Download and installation

Updated 1 month ago

    To download MuseScore Studio for free (no account or subscription required), please follow the instructions for your specific operating system below.

    Windows

    1. Go to musescore.org
    2. Click the button marked Free Download

    [This section needs completing]

    macOS

    1. Go to musescore.org
    2. Click the button marked Free Download

    An application called MuseHub will be installed in your default download directory (usually the Downloads folder). This application makes it easy to install MuseScore Studio, as well as a range of sound libraries and effects plugins that can greatly enhance your music writing experience.

    To install and open MuseHub:

    1. Open the Finder and go to the Downloads folder
    2. Double-click the application Muse_Hub.dmg
    3. In the dialog that appears, drag the MuseHub application icon into your Applications folder
    4. Double-click the Applications folder icon to look inside the folder
    5. Double-click the MuseHub application to open it

    During this process, you may need to grant MuseHub various permissions and access to folders. These permissions are required to ensure MuseHub installs correctly.

    Now that you have MuseHub open in front of you, it's time to install MuseScore Studio:

    1. Click on the Apps tab in the left panel
    2. Locate MuseScore Studio and click the Free button beneath it to start the download and installation process
    3. Once the app has been downloaded, click the Open button beneath the MuseScore Studio icon.

    Now get writing some music!

    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).