Install & Activate Products

Jun 23, 2025

Follow the steps below to install Waves software products and activate their licenses to your computer using Waves Central.

If you already have the Waves Central application installed on your computer, you can proceed to the instructions below.

If you don’t, download and install Waves Central:

Important Notes:

  • Check which software version is most suitable for your system and DAW.
  • Waves Creative Access subscription and V16 perpetual licenses are backwards-compatible and will also activate older version software (V9 and above), if the product/s in question exist in that software version.
  • For more information on using older licenses and software, refer to this article.

  Click here for an interactive tutorial in Waves Central

  • Waves Central can install V16-V11 plugins and V15 Live applications via online installation, as well as Waves Creative Access subscriptions.

    If you own perpetual (non-subscription) licenses for V16-V11 plugins, bundles, or live applications, follow the steps below to install and activate them.

    If you own perpetual (non-subscription) licenses for V9-V10 plugins or bundles, please refer to the How to Install Waves Legacy Versions article for installation instructions.

    1. Launch Waves Central
      Windows: via the desktop shortcut or Start Menu > All Programs > Waves Central.
      Mac: Applications > Waves Central.
    2. Log in to your account.
    3. Click on the Install Products page.
    4. Select the My Products tab to view the products for which you have a license for.
    5. Select the products you wish to install from the list and review the selection in the Summary section.
    6. Use the Target Device for Licenses panel to select the device on which the licenses will be activated (computer or USB drive).
    7. Click on the Install button. If you are activating licenses as well, the button will read Install & Activate.
    8. Launch your DAW (these are the supported hosts)
    9. Load your plugins (via the insert list in most DAWs, if you can’t find them click here)
    • If you are already subscribed to Waves Creative Access:
      1. Launch Waves Central
        Windows: via the desktop shortcut or Start Menu > All Programs > Waves Central.
        Mac: Applications > Waves Central.
      2. Log in to your account.
      3. Click the Creative Access page.
      4. Click on the Install & Activate button.
      5. In the pop-up window, choose what licenses to activate and to what device (computer or USB drive). You can also choose to install without activating the license meaning the plugins will work in Demo mode, with periodic mutes.
      6. Choose whether you want to install sample libraries for Waves Instruments and for Cosmos Sample Finder, and whether to install the SD or HD samples.
      7. Click Continue to start the installation.
      8. After the installation is finished, launch your DAW (these are the supported hosts)
      9. Load your plugins (via the insert list in most DAWs, if you can’t find them click here)
    • If you are not yet subscribed to Waves Creative Access but would still like to try the plugins:
      1. Launch Waves Central
        Windows: via the desktop shortcut or Start Menu > All Programs > Waves Central.
        Mac: Applications > Waves Central.
      2. Log in to your account.
      3. Click the Creative Access page.
      4. Click Install Demo.
      5. In the pop-up window, choose whether you want to install sample libraries for Waves Instruments and for Cosmos Sample Finder, and whether to install the SD or HD samples.
      6. Click Install Demo.
      7. After the installation is finished, launch your DAW (these are the supported hosts)
      8. Load your plugins (via the insert list in most DAWs, if you can’t find them click here)

      The plugins will work in Demo mode, with periodic mutes.

If you need any further assistance, please contact Technical Support.