MAXQDA does not start after installation

If you have successfully installed MAXQDA, but you cannot run MAXQDA by clicking on the program icon, the cause of this can be either within MAXQDA itself or, more likely, outside of it.

To rule out the most common causes of errors, please carry out the following steps one after the other. If MAXQDA can be opened again, you do not need to perform the next step.

You are receiving an error message?

If you receive an error message when trying to start MAXQDA, and if this message contains information about the cause of the error and suggests steps for troubleshooting, please follow these steps. If the problem persists, please contact our support team.

You are not receiving an error message?

1) Do you use a supported operating system?

Please check whether you are using an operating system supported by your MAXQDA version.

MAXQDA 24

• Windows: Windows 11, Windows 10 (64 bit)
• macOS: macOS 15.x (Sequoia), macOS 14.x (Sonoma), macOS 13.x (Ventura), macOS 12.x (Monterey), macOS 11.x (Big Sur), macOS 10.15 (Catalina), macOS 10.14 (Mojave)

MAXQDA 2022

• Windows: Windows 11, Windows 10 (64 bit)
• macOS: macOS 13.x (Ventura), macOS 12.x (Monterey), macOS 11.x (Big Sur), macOS 10.15 (Catalina), macOS 10.14 (Mojave)

2) Blocking by an antivirus software

The task of antivirus software is to protect the system and its users from malware. To do this, antivirus programs scan running processes and check files and directories, with the option of blocking, isolating or even deleting conspicuous processes and files.

However, the underlying algorithms are not infallible, which can lead to incorrect assessments by the antivirus programs and consequently to false positives.

If you cannot start MAXQDA, please always check whether it is blocked by an installed antivirus program. If necessary, contact the manufacturer of the installed security software for more information.

3) macOS only: Blocking by Gatekeeper

To help keep users safe, macOS includes the Gatekeeper security feature. It controls which applications can be installed and run on the Mac, in order to prevent the installation and execution of unauthorized software. 

For software not purchased and downloaded from the Apple App Store, you will need to allow the installation file to open and grant certain permissions to the downloaded application.

Therefore, you will be asked during installation or startup whether you want to grant MAXQDA access rights to certain folders (e.g. the desktop) or applications (e.g. the Finder). It is necessary to grant MAXQDA these access rights for a successful installation and start.

You can view the permissions granted in the macOS preferences. Information on this can be found on this Apple support website.

If you are still unable to start MAXQDA, please give MAXQDA full access rights to your hard drive. Instructions for all macOS versions can be found here, on the Apple support website.

The steps required for macOS version 15 (Sequoia):

1. In the macOS menu bar, click on the Apple icon > System Preferences and then on Privacy & Security in the sidebar.
2. To add a MAXQDA, click on the Add button, select the app in the list and then click on Open.

Further information on Apple Gatekeeper can be found here on the Apple support website.

4) MAXQDA user folder does not exist or is incomplete

In order to run MAXQDA, the MAXQDA user folder is required in addition to the installation folder, in which MAXQDA saves your project files, their backup copies or user-based settings by default, such as dictionaries created by you in MAXQDA.

The MAXQDA user folder is created in the Documents folder of your Windows or macOS user. You can access the folder via the Windows Explorer or macOS Finder.

Windows: Dokumente > MAXQDA24
macOS: Dokumente > MAXQDA

Please check in your Documents folder whether MAXQDA was able to create the following folders and subfolders and create missing folders yourself.

Windows

Your Documents folder should contain the folders:

MAXQDA_Externals

MAXQDA24

The MAXQDA24 folder should contain the folders:

_MAXQDA_System

Backup

Dictio

Examples

Temp

The Dictio folder should contain the folders:

Dictionary

Golist

Stoplist

macOS

Your Documents folder should contain the folder:

MAXQDA

The MAXQDA folder should contain the folder:

Externals

MAXQDA24

The MAXQDA24 folder should contain the folders:

_MAXQDA_System

Backup

Dictio

Examples

Temp

The Dictio folder should contain the folders:

Dictionary

Golist

Stoplist