Install and activate your software

Read this first

• This guide is separated into two parts. First, complete the installation instructions and then follow the steps to activate your product.
  Important: You will need to install AND activate your Sage 50 Accounting software to avoid disruptions or delays in accessing support and payroll.
• During the installation of Sage 50 Accounting 2026–U.S. Edition, you’ll be asked for your serial number.  If you purchased a digital download from a retailer, the retailer will provide you the serial number via an email or a digital locker or if you purchased a box product from a retailer, you will find the serial number in the case under the disk.
• Be sure to follow directions for any notifications regarding your firewall programs. Certain Sage 50 Accounting files may trigger an alert message in Windows^®; you must allow these Sage 50 Accounting files to run for a successful installation.
• Sage 50 Pro Accounting should only be installed on a single computer as it is a single user version only.
• If you are installing on a network, you must first install Sage 50 Accounting on the computer that will store your Sage 50 Accounting company data files. This computer will act as the server for the other workstations. All Sage 50 Accounting transactions and records (for all workstations) will be stored on the server.
  
  

Installing on a single/stand alone computer

Note: It is recommended to install the program path at c:\program files (x86)\Sage\Peachtree

1. Visit: sage.com/us/sage50-2026 to download Sage 50 Accounting, or insert the install disk.
2. Run the installation file.
3. If prompted, install the requirements for Sage 50 Accounting.
4. Turn off anti-virus, and then click Next.
5. Agree to the license agreement, and then click Next.
6. Select the Auto configure the Windows Firewall to allow install and run Sage 50 (Recommended) box, and then click Next.
   Note: If the Windows Firewall is disabled, then the box will be grayed out.
7. Verify or enter your Serial number, and then click Next.
   Note: If you purchased a digital download from a retailer, the retailer will provide you the serial number via an email or a digital locker. If you purchased a box product from a retailer, you will find the serial number in the case under the disk.
8. At the prompt “Will this be the only computer running Sage 50?”select Yes, and then click Next.
9. Verify the install options and click Install to complete the installation.
10. Open each company and allow the data to be converted to the new version.
    
     

Once your installation is complete, please follow the Activation instructions to activate your product.

Installing on a network

• First install Sage 50 Accounting on the computer that will store your Sage 50 Accounting company data files, which are the files that record your Sage 50 Accounting transactions and records. This computer is the server. 
• Install Sage 50 Accounting on each workstation after installing on the server.

Server installation

Note: It is recommended to install the program path at c:\program files(x86)\Sage\Peachtree

1. Visit sage.com/us/sage50-2026 to download Sage 50 Accounting, or insert install disk.
2. Run the installation file.
3. If prompted, install the requirements for Sage 50 Accounting.
4. Turn off your anti-virus software, and then click Next.
5. Agree to the license agreement, and then click Next.
6. Select Auto configure the Windows Firewall to allow install and run Sage 50, and then click Next.
   Note: If the Windows Firewall is disabled, this box will be grayed out.
7. Verify or enter your serial number, and then click Next.
   Note: If you purchased a digital download from a retailer, the retailer will provide you the serial number via an email or a digital locker. If you purchased a box product from a retailer, you will find the serial number in the case under the disk.
8. Under Will this be the only computer running Sage 50? Select No,and then click Next.
9. Select This computer is the server, and then click Next.
10. Verify the install options and click Install.
11. On the Sharing Company Data screen, select Share the Folder to share the folder with other users on your network. Then, click Next.
12. Verify the shared folder and click Next.
13. Click Finish to complete the installation.
14. Open each company and allow the data to be converted to the new version.

Quick tips for network install

• Always install on the server first.
• The program must be installed on each computer that will use Sage unless you are in a Terminal Services environment.
• You can use the Network Installation Manager to install on multiple PCs simultaneously: start the installation at the first workstation, and then move on to the next.
• The Network Installation Manager will not work over wireless networks.
• When installing using the downloaded Sage 50 installer, the Destination folder is where the install files will be extracted; this is not the program location.
• If operating in a domain environment, it may be necessary to set correct Windows permissions on the PeachtreeInstaller2026 folder in order to run the network installation manager

Workstation installation

After installing Sage 50 Accounting on the server, follow the instructions for installing Sage 50 Accounting on your workstations. These instructions are saved on the server in a file on the desktop called Sage 50-Network. Installation Manager Instructions.htm.

1. At the server, set folder permissions on the PeachtreeInstaller2026 shared folder (located by default in the Program Path).
2. At the workstation, press the Windows+R keys to open a Run line.
3. Type \\ServerName (where ServerName = the actual computer name of your server) and click OK. 
4. Double-click the PeachtreeInstaller2026 folder. 
5. Double-click the Peachw folder and then double-click the Install folder. 
6. Right-click setup.exe and select Run as administrator. 
7. The setup will begin selecting the settings from the Server.

Note: 

• If you have multiple workstations, you can start installing on the other computer(s) before the installation on one is complete. 
• The server was installed as a workstation if the PeachtreeInstaller2026 directory is not found on the server. 

Advanced options - Install to a desired data location and/or change the program path

1. Follow Steps 1 through 4 under Workstation installation to access the PeachtreeInstaller2026 shared folder.
2. Right-click Setup.exe, and then select Run as administrator. The installation wizard will appear.
3. Follow steps 3 through 8 under the Server installation section. 
4. On the Company Data Files Storage screen, select A different computer on the network is the server and will store Sage 50 company data.
5. Confirm that Sage 50 has already been installed on the server and click Next.
6. On the Company Data Files Location screen, you can select a mapped drive. Click Find a Computer to map the drive to a network share. You may also use a UNC path for the data path.
7. Click Next and select the program files directory. It is usually best to leave this as the default directory.
8. Confirm that the company data location is correct and click Install.

Note: 

• It is important to verify the desired mapped drive or server share is the installed data path that is local to the server. 
• If you have any problems using the network installation manager, you can install Sage 50 Accounting on each workstation by visiting: sage.com/us/sage50-2026 to download Sage 50 Accounting. Alternately, if your purchase included an install disk, insert the disk and select Install Sage 50 Accounting. 

After your installation is complete, please follow the Activation instructions to activate your product.