Download and installation

Updated 5 months ago

    MuseScore Studio is completely free. Users do not need any PRO or PLUS account subscription service to use Musescore Studio. Musescore Studio 4 is released under the GNU General Public License version 3, see details of GPLv3 on http://www.gnu.org. "Musescore Studio" was previously named "MuseScore", see online announcement.

    Additionally, the right to redistribute (the unmodified binary) to friends and students is granted to all - see "you may give any of the versions of MuseScore on musescore.org to other people, or share it internally via a server." on https://musescore.org/en/faq#faq-20204 . To impose an additional service charge or fee legally, read the GPLv3 terms.

    To choose the version that best suits the user's need, see the Handbook 3 MuseScore, MuseScore 3, MuseScore 4 chapter.

    Windows

    Some basic computer knowledge:

    1. Learn about your machine's hardware
    2. Learn about your machine's software 32-bit and 64-bit Windows
    3. Learn How to install programs from online sources on Windows 10

    MuseScore Studio 4 related knowledge:

    1. Read the Minimum system requirements for Musescore 4 and see if your machine can run it or not.
    2. Learn about the new, free of charge, beautifully recorded virtual instrument sounds Muse Sounds for MuseScore Studio 4 created by the company called MuseGroup. MuseScore Studio 4 is already shipped with two other basic playback methods: SoundFonts and VSTi.
    3. Learn about the optional Muse Hub software created by the company called MuseGroup, and decide if you need it or not. Simply put: you need Muse Hub if you want Muse Sounds.

    One way to download and install MuseScore Studio 4 for Windows is to directly download it from https://musescore.org/en/download

    1. Download and double click the downloaded file, see Troubleshooting if required.
    2. Read the text carefully and follow the steps

    If you are in awe and feeling an urge to give, visit https://musescore.org/en/donate for another surprise.

    To uninstall see Uninstall or remove apps and programs in Windows, feel free to leave messages on https://musescore.org/en/forum so that we can improve.

    macOS

    [Work in progress, please add missing info]

    Linux

    Also see Troubleshooting

    AppImage

    Install

    The easiest way to install the program is by using an AppImage:

    1. Go to the Download→Software page at musescore.org
    2. Under Linux→AppImage (recommended), click on the Download (64 bit) link
    3. When the download is complete, right-click on the AppImage and select Properties
    4. Switch to the Permissions tab
    5. The next step varies depending on your file manager:
      • Nautilus-based (Nemo, Files, Caja) : Check the “Allow executing file as program” box.
      • Dolphin: Check the "Is executable" box.
      • Thunar: Check the “Allow this file to run as a program” box.
      • PCManFM: Change the “Execute” option in the drop down list to “Anyone”.
    6. Exit the dialog.
    7. Right-click inside the directory in which the AppImage is installed and select Open in Terminal
    8. In the Terminal type, ./[file name] install (the dot and slash at the beginning are important!)

    Steps 7 and 8 ensure that a MuseScore entry appears in the system’s menu and is linked to the new location of the AppImage (/home/[user name]/.local/bin). The correct file associations are also automatically made.

    Note: Instead of steps 7 and 8 (above) you can, of course, install using the absolute file path instead. That is:

    1. Open the Terminal
    2. Type [file path] install

    Tip: if you apply copy to the AppImage and press Ctrl+Shift+V in the terminal this will enter the absolute file path of the file that has just been “copied”.

    Uninstall

    No formal uninstall procedure is needed to remove the installed AppImage. Just delete menu entries and any shortcuts manually, then delete the App itself, and its links (which will be in ~/.local/bin).