Installing the Software

M-Files can be installed as a single installation or distributed and installed on several computers at once. These instructions are for executing a single M-Files installation. For advanced installation options, such as customizing the installation package to automatically configure client or server connections, disabling automatic checking for software updates or using Active Directory group policies in distributing M-Files, refer to the document Installing M-Files Desktop, M-Files Server, and M-Files Admin with Advanced Options.

Tip: While the M-Files installation is in progress, you may want to see information about M-Files and Virus Scanning.

The server and client computers must have Microsoft .NET Framework (not .NET) 4.7.2, 4.8.x, or later installed for M-Files to operate correctly. You can download it at: https://dotnet.microsoft.com/en-us/download/dotnet-framework. Normally, the Runtime version is sufficient, but you can alternatively install the Developer Pack version.
You have received the M-Files setup file from your system administrator, or you have downloaded it from the M-Files download page.
See Important Tasks after Installation, Vault Creation, or Vault Migration for a checklist of tasks that we recommend to be done with installation.

For a single M-Files installation, follow these steps:

Quit all other applications running on your computer and double-click the M-Files setup file.
Result:The welcome screen of the installation wizard appears.
Click Next.
Read and accept the end-user license agreement to be able to continue.
Click Next.
Select the software components to be installed.

You can install M-Files for evaluation or perform a normal installation.

If you are not an M-Files system administrator in your organization, you only need to install M-Files Desktop. In this case, M-Files Server has been installed on your organization's local area network, and your M-Files system administrator has the M-Files Server Tools (M-Files Admin) installed. After the normal installation, you can connect to the vaults on your M-Files server with M-Files Desktop Settings.

The evaluation installation includes all the software components as well as a sample vault, which you can start exploring immediately after installation.
Continue the installation by clicking Next.
Specify the installation location and click Next.
If you do not want to change anything, click Next to start the installation.
Select whether or not you would like to see the Guided Tour and click Finish to complete the installation process.

The M-Files software has now been installed on your computer. If you selected an evaluation installation, open Guided Tour from the Windows start menu to get familiar with the software.