Moving to a new computer

Follow the steps below to move your Moneydance data from your current computer to a new one.

 
These instructions are intended for completely moving your data from one computer to another
i.e. you will no longer use Moneydance on your older computer.

If you want to use Moneydance on two or more computers, and access the same data file on each computer, you should follow the steps in this article to set up syncing.
 

Many operating systems now come with a transfer mechanism to move between computers.
For example, Apple's "Migration Assistant" app can usually copy the program, your data, and preferences between computers successfully.
If you do not have (or would prefer not to use) such a system (or if for some reason it is unsuccessful), you can follow the instructions below.
 

Your Moneydance data is separate from the Moneydance program, so the data will not be automatically transferred when you download the program on your new computer.

This process is similar to moving your word processing program and documents to a new computer.

• First you'll want to install a compatible version of the program itself on your new computer.
  
• Then you'll want to move over your data files, store them correctly, and then open them in the program.
   

The process outlined below is completely independent of which operating system you are using.
Even if you are changing between operating systems (like moving from Windows to a Mac), these instructions are the same.

Determine Moneydance version and install -

First, determine which version and build of Moneydance you are using.

To do this, open Moneydance on your current computer and select Help > About Moneydance.
Using a Mac, select Moneyance > About Moneydance.

This will open a new window where the version and build number will be displayed.

In general, you should install the same version of Moneydance you are currently using onto your new system, even if you are planning to upgrade to a newer version later.

The only exception is if your new computer is unable to run the older version of the program, which unfortunately happens often for Apple's operating systems.
 

Don't worry about getting the exact build number (the number in parenthesis), just download the same year as the version you are currently using.
 

All older versions of Moneydance can be downloaded from this page.

On each version's download page, you can check which operating systems are compatible.

The latest version of Moneydance can be downloaded from this page if required.
 

Do not try to copy the program from your old computer to the new computer, as this usually leads to problems. Instead, redownload the program on your new computer.
 

If you purchased Moneydance from a third party like the Mac App Store or Microsoft Store, you should only download the program from that source. The billing and licensing systems for purchases made from Apple/Microsoft are completely separate from our own.
 

Transferring the data -

Open Moneydance on your current computer, and access the data file you wish to move.

Select File > Syncing, and disable syncing.
Change the sync method to "Don't Sync".
Then close Moneydance.
 

Next, locate your data file on your current computer.

If you're not sure where your data file is stored, it is likely in the default location.
You can easily access the default location via Moneydance by Help > Show Documents Folder.
 

Your Moneydance data file will be named in the following way -
(provided you are using Moneydance 2012 or a newer version).

YourFileName.moneydance
 

On a Mac, the data files will appear with the Moneydance icon displayed.

On a Windows system, the data files will appear as a regular 'folder' so you won't see the Moneydance icon. In this instance, simply copy over the entire "YourFileName.moneydance" folder as if it were just one file.

• Copy the .moneydance file/folder and move it to your new computer.
  You can move the file using USB, email, external drive, or whatever method you prefer.
  

We advise that you DO NOT use a shared folder (Dropbox, iCloud, OneDrive etc.) to move the files.
 

• On the new computer, place the data file wherever where you want to store it.
  

We STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you DO NOT store the file within a shared folder location (like Dropbox, iCloud, OneDrive etc.) If your data file is stored in (or being accessed/backed up by) any shared folder service, this can lead to problems like data corruption and data loss.

We also recommend you choose a location where you put other important documents that you won't regularly delete. Placing your data file in your Downloads folder or on your Desktop often leads to people deleting their data file by mistake when 'cleaning up' these folders!
 

Repeat this process for any additional data files you want to move to the new computer.
 

To clarify, you should copy and move the entire Moneydance data file (or folder).
Do not use the File > Export option.

You can use File > Export Backup (theoretically) and move your .moneydancearchive backup to the new computer, but it should not be necessary. It is recommended to move the data file instead.

Opening the data on the new computer -

On your new computer, you should now have the program installed and your data files transferred.

You should open and run the Moneydance program.

• You'll likely see the "Welcome to Moneydance" window.

  • If your files are stored in the default location -
    The files will be listed on the right of the window.
    Double-click on the file name to open and access your data file.
  • If you placed your files in a custom location -
    Select "Open Other" at the bottom right of this window.
    Then navigate to and select the YourFileName.moneydance data file wherever you've stored it on your computer.
    

Once you're viewing the main program (rather than the "Welcome" window) you can access other data files by selecting File > Open > Open Other.
 

You should only select "Open Other" to access each data file once.

Once a file has been opened, it'll be accessible from within Moneydance via File > Open.
 

Once you've opened the file, Moneydance will remember where you have stored the file.

This is why you should place your data file in its permanent location before telling Moneydance where it is. If you move the file, you will have to show Moneydance where you moved it to using "Open Other" again.

Registering the program -

If you purchased Moneydance directly from our website, remember to register the program.

The program will be in trial mode until you enter your license key via Help > Register Moneydance.
 

You can complete the entire transfer process above before you need to register.
 

You can use your existing license key to register the same version you were using on your old computer.

To locate your license key, open Moneydance on the older computer and select Help > About Moneydance (on a Mac, choose Moneydance > About Moneydance). The license key will be displayed here.

Alternatively, you can enter your email address into the Lost Key field on this page.

Updating Moneydance on the new computer -

We recommend you first install the same version of Moneydance you were using on your old computer.

Transfer your data following the steps above. Then, if everything looks good, go ahead with the upgrade.

By doing this in stages, it will greatly reduce the number of variables of things that could go wrong in this process.
 

You'll find information about checking your upgrade eligibility on this page.
If you previously purchased Moneydance from our website, follow the steps in the article to redeem a significant discount (over 50%).
 

If this seems complicated, or you have any trouble transferring your data - send a message to our support team and we'll provide assistance. You can create a new discussion here or email support@infinitekind.com.
In your message, please include which versions of Moneydance you are currently running, and the operating system of both computers.