Downloading, Installing, and Setting up NVivo

Modified on Thu, Jan 16 at 2:45 PM

Downloading NVivo from the Queen’s website:

Go to www.queensu.ca in your browser.
Select the Sign In . option.
Select the MyQueen’sU – SOLUS, MyHR and More option.
Under Productivity Applications > select Software Centre.
This will open a new window where you can view most of the software that Queen’s U offers Staff/Faculty/Students/Departments.
Select the NVivo tab and it will bring you to the NVivo download page:
On this page, below the downloads, there is a licensing section- before downloading > Select View License. It will bring you to a page where you can copy the license. Make sure there are no spaces and that all characters are copied correctly. Copy this License. If you already have NVivo downloaded, and installed, and simply need the license replaced.
Go back to the previous download page in the browser:
- If you are on an Apple computer, please select the macOS option > .Download.
- If you are on a PC computer, please select the Windows NVivo (64-bit) option > .Download.
- If you are on a tablet, please select the Windows NVivo (32-bit) option > .Download.
This will bring you to a new page > there should be the option to download. If you cannot see the download option- select the three dots dropdown ••• and it should be here.

Install NVivo: (Keep your browser open, as you will need to refer to the page again)

Installing on Mac:
- Once you have downloaded the file (on a mac it will be a .dmg file) you must find it in your downloads or click it from your browser.
- Once you have opened the file, a window will appear. double-click on the NVivo 12 icon and it will automatically start the download.
- It may ask you if you are sure you want to open it- you will select open.
- It may also ask for your computer password as permission to install the app, input your computer password to proceed with the download.
Installing on PC:
- Once you have downloaded the file (on a pc it will be a .zip file), you must find it in your downloads.
- You will have to extract the zipped folder first before running. Do this by right-clicking on the file and selecting Extract All… and then clicking Extract.
- Wait for it to extract and then go into the un-zipped folder and find the .exe file.
- Double-click this to run the installer.
- It may give you a warning message about downloading this file- if it does, select the More info option and select Run anyway, as this is a safe file.
- It will ask you for permission to run the file on your computer- accept this. If it requires a password/login you may require someone from the IT department to override your system to give you permission to download. Reach out to [email protected] for this.
- Once you have accepted this, it will proceed with the download.

NVivo Setup:

Open NVivo after it has been installed if it doesn’t already open.
If you have not already set this up previously, fill out the following information with your own information: First Name, Last Name, Queen’s email, and Country (Canada). To prevent your license from being removed, please use your own information and not someone else’s or made-up information.
Select: .Replace License Key. in the bottom corner of this page.
Paste the License Key you copied from before. into the licensing field and select OK.
If the paste wasn’t successful, or if there is an error message- try copying it again.
If the paste was successful, Select Activate and your NVivo should be good to go.
If updates arise, opt in to update and keep updated.