into Dorico (Video)
I own Finale SongWriter, Allegro, Guitar, or NotePad. What are my options?
Although other MakeMusic notation programs beyond Finale and PrintMusic are not eligible for the special crossgrade pricing, Steinberg offers lower-priced editions of Dorico, including a free entry-level edition. Like Dorico Pro, these programs accept MusicXML files exported from MakeMusic notation programs. Compare editions of Dorico here.
My organization owns a Finale Site License. What are my options?
Schools and organizations that own a multi-user Finale Site License are advised to email the Steinberg Sales Team at edu@steinberg.de to request a bespoke quote for a multi-user Dorico license.
You may be asked to provide a copy of your current Finale Site License agreement. To obtain this document, please contact MakeMusic Customer Support by clicking Submit a request above.
I have questions not addressed here.
Please click Submit a request above to submit a ticket to our Customer Support team. We’ll reply to you via email as soon as contact volume allows.
We will continue updating this FAQ. Click Follow to be notified via email when updates are published.
Additional Resources & Quick Links
- Letter from MakeMusic President, Greg Dell'Era to Finale users
- MakeMusic Online Store
- Steinberg's crossgrade FAQ
- Switching from Finale to Dorico (YouTube tutorials by Ben Byram-Wigfield)
Comments
Earlier this week, we announced the end of development on Finale. Based on your feedback, we have these important updates to our original announcement:
Finale authorization will remain available indefinitely
We've heard your concerns. They are valid. We originally announced that it would no longer be possible to reauthorize Finale after August 26th, 2025. But as a result of our community’s feedback, Finale authorization will remain active for the foreseeable future. Please note that future OS changes can still impact your ability to use Finale on new devices.
Finale v27 to be included with Dorico Pro Crossgrades
We are currently working on a solution for all customers who have purchased or intend to purchase a Dorico Pro crossgrade to be able to download Finale v27. This will ensure that you can export your Finale files using MusicXML 4.0, the most robust version of MusicXML available. Thank you for your patience, we will provide more information soon.
We hope these updates will help make your transition to Dorico even easier. We will continue to provide updates about the Finale sunset as more information becomes available.
New FAQ item added:
Will I keep my Finale license if I crossgrade to Dorico Pro?
Yes! When you crossgrade to Dorico Pro, you will also keep your registered Finale license on your MakeMusic account.
Updated information for Finale Site License holders:
Schools and organizations that own a multi-user Finale Site License are advised to email the Steinberg Sales Team at edu@steinberg.de to request a bespoke quote for a multi-user Dorico license.
You may be asked to provide a copy of your current Finale Site License agreement. To obtain this document, please contact MakeMusic Customer Support by clicking Submit a request above.
Updated article with the public release date for Sequoia (September 16, 2024) and a link to instructions for disabling automatic macOS updates: https://makemusic.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/26336917990679-Disabling-Automatic-macOS-Updates