Welcome to Final Draft 13! Follow the steps below to install Final Draft 13, sign in, and get started on your next great script.
IMPORTANT: You must have an active Internet connection to download and sign in to Final Draft 13.
REQUIREMENTS: Your PC must have Windows 10 or Windows 11 to install Final Draft 13.
You can follow along with our video tutorial here, or scroll down for text instructions and FAQs for common issues:
Step 1: Download the Final Draft 13 installer
Click here to download the installer .zip file:
The installer will typically be saved in your Downloads folder, which can be accessed by clicking the down-pointing arrow icon at the upper right of your web browser. You can click the File Explorer icon (the yellow folder at the bottom of your screen) then select your Downloads folder.
Step 2: Installing Final Draft onto your PC
Double-click the finaldraft13.xxWin file to unzip it (the “xx” is the exact version number), or right-click the .zip file, select Open With > File Explorer.
A new window will open with a file named FinalDraftSetup.msi; double-click this file. This will open the Final Draft Installation Wizard:
Click Next to proceed through the Installation Wizard. When you reach the End User License Agreement, read it, then select that you accept the agreement and click Next to proceed:
When asked to choose a Destination Folder, click Next to proceed with the default destination folder. We strongly recommend using the default folder.
During the installation, you may be prompted to allow Final Draft to make changes to your device. Click Yes:
When the installation is finished, you'll be able to click Finish to exit the installation and launch Final Draft.
NOTE: If Final Draft does not launch after clicking Finish, or you need to reopen it, you can do so by clicking the Start menu, the Windows icon in the bottom left of your screen.
Step 3: Sign In, Onboard and Get Started:
When opening Final Draft 13 for the first time, you will be prompted to sign in to Final Draft 13 using the email and password you created when you purchased the program.
Enter the email address and click Next.
You will then be prompted for your password. Enter the password and click Sign In to sign in.
After signing in, you will be asked to opt in or opt out to anonymous data collection, which helps Final Draft improve its products.
Once you opt in or out, you will be asked to answer a few questions about your experience and goals as a writer. Once that is done, you'll be taken to the Final Draft 13 Welcome Screen:
You can click "New File" to launch a blank screenplay document. If you're new to Final Draft or screenwriting, we recommend going to File in the top left corner of your screen, selecting New From Template, and opening "Screenplay for Beginners," which shows the basics of formatting in Final Draft.
Common Installation and Sign-in Issues:
I just upgraded to Final Draft 13. Where are the scripts from my old version?