Installing Live

Note: Make sure to read our minimum requirements listed below depending on the Live version you are about to install as well as our article regarding backward compatibility:

Step 1 - Download the Live installer

Log in to your User Account, select the Live version and operating system from the drop down menu and click Download.

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macOS

The Universal Binary build adds native support for Apple M1 computers, while also being the suggested build for Intel-chip Macs running most macOS. The Intel-only build is best suited for Intel-chip Apple computers running older macOS. You can read more about it here.

Universal build:

  • Apple Intel (macOS 10.14 Mojave through macOS 12 Monterey)
  • Apple Silicon (M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max)

Intel build:

  • Apple Intel (macOS 10.13 High Sierra only)

Note: You can force Live to run as an Intel application via Rosetta 2 on an Apple Silicon-based Mac, as explained here. However, this isn't necessary if your plug-ins are updated for Apple Silicon. When in doubt, please check the latest Apple Silicon and macOS compatibility information provided by each plug-in developer.

 

Windows

Windows build:

  • All Windows computers

Step 2 - Install Live

Mac

Double-click on the downloaded .dmg and the installer will open automatically.

Drag the Live icon onto the Applications folder shortcut. 

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Once it is finished, close the window and eject the .dmg.

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You can then open the Applications folder in Finder and double click on the Live application. You can also add it to your Dock for quick access.

Windows

Note: Make sure to never save or copy any content, files, samples or projects into Live's installation folder in order to avoid losing these files in case you uninstall or (auto-)update Live.

Live 11:

Please unpack the downloaded zip file by right-clicking on it.

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Choose "Extract All..." from the drop down menu and launch the "Ableton Live 11 [version] Installer.exe" file by double clicking it once the file has been unpacked:

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The setup wizard will guide you through the steps necessary to install Live on your Windows machine. Make sure that Live is installed to the default location: C:\ProgramData\Ableton\

Note: The two Data.cab files extracted with the Installer.exe do not need to be decompressed further. 

Live 10:
Please unpack the downloaded zip file by right-clicking on it.

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Choose "Extract All..." from the drop down menu and launch the Setup.msi file by double clicking it once the file has been unpacked. The setup wizard will guide you through the steps necessary to install Live 10 on your Windows machine. Make sure that Live is installed to the default location: C:\ProgramData\Ableton\

Once the installation has completed, click on the Windows Start menu where you'll find the Live 10 shortcut.

Step 3 - Authorize Live

When starting Live for the first time, follow the instructions on the authorization dialog in order to authorize Live online.

If you'd prefer to authorize offline, step-by-step instructions are available.

Step 4 - Install additional content

Several Live Packs are available for download from the Packs section of your account.

Once Live is installed, you can install these Live Packs, which will add additional sounds, presets and other content in a dedicated directory on your hard drive.

You can also buy additional Live Packs in Ableton's online Pack store.

Max for Live is built into Live 10 and 11 Suite. Once Suite is installed you will be able to access Max for Live within Live's Browser.

Step 5 - Learn more

To learn more about using Live, we recommend watching our series of Learn Live tutorials. Live also comes with a series of built-in interactive lessons, which are available in Live's Help View. The Help View can be opened via Live's Help Menu.

Ableton offers these in-depth help and learning resources:

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