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Setting up PracticeStudio
on a new workstation.

Six steps. About ten minutes. The permissions step is the one people skip — don’t skip it.

Need your serial number? Ask Alma inside PracticeStudio — she knows your practice’s serial number and will give it to you instantly. Or contact support and we’ll provide it.
1

Download the Installer

Download the PracticeStudio installer and save it somewhere easy to find, like your Desktop. Double-click it to run.

Download PracticeStudio Installer
If Windows shows a “Windows protected your PC” SmartScreen warning, click More info then Run anyway. This is normal for downloaded programs.
2

Enter Your Serial Number

When the installer opens, it will ask for a serial number. Your serial number is unique to your practice.

How to get your serial number

Option 1 — Ask Alma: Open PracticeStudio on an existing workstation, open Alma, and ask “What is our serial number?” She will provide it immediately.

Option 2 — Contact support: Call 1-800-874-5983 (option 2) or email support@micro4.com and we’ll look it up for you.

Once you have the serial number, enter it in the installer and click Search.

3

Select the Correct Data Set

After entering the serial number, the installer may show a list of options representing different PracticeStudio installations. Select the option that matches the installation you normally log into, then click Install.

The installer will download the full PracticeStudio setup and launch it automatically. This may take a few minutes depending on your internet connection.

Not sure which option to pick? Ask your office manager or the person who manages your PracticeStudio account.
4

Complete the PracticeStudio Installation

The full installer will launch automatically once the download is complete. Follow the on-screen prompts.

The default installation folder is:

C:\Program Files (x86)\PracticeStudio

Leave this path as-is unless your IT department has instructed otherwise.

5

Set Folder Permissions — Do Not Skip This Step

Why this matters: PracticeStudio updates itself automatically. The update process needs permission to write files to its installation folder. Skip this step and the very first update will fail.

Follow these steps exactly:

  1. Open File Explorer (Windows key + E)
  2. Navigate to This PC → Local Disk (C:) → Program Files (x86)
  3. Find the folder named PracticeStudio and right-click it
  4. Click Properties at the bottom of the menu
  5. Click the Security tab
  6. Click Edit, then Add
  7. In the text box, type Everyone and click Check Names — the text should underline to confirm
  8. Click OK
  9. In the list, click Everyone to select it
  10. In the permissions list below, check Full Control under the Allow column
  11. Click Apply, then OK, then OK again to close Properties
If your IT policy does not allow “Everyone” as a group, the minimum requirement is that your Windows user account has Read and Write permissions on this folder and all subfolders.
6

Launch PracticeStudio

Open PracticeStudio from the Start Menu or desktop shortcut. It will check for updates on first launch — because the permissions are now in place, this will complete without any issues.

You’re set.

Troubleshooting

Problem Likely Cause What to Do
“Windows protected your PC” when running the installer Windows SmartScreen warning Click More info → Run anyway
Serial number not found Dashes or spaces in entry The installer accepts serial numbers with or without dashes — try both formats
Installer fails to download Firewall or antivirus blocking Temporarily disable antivirus or add an exception for the PracticeStudio installer URL
Update fails after install Folder permissions were not set Return to Step 5 and complete the permissions setup
Blank white screen on launch Display driver or resolution issue Right-click the shortcut and select Run as administrator

Still stuck? We’re here.

Call 1-800-874-5983 (option 2)  ·  Email support@micro4.com  ·  Or use the headset icon inside PracticeStudio

Contact Support