- MAXQDA 24.0 or higher – Windows
Operating System: Windows 11, Windows 10 (64 bit)
Processor: 2 cores with 1,6 GHz each. Recommended: 4 or more cores, 2 GHz each. Windows ARM computers or tablet computers with ARM processors are not supported.
RAM: min. 4 GB. Recommended: 8 GB or more
Display: min. 1.280 x 720. Recommended: 1.920 x 1.080 or more
License Activation: Internet connection necessary once for activation
Microsoft Office: The import of .doc or .odt documents require Microsoft Word 2003 or newer and .NET 3.5 or newer. (.NET is automatically installed if missing and might require a system restart).
Additional Comments: If you are working with challenging projects and/or large media files adequate computer hardware is recommended.
- MAXQDA 24.0 or higher – Mac
Operating System: macOS 26 (Tahoe), macOS 15 (Sequoia), macOS 14 (Sonoma), macOS 13 (Ventura), macOS 12 (Monterey), macOS 11 (Big Sur), macOS 10.15 (Catalina), macOS 10.14 (Mojave)
Processor: 2 cores with 1,6 GHz each. Recommended: 4 or more cores, 2 GHz each. ARM processors are supported only for Apple desktop and laptop computers. ARM processors in Apple tablet computers are not supported.
RAM: min. 4 GB. Recommended: 8 GB or more
Display: min. 1.280 x 720. Recommended: 1.920 x 1.080 or more
License Activation: Internet connection necessary once for activation
Additional Comments: If you are working with challenging projects and/or large media files adequate computer hardware is recommended.
- MAXQDA 24.0 or higher – Network/University
Server PC Requirements
Network and University licenses are set up and managed with the MAXQDA Netlic Service and MAXQDA Netlic Manager in a Windows environment. The MAXQDA Netlic Manager gives you on demand access to all the information concerning your MAXQDA Netlic License and allows you to easily activate or extend your license(s).
Operating System: Windows Server 2025, 2022, 2019, 2016, 2012 R2, 2012, Windows 11 (64 bit), Windows 10 (64 bit), 8.1 (64 bit), 8 (64 bit)
RAM: min. 2 GB.
Environment: Network licenses must be installed in a client-server environment.
Client Computer Requirements
Users can access a MAXQDA network license with both Windows and Mac computers. When MAXQDA is started, the client PC logs on to the MAXQDA Netlic Service and occupies a “Seat”.
Client computers must be logged on in the same domain as the server.
Client computers need to have a permanent connection to the server in order to use MAXQDA.
The system requirements for client PCs are the same as for “MAXQDA 24” (top left).
- Older MAXQDA Versions
Important note for Mac users: MAXQDA 2022 and earlier require Rosetta 2 to run on Apple Silicon Macs. Apple will remove Rosetta 2 support in macOS 27 (expected fall 2027), after which these versions will no longer work on Apple Silicon hardware. If you are using MAXQDA 2022 or earlier on an Apple Silicon Mac, please upgrade to the latest version of MAXQDA before updating to macOS 27.
MAXQDA 2022 – Windows
Operating System: Windows 11, Windows 10 (64 bit)
Processor: 2 cores with 1,6 GHz each. Recommended: 4 or more cores, 2 GHz each. Windows ARM computers or tablet computers with ARM processors are not supported.
RAM: min. 4 GB. Recommended: 8 GB or more
Display: min. 1.280 x 720. Recommended: 1.920 x 1.080 or more
License Activation: Internet connection necessary once for activation
Microsoft Office: The import of .doc or .odt documents require Microsoft Word 2003 or newer and .NET 3.5 or newer. (.NET is automatically installed if missing and might require a system restart).
Additional Comments: If you are working with challenging projects and/or large media files adequate computer hardware is recommended.
MAXQDA 2022 – Mac
Operating System: macOS 13 (Ventura), macOS 12 (Monterey), macOS 11 (Big Sur), macOS 10.15 (Catalina), macOS 10.14 (Mojave)
Processor: 2 cores with 1,6 GHz each. Recommended: 4 or more cores, 2 GHz each. ARM processors are supported only for Apple desktop and laptop computers. ARM processors in Apple tablet computers are not supported.
RAM: min. 4 GB. Recommended: 8 GB or more
Display: min. 1.280 x 720. Recommended: 1.920 x 1.080 or more
License Activation: Internet connection necessary once for activation
Additional Comments: If you are working with challenging projects and/or large media files adequate computer hardware is recommended.
MAXQDA 2022 – Network / University
Server PC — Operating System: Windows Server 2019, 2016, 2012 R2, 2012, Windows 10 (64 bit), 8.1 (64 bit), 8 (64 bit)
Server PC — RAM: min. 2 GB
Server PC — Environment: Network licenses must be installed in a client-server environment.
Client Computers: Users can access a MAXQDA network license with both Windows and Mac computers. When MAXQDA is started, the client PC logs on to the MAXQDA Netlic Service and occupies a “Seat”. Client computers must be logged on in the same domain as the server and need a permanent connection to the server. The system requirements for client PCs are the same as for “MAXQDA 2022”.
MAXQDA 2020 – Windows
Operating System: Windows 11 (64 bit), Windows 10 (64 bit), Windows 8.1 (64 bit), Windows 8 (64 bit)
Processor: 2 cores with 1,6 GHz each. Recommended: 4 or more cores, 2 GHz each. ARM processors in tablet computers are not supported.
RAM: min. 4 GB. Recommended: 8 GB or more
Display: min. 1.024 x 768 or more
License Activation: Internet connection necessary once for activation
Microsoft Office: The import of .doc or .odt documents require Microsoft Word 2003 or newer and .NET 3.5 or newer. (.NET is automatically installed if missing and might require a system restart).
Additional Comments: If you are working with challenging projects and/or large media files adequate computer hardware is recommended.
MAXQDA 2020 – Mac
Operating System: macOS 11 (Big Sur), macOS 10.15 (Catalina), macOS 10.14 (Mojave), macOS 10.13 (High Sierra), macOS 10.12 (Sierra)
Processor: 2 cores with 1,6 GHz each. Recommended: 4 or more cores, 2 GHz each. ARM processors in tablet computers are not supported.
RAM: min. 4 GB. Recommended: 8 GB or more
Display: min. 1.024 x 768 or more
License Activation: Internet connection necessary once for activation
Additional Comments: If you are working with challenging projects and/or large media files adequate computer hardware is recommended.
MAXQDA 2020 – Portable (Windows & Mac)
Size: min. 900 MB of free space.
Format (Windows): FAT / FAT32
Format (Mac): FAT / FAT32 / Mac OS Extended (Journaled) / HFS+. For macOS Catalina: Mac OS Extended (Journaled) / HFS+.
USB: For better performance use a USB 3.0 (or higher) flash drive which your computer recognizes as a “Removable Disk” and a USB 3.0 (or higher) port.
Encryption: USB flash drives that are encrypted or have other protective mechanisms may not be recognized correctly.
Write Protection: No write protection must be activated for the use of MAXQDA 2020.
Docking Stations / Adapters: USB flash drives connected to USB-C adapters or docking stations may not be recognized.
MAXQDA 2020 – Network / University
Server PC — Operating System: Windows Server 2019, 2016, 2012 R2, 2012, Windows 10 (64 bit), 8.1 (64 bit), 8 (64 bit)
Server PC — RAM: 2 GB or more
Server PC — Environment: Network licenses must be installed in a client-server environment.
Client Computers: Users can access a MAXQDA network license with both Windows and Mac computers. When MAXQDA is started, the client PC logs on to the MAXQDA Netlic Service and occupies a “Seat”. Client computers must be logged on in the same domain as the server and need a permanent connection to the server. The system requirements for client PCs are the same as for “MAXQDA 2020”.
MAXQDA 2018 – Windows
Operating System: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7
Processor: 2 cores with 1,3 GHz each. Recommended: 2 or more cores, 2 GHz each or more. ARM processors in tablet computers are not supported.
RAM: min. 2 GB. Recommended: 4 GB or more
Display: min. 1.024 x 768 or more
License Activation: Internet connection necessary once for activation
Microsoft Office / .NET: The following features require Microsoft Word 2003 or newer and .NET 3.5 or newer (.NET is automatically installed if missing and might require a system restart): import of .doc/.docx or .odt documents; export with Smart Publisher; import of web pages from MAXQDA Web Collector.
Additional Comments: If you are working with challenging projects and/or large media files adequate computer hardware is recommended.
MAXQDA 2018 – Mac
Operating System: macOS 10.14 (Mojave), macOS 10.13 (High Sierra), macOS 10.12 (Sierra), Mac OS X 10.11 (El Capitan), Mac OS X 10.10 (Yosemite), Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks)
Processor: 2 cores with 1,3 GHz each. Recommended: 2 or more cores, 2 GHz each or more. ARM processors in tablet computers are not supported.
RAM: min. 2 GB. Recommended: 4 GB or more
Display: min. 1.024 x 768 or more
License Activation: Internet connection necessary once for activation
Additional Comments: If you are working with challenging projects and/or large media files adequate computer hardware is recommended.
MAXQDA 2018 – Portable (Windows & Mac)
We strongly recommend using a common USB 3.0 (or higher) flash drive which your computer recognizes as a “Removable Disk” and a USB 3.0 (or higher) port. A portable license can NOT be installed directly on a computer, laptop or on an external hard drive (“Local Disk”). Please note: Using a lower USB standard than 3.0 may cause performance problems and the compatibility of MAXQDA Portable with all off-the-shelf USB sticks cannot be guaranteed. In individual cases it may be necessary to obtain an alternative USB flash drive in order to successfully activate the license.
Depending on how you would like to use your license you can install the Windows version, the Mac version, or both versions on your USB flash drive. If you install both versions on one USB flash drive, it is sufficient to activate only one of them to be able to use both. Please note that the flash drive must be connected with a Windows computer in order to install the Windows version and with a Mac computer to install the Mac version.
Size: At least 600 MB of free space. If using both Windows and Mac installations on the same USB stick, you will need double the storage space.
Format: FAT32
Encryption: Using a USB stick that is encrypted or has other protective mechanisms could lead to the portable license not working correctly.
MAXQDA 2018 – Network / University
Network and University licenses are set up and managed with the MAXQDA License Service and MAXQDA License Manager in a Windows environment. The MAXQDA License Manager gives you on demand access to all the information concerning your MAXQDA Network License and allows you to easily activate or extend your license(s).
Server PC — Operating System: Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Server 2016, Server 2012 R2, Server 2012, Server 2008 R2
Server PC — RAM: 2 GB or more
Server PC — Environment: Network licenses must be installed in a client-server environment.
If you are still working with the License Service’s predecessor, MAXServer, we recommend that you migrate your license(s) to the MAXQDA License Service. Please contact the MAXQDA support for more information.
Client Computers: Users can access a MAXQDA network license with both Windows and Mac computers. When MAXQDA is started, the client PC logs on to the MAXQDA License Service and occupies a “Seat”. Server admins are able to monitor which clients are currently working with MAXQDA. A permanent connection to the server is required. The system requirements for client PCs are the same as for “MAXQDA 2018”.
MAXQDA 2012 – Windows
Operating System: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10
Processor: 2 cores with 1,3 GHz each. Recommended: 2 GHz or more, 2 cores or more. ARM processors in tablet computers are not supported.
RAM: 2 GB or more
Display: min. 1.024 x 768 or more
License Activation: Internet connection necessary once for activation
Microsoft Office / .NET: The following features require Microsoft Word 2003 or newer and .NET 3.5 or newer (.NET is automatically installed if missing and might require a system restart): import of .doc/.docx or .odt documents; export with Smart Publisher; import of web pages from MAXQDA Web Collector.
Additional Comments: If you are working with challenging projects and/or large media files adequate computer hardware is recommended.
MAXQDA 2012 – Mac
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion), Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks), Mac OS X 10.10 (Yosemite), Mac OS X 10.11 (El Capitan), macOS 10.12 (Sierra)
Processor: 2 cores with 1,3 GHz each. Recommended: 2 GHz or more, 2 cores or more. ARM processors in tablet computers are not supported.
RAM: 2 GB or more
Display: min. 1.024 x 768 or more
License Activation: Internet connection necessary once for activation
Additional Comments: If you are working with challenging projects and/or large media files adequate computer hardware is recommended.
MAXQDA 2012 – Portable (Windows & Mac)
We strongly recommend using a common USB 3.0 (or higher) flash drive which your computer recognizes as a “Removable Disk” and a USB 3.0 (or higher) port. A portable license can NOT be installed directly on a computer, laptop or on an external hard drive (“Local Disk”). Please note: Using a lower USB standard than 3.0 may cause performance problems and the compatibility of MAXQDA Portable with all off-the-shelf USB sticks cannot be guaranteed. In individual cases it may be necessary to obtain an alternative USB flash drive in order to successfully activate the license.
Size: Minimum 200 MB of free space. If using the Windows and Mac versions on one USB flash drive, a minimum of 400 MB of free space is required.
Format: FAT / FAT32
Speed: A write speed of at least 10 MB/s is recommended if you wish to save and edit your project files directly on the flash drive. If your project file is located on the host computer, the speed is irrelevant.
Encryption: Using a USB stick that is encrypted or has other protective mechanisms could lead to the portable license not working correctly.
