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How to download and install Lacerte

by Intuit• Updated 2 weeks ago

Table of contents:

‣ Download and install Lacerte on a standalone computer
‣ Install Lacerte on the other networked computers in your office
‣ What to do if you're not seeing the Downloads page on MyAccount
‣ Errors when installing Lacerte

If you need to install prior-year versions, see How to download and install prior-year Lacerte.

After installing the program, make sure that you have reviewed all of the information in Lacerte system requirements to prevent data loss and disruption during tax season.

Follow these steps to install Lacerte:

Follow these steps to install Lacerte on a standalone computer or to the first workstation in your networked environment.

🛑NOTE: You're currently not signed in. Sign in now to complete these steps.

If you're having problems, see Resolving sign in problems when signing into My Account.

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  1. Sign in to My Account.
  2. Click Download 2023 .
    • A window will appear, asking you to open or save WebsetupYY.exe. Click Save so you can access it later if needed.
  3. Click Run to begin the installation.
  4. Click Next in the welcome window.
  5. Select the type of installation you want, Recommended or Custom.
    • Recommended uses the prior year version of Lacerte to determine which modules and states to install. The program installs to the same drive location as the prior year.
      • If the prior year program isn't installed, the installer uses the default file paths.
    • Custom gives you the option to select any available modules or states. You can also manually specify where to install the program.
  6. If your choice is Recommended, skip to step 9. If you select Custom, choose the type of install:
    • Local Install stores Lacerte data and options on your local computer.
      • The default location is C:\Lacerte\YYtax.
      • The program, client database, and options appear under the same folder location.
    • Network Install stores data in the Selected Installation Folder you choose. Program data, options, and updates are saved to the Shared File Path.
      • Make sure the shared file path you choose is a shared location so other network stations can access primary options and program updates.
  7. Click Next.
  8. In the Select States window, choose States and Modules to install and then click Next.
    • Lacerte automatically checks the states and modules for which you're licensed.
    • Selecting only the modules and states you expect to use will save you download time and you can always add later if needed.
  9. In the Ready to install window, review your selections.
    • The workstation path should always be a local drive and is typically C:\Lacerte\YYtax.
    • If sharing options and updates with other computers, the shared file path needs to be on a shared network drive.
  10. Click Back to change any settings or click Install to begin the installation.

When completed, you should have a current year Lacerte icon on your desktop.

  • If prompted to restart the computer, close and save all work and restart the computer. Otherwise, start the program by double-clicking the desktop icon.

If you installed Lacerte as a network, follow the steps below to set up all other workstations.

To install Lacerte on other workstations (networked users)

  1. Go the workstation computer on which you wish to install Lacerte.
  2. Hold down the Windows key + R to open the Run Command.
  3. Type the Shared File Path for your network to start the installation.
    • The default path is X:\Lacerte\YYTax\setupYY\taxsetup.exe.
  4. Click Next to accept the default local path.
  5. Choose Install to begin the installation.
  6. When the installation is complete, click Launch to start Lacerte.

Repeat these steps on any additional workstations that need access to Lacerte.

Stay up to date on what's current! Bookmark the Lacerte Hot Topics page using Ctrl+D.

I'm not seeing the downloads page

If you don't see the downloads page on MyAccount, you've likely defaulted to a Learn & Support role. Your firm administrator will need to update your role to Employee so you'll have the minimum permissions required. If you're a firm administrator, click here to see how to use role management.

Errors when installing Lacerte

Below are error messages you may encounter when attempting to install Lacerte.

After entering the correct login information to download the preparer file, you encounter a message stating:

We are unable to download your preparer file. To resolve this issue, you will need to call support in order to update your firm information.

Click OK to exit setup.

Solution #1 - Download the preparer file from My Account

  1. Hit OK to the message and exit the installation.
  2. Open the C:\Lacerte\ folder and create a new folder called 23Tax
    • If the Lacerte folder does not exist, create the folder.
  3. Go to the Lacerte Downloads page and sign in.
  4. Locate the applicable year on the dashboard and select Download Prep File. (This defaults to the 2023 program. If another year is needed, select the previous year's button, then select the correct year)
  5. Save the file to the newly created 23Tax.
  6. Run the WebSetup again

Solution #2 - Download the preparer file from Lacerte 2023

If you are encountering errors accessing My Account, or do not have access to My Account, you can use Lacerte 2023 to install a prior year prep file. See: Downloading and Installing Prep Files Within the Lacerte Tax Program.

This error may be followed by the message:

  • An error occurred while copying files.  Installation cannot be completed at this time.

Typically this error will appear when a connection interruption occurs. If you are on a wireless device, ensure you have a strong connection, or attempting connecting using a cable.

If you have a stable internet connection, then the next common cause is a firewall or anti-virus software blocking the download of the setup files. See Firewall and antivirus configuration for Lacerte.

This error occurs in two different scenarios:

  • WebSetup is unable to download the preparer file from our server
    • This will typically impact older years which have unlocked preparer files
  • The preparer file currently in the program is damaged

To resolve this issue, we can download the preparer file from My Account and put it in the needed location.

If encountered when performing a new install for a prior year:

  1. Exit the installation
  2. Open the C:\Lacerte\ folder and create a new folder called ??Tax (where ?? is 2 digit tax year)
    • If the Lacerte folder does not exist, create the folder.
    • Afterwards you will have a path similar to C:\Lacerte\17tax\
  3. Go to the Lacerte Downloads page and sign in.
  4. Select the Previous Years option
  5. Select the applicable year in the Select Previous Year dropdown
  6. Select the link that appears for Prep File.
  7. Save the prep file to the newly created ??Tax folder.
  8. Run the WebSetup again

If encountered with a pre-existing installation:

  1. Go to the Lacerte Downloads page and sign in.
  2. If Lacerte 2023 is encountering the issue, select Download Prep File.
    1. If a prior year is encountering the issue, select the Previous Years option
    2. Select the applicable year in the Select Previous Year dropdown
    3. Select the link that appears for Prep File.
  3. Save the preparer file into the Option folder for the impacted year.
    • For standalone installations, this will be similar to C:\Lacerte\23Tax\Option23\
    • For network installations, this will typically be on your network drive in a path similar to X:\Lacerte\23Tax\Option23\
  4. Run the WebSetup again

If you receive the message when trying to download the update but no other users are in the program, Lacerte may still be running in the background.

  1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc on your keyboard to launch the Task Manager.
  2. Select the Details tab
  3. Select wYYtax.exe(YY = Tax Year)
  4. Select End Process or End Task
  5. Close the message stating that other users are in the program.
  6. Click Retry and update process should continue.

If the message persists:

  1. Open the Lacerte Tax program and press the F10 key at the main Clients tab.
    • On some keyboards the F-Lock key may need to be pressed first.
  2. On the Technical Support Information window, take note of the Option Path and Program Path.
  3. Close Lacerte
  4. Browse to the Option Path using Explorer.
  5. Scroll down the list of files and delete any WURN files.
  6. Next, open the URN folder in this Option Path and delete the contents
    • These files will start with User, followed by a 3 digit number.
    • ex: User003
  7. Now browse to the Program Path noted earlier.
    • This is C:\Lacerte\??tax\ most of the time.
  8. Delete the URN file
  9. Next, open the URN folder in this Program Path and delete the contents.
    • Similar to Step 6, these will be files starting with User, followed by a 3 digit number
  10. Run the WebSetup again.

NOTE: If you receive a message that states "Cannot delete the file: It is being used by another person or program" the file may be locked and requires a restart to unlock the file.

If the file is located on a mapped drive or server, rebooting the server would be required. You IT technician may be able to remove the file without rebooting the server.

Related topics

Lacerte Tax

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