Installation frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What do I need before I install Sage?

• For first-time installations, you’ll need to enter the current serial number
• If you're upgrading from a recent previous version, the new serial number will auto-fill
• Verify your system meets or exceeds the system requirements

Do I have to upgrade?

• You need to upgrade to access customer support once your Sage Business Care plan expires
• You need to upgrade to access payroll and other add-on services
• Learn more about using an older release

How do I know what release I’m using?

• In Sage, select Help, and then select About Sage 50 Accounting

What is the upgrade process like?

There are three parts to the upgrade process:

• Prepare:

  • Check to see if your system meets new system requirements
  • Print the installation instructions so you have them handy

• Download:

  • Select Services, Check for Updates, and then follow the instructions
  • Otherwise download the full product

• Install:

  • Launch and run the Installation program

How long does it take to upgrade?

• The Release 2024 download is approximately 460 MB
• The download will complete in under 30 minutes, but this depends on the speed of your Internet connection
• The installation speed depends on the computer: how much memory, how much free space on the hard drive, processor speed, and so forth
• On average, installation takes about 20 to 30 minutes depending on the computer and network
• The server installation typically takes longer than the workstation installation
• If installing on a network, install on the server first
• Once you've installed on the server, you can install on all the workstations at the same time
• After the installation, Sage 50 Accounting will automatically convert each company when you open them
• The time to convert depends on many factors, including the following:
  • The size of the company database
  • How many versions changed since you last opened the company (2023 to 2024 vs 2019 to 2024)
  • The speed of the computer

Is Sage an upgrade or a new installation?

• Sage is available as a full installation file or as an upgrade
• If you already have Sage installed, the program will upgrade the necessary files
• If you wish to keep the older version and install the new version, download the full program
• During the install, you can upgrade or install to a new location: choosing a new location will leave your old version intact

Which machine gets upgraded first?

• When using Sage on a network, upgrade the computer hosting the data (the server) first
• After upgrading the server, open and print the Sage 50 - Network Installation Manager Instructions
• After the server installation, you can start the upgrade on all the workstations at the same time
• Once you finish upgrading the server, upgrade all the workstations before users start Sage

Can I keep all my settings when I upgrade?

• Most settings will remain when you upgrade
• Some user preferences will reset to defaults after the company conversion; select Options, Global to change them back
• Forms for printing will reset; click Select Form when you print for each type of transaction

What are the minimum system requirements for the new version/release of Sage?

• Our system requirements page lists the minimum and recommended requirements for each version

To which version of Sage do I need to upgrade?

• Each version of Sage 50 (Pro, Premium, Quantum) uses the same installation files for upgrades
• To change to a new version (ex: from Pro to Premium), change your serial number
• You can convert companies to the same or higher version/releases, but not to lower version/releases
  • For example, a Quantum company can’t convert to Premium
  • Likewise a company opened in Sage 50 2024 can't open in Sage 50 2019
• We phased out some versions with the release of Sage 50 2015; they upgrade to current versions as follows:
  • Complete upgrades to Premium
  • Premium for Non-Profits upgrades to Quantum
  • Premium for Construction upgrades to Quantum
  • Premium for Manufacturing upgrades to Quantum
  • Premium for Distribution upgrades to Quantum

Will I need to convert my data after upgrading?

• After upgrading to 2024.0, you'll need to convert companies from 2023.0 and lower
• The conversion wizard starts automatically the first time you open each company in the new version/release of Sage
• We have a guide for the conversion wizard here

Where to get installation files

There are three methods for getting installation files

• In your current version of Sage 50, go to Services, Check for Updates
• Download the installer from our website
• To request an installation disc contact Customer Service

How to upgrade from previous releases

• Follow our installation instructions

Can I upgrade by going to Help, Sage 50 Activation, Licensing and Subscription Options?

• You can use Change your current version to enter a new serial number
• Entering a new serial number allows you to move between Pro, Premium or Quantum versions
• This doesn’t upgrade the program from 2023 to 2024

How do I activate the program?

• An activation prompt will usually appear when you open Sage for the first time
• If it doesn't appear, activate through the Help menu

Can I place my company data on an external drive connected to the server?

• No, at the server, data files must be on your local drive

I need to install Sage 50 on my laptop or home computer to access by date remotely through Sage Drive, how do I do that?

• See our steps for installing for Remote Data Access

After installing Sage on the server, can I copy the files to a different location and edit the .INI file?

• No, the Sage won’t function correctly if this is done

Can I install Sage 50 on Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 or Windows Vista?

• No, the Windows current versions of Sage 50 are incompatible with older versions of Windows