The Finale Knowledge Base has help resources for technical issues with your software. If you aren't able to find a solution, or if you have tutorial-based questions please post on our Community forums.
Authorization & Registration
- Finale opens deauthorized when opening files (Windows)
- Registering Finale Student and Teacher Edition
- Cannot run Finale as administrator when attempting to authorize (Windows)
- Registering Finale products purchased from a dealer (New, Upgrades, and Trade-ups)
- What is a User Code?
- Registering, authorizing, and deauthorizing Finale notation products
Crashing & Performance
- Pro Tools 12/Finale v25 crash (Windows)
- Crashing when using the Expression tool (Windows)
- Using COMMAND+OPTION+SHIFT shortcuts crashes Finale for Mac
- Error ID -177 and crashing (Mac)
- Resetting Finale's preferences (using a tool crashes Finale, etc.)
- (Mac) Finale crashing on launch after v25.2 update
Audio & Playback
- Out of Tune Playback in Finale
- Playback will always return to paused measure (Mac)
- Focusrite Interfaces with Windows
- (Windows) Disabling audio devices using Device Manager
- Garritan Percussion instruments are quiet during playback
- Recording into an audio track in Finale
MIDI
Tips & Best Practices
- Unable to export to MP3
- Chord spellings automatically converting to enharmonic value
- Repeats not showing on some staves or in linked parts
- Alternating Between Swing Rhythms and Straight Rhythms
- Copied fret numbers have negative values
- Having trouble with Finale's playback interpretation (Human Playback®)?
Opening & Saving Files
- Unable to save files: EnigmaTemp or Error -2
- Unable to open files after saving (Finale v25)
- Unable to open files in Finale v25 (Windows)
- Recent files list missing from Finale (Mac)
- Unable to extract parts in Finale v.25 (Mac)
- Opening new files in older versions of Finale
Program Functions & Settings
- Troubleshooting SmartScore Lite in Finale 2014.5
- Tile printing and Finale v25 (Mac)
- Notes incorrectly retaining interval spacing
- Problems with the Home or Back To Beginning button (Finale for Windows)
- Crashing due to too many plug-ins (Finale for Windows)
- Pages are going blank (Mac)
Setting Up VST/AU Libraries
- Setting up Garritan libraries with Finale and PrintMusic
- Reinstalling the Garritan Instruments for Finale sound library
- Unable to access Audio Units plug-ins in Finale for Mac (Garritan, Kontakt, etc.)
- Changes to the Garritan Instruments for Finale samples installation beginning with Finale (Version 25) for Mac
- Using 3rd party VST/AU libraries with Finale and PrintMusic
- Unable to validate Kontakt 5 VST plug-in (Windows)
Sales & Product Information
- Finale notation products and macOS High Sierra (10.13)
- Printing invoices from MakeMusic accounts
- Using Finale notation products on tablet PCs
- MakeMusic's refund policy
- Necessity of previous versions of Finale for upgrading
- End User License Agreements for MakeMusic products
Downloading & Installation
- Downloading and installing Finale
- (Mac) Installing NotePad 2012 on macOS Sierra
- Commands to silently install Finale (unattended installer)
- Installing the Site License Monitor
- Webroot misidentifies Finale and other core system files as malware
- Crashing when clicking "Check for Update" (Finale v25.2/Mac 10.10)
User Manuals
Frequently Asked Questions
- PrintMusic/NotePad Sunset FAQ
- MakeMusic notation products's compatibility with Windows 10
- Troubleshooting resources for legacy notation products (Finale 2012 and earlier)
- Finding PrintMusic's user manual and other help resources
- About Finale Notation Product Support
- Printing checklist for v25 and later (Mac)