Mac Version of NVivo - Challenges

• The Mac version of NVivo is not as fully functional as the Windows version.
• Moving between Mac and Windows with NVivo often causes technical challengess – if at all possible, DON’T try to work across platforms.
• We do not offer workshops/recordings on the Mac version due to having no Mac access to do so. Differences in interface, functionality, and features between the Mac and Windows version of NVivo may make it challenging to follow along with the Windows workshop if you are using a Mac. If you are a current GSU faculty, staff, or students and need targeted training for the Mac version of NVivo after attending the NVivo workshops or watching the NVivo recorded workshops, please contact Dr. Mandy.

ATTENTION Mac Users:

You may need to change your System Preferences to install NVivo for Mac -- troubleshoot using this page steps #3 or #4.

Campus Labs:

The University Library Atlanta Campus has NVivo installed on ALL its Windows/DELL computers throughout the entire Library. 

Contact other GSU Labs to see if NVivo is installed on lab computers.

Departmental Labs:

NVivo may already be available in some departmental or school computer labs -- ask within your departments. If it's not currently available, talk with your department about getting it installed on departmental lab computers. 

Exporting your NVivo Work

The below doc has steps for exporting your NVivo content and overview info about other QDA tools. NOTE: NVivo is currently the only QDA tool that GSU licenses – if you move to another proprietary (not-free) tool, you will need to secure funding to pay for it.

NVivo 15 -- released and FREE to current GSU affiliates!

Campus IIT will be adding NVivo 15 to their regular installation process sometime soon, but current GSU affiliates can get FREE access to NVivo 15 NOW using the steps in Dr. Mandy's help doc. 

The New AI Assistant

The AI Assistant is an add-on that’s new with NVivo 15 – you can opt-in to use it (free initially, then via paid subscription) or ignore it if AI is not something you want to pursue in your NVivo-ing.

• Initial free access allows processing ~1,000 pages of tokens (1 page ~= 1500 words).
• When limit is reached, a dialog box directs you to a link to myLumivero portal to purchase an AI Assistant add-on subscription with unlimited usage renewable annually. NOTE: You will NOT lose access to NVivo 15 when you reach the AI Assistant free limit.

What does the AI Assistant do?

• AI Assistant: Summarize Text option: Select text in a Document or PDF to automatically summarize the selection and save the summaries as text-linked Annotations.
• AI Assistant: Summarize Document(s) option: Select one or more items [Documents, PDFs, and Audio or Video files with synced transcripts] to automatically generate a summary for each selected item, which can be stored as linked Memos.
• AI Assistant: Suggest Child Codes option: Select a code and generate child codes based on the coded content.

NOTE: As of 09.08/2025, AI Assistant will NOT process spreadsheet-formatted Datasets (i.e., survey open-ended questions, X/Twitter datasets) or audio or video files lacking transcripts.

WINDOWS – AI Assistant help page | MAC – AI Assistant help page

You must Activate AI Assistant to use it!

Download below PDF for steps on installing NVivo 15 and activating AI Assistant!

If your NVivo is showing as "expired", the new license key needs to be entered and activated. If your NVivo license expires, you will NOT lose your files -- you just won't be able to open them until (1) GSU IIT makes the new license key available on the OnTheHub/Kivuto site and (2) you enter and activate the new license within NVivo.

NOTE: If you are using a GSU-owned computer requiring an administrative username/password for software updates, please contact your department's IT person to renew your NVivo license.

ACCESSING the New NVivo License Key:

(for renewing NVivo license on your personal non-GSU computer)

1. Go to the GSU OnTheHub/Kivuto page (where you downloaded the software -- requires login with your GSU CampusID/password)
2. In the top right corner click your email/account name > click Your Account/Orders
3. Find NVivo in list of your Orders & Downloads > click View Details button
4. Copy entire 25-character-long license key

ACTIVATING the New NVivo License Key:

For Windows/PC - old license not yet expired

1. Connect to internet (must be connected to update license)
2. Open NVivo
3. Click File > click Product Info > click Manage License > click Deactivate License
4. Reopen NVivo
5. In Activate NVivo window, click on or provide enterprise key to activate link toward bottom of window
6. In License Key window, paste the new license key in the first field (it will apply the separate sections across the remaining fields) > checkbox your agreement to license terms > click Next button
7. In License Activation window, fill in required information > click Activate button

For Windows/PC - old license already expired

1. Connect to internet (must be connected to update license)
2. Open NVivo
3. In Expired License popup window, click Activate manually link toward bottom of window
4. Paste the new license key in the first field (it will apply the separate sections across the remaining fields)
5. Enter information in License Activation form if prompted > click Activate button

For Mac - old license not yet expired

1. Connect to internet (must be connected to update license)
2. Open NVivo
3. Click NVivo dropdown in top left corner of desktop screen > click Licensing > click Deactivate
4. Reopen NVivo
5. In Activate NVivo window, click on or provide enterprise key to activate link toward bottom of window
6. In License Key window, paste the new license key in the first field (it will apply the separate sections across the remaining fields) > checkbox your agreement to license terms > click Next button
7. In License Activation window, fill in required information > click Activate button

For Mac - old license already expired

1. Connect to internet (must be connected to update license)
2. Open NVivo
3. In Expired License popup window, click Activate manually link toward bottom of window
4. Paste the new license key in the first field (it will apply the separate sections across the remaining fields)
5. Enter information in License Activation form if prompted > click Activate button

What version of NVivo do I have?

As of 2024.07.05, there are three (3) different versions of NVivo available to GSU users – when renewing the license, you must use the key appropriate to the version you have on your computer:

NVIVO VERSION - how to find out what you've got installed:

1. Open NVivo
2. In left-hand blue navigation bar, click About NVivo
3. Popup About window shows "Release" version --> first number is what version of NVivo you have installed.

NOTE: The above steps are for Windows -- I do not have access to a Mac to customize steps.