Error message: There is an access problem with the following folders required by MAXQDA.

The error message indicates that MAXQDA cannot access the MAXQDA user folder because it either does not exist or could not be created completely. On macOS, the error message may also indicate missing permissions.

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

Windows: Documents > MAXQDA24
macOS: Documents > MAXQDA > MAXQDA24

1) 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 > MAXQDA24

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

2) macOS only: MAXQDA does not have the necessary access rights

If all folders are available, please check in the macOS system settings whether MAXQDA has the necessary permissions to access the MAXQDA24 folder. You can view the permissions of programs in the macOS settings. For more information, please refer to this Apple support website.

Please note: For software not purchased and downloaded from the Apple App Store, it is necessary to allow the installation file to be opened and to grant certain permissions to the downloaded program.

During the installation or launch process, you will be prompted to grant MAXQDA access rights to specific folders (e.g. the desktop) or applications (e.g. the Finder). It is essential to grant MAXQDA these access rights to ensure a successful installation and launch.