Downloading and Installing SPSS for Doctoral Students – GCU Technical Support

The SPSS Program is the gold standard for quantitative analysis and is used by academic institutions pursuing advanced research. The first step to prepare for using SPSS is to download the installation file to your computer. Please select your computer type below for instructions.

You can download SPSS on multiple computers. If you do download it on multiple computers, keep in mind that the licensing code for the program changes every year. We are currently on version 26. You will need to update the license on each computer separately.

NOTE This downloadable version of SPSS is for doctoral students only. Other students requiring SPSS can access the program using Citrix. For more information on Citrix, refer to our article on Using Citrix Workspace.

There are two options to choose from when installing SPSS on a PC: 32-bit and 64-bit. If you are unsure of the bit version you need, refer to The Differences Between 32-bit and 64-bit Operating Systems for instructions on determining your computer’s bit version. If you are unable to determine which bit version you need, we recommend choosing the 32-bit version.

Once you have determined your bit version, select one of the following downloads for Windows (PC):

SPSS for Windows (32-bit)

SPSS for Windows (64-bit)

The download typically takes 3-5 minutes to complete.

Once the download is complete, you can click on the downloaded file in your browser or you can double-click the install file in your Downloads folder to start the installation process. Additionally, there will be another pop up asking if you want to allow this app to make changes? Click Yes in order to continue the installation process.

NOTE At this point, SPSS will need to extract the files. In most instances, the extraction screen may disappear and reappear more than once while decompressing. You may need to allow some time for it to continue.
After the extraction is complete, the InstallShield Wizard will launch. Select Next to continue.
You will be asked to read the terms of the Software License Agreement. Choose I accept the terms of the license agreement and click Next.
Next, you will be offered an option to install SPSS Statistics Essentials for Python. If you’re not sure you will be using this, select No. After you make a selection, click Next.

NOTE If you chose to install SPSS Statistics Essentials for Python, you will need to accept the license terms and click Next.
Choose a destination folder to use for the installation’s location. We recommend using the default folder for this installation. To continue, click Next.
The InstallShield Wizard will verify the destination folder has sufficient space for the installation. Once the check is complete, you’re ready to begin the installation. Click Install.
The installation of SPSS may take several minutes to complete.

NOTE The installation time may vary depending on device or speed of network connection. We recommend that your device is plugged in and does not hibernate or shut down during the process. If the process is interrupted during the installation, you may be required to start over.
When the installation is complete, make sure the box for Start IBM SPSS Statistics Now is checked and click Finish.
In the Product Authorization window select the option Authorized user license (I purchased a single copy of the product) and click Next.
The next screen will prompt you to enter a license code. If you do not know the code, click here to log into the DC Network and view them. Alternatively, you can locate the code by logging into the DC Network and selecting Quantitative Software (SPSS) from the Software menu on the left. If you have trouble logging into the DC Network, refer to DC Network Login Information.
After entering the code, the Internet Authorization Status window will attempt to validate the code over the internet. If successful, it will display the message: Successfully processed all codes. Once it is finished, click Next.
The Licensing Completed window is the last step to complete the SPSS installation. Simply click Finish and you're all set.

You’re now ready to begin using IBM SPSS Statistics!

Click the following link to download the SPSS installation file for Mac:

SPSS for Mac

The download typically takes 3-5 minutes to complete.

Once the download is complete, locate and open the file that you downloaded to begin the installation process.
The SPSS Statistics window will open. Double-click the SPSS_Statistics_Installer icon.
You may receive a warning: This is an application downloaded from the Internet. Are you sure you want to open it? If so, click Open.
Next, you may be prompted to enter your Mac administrator username and password. After entering the username and password, click Install Helper to continue.
When the IBM SPSS Statistics installer opens, select your language (the default is English) and click OK.
On the Introduction window, click Next.
You will be asked to read the terms of the Software License Agreement. Choose I accept the terms of the license agreement and click Next.
Next, you will be offered an option to install SPSS Statistics Essentials for Python. If you’re not sure you will be using this, select No. After you make a selection, click Next.

NOTE If you chose to install SPSS Statistics Essentials for Python, you will need to accept the license terms and click Next.
On the Choose Install Folder window, choose a destination folder to use for the installation’s location. We recommend using the default folder for this installation. To continue, click Next.
On the Pre-Installation Summary window, you can review the options you selected. When you’re ready to begin the installation, click Install.
The installation of SPSS may take several minutes to complete.

NOTE The installation time may vary depending on device or speed of network connection. We recommend that your device is plugged in and does not sleep or shut down during the process. If the process is interrupted during the installation, you may be required to start over.
When the installation is complete, make sure the box for Start IBM SPSS Statistics Now is checked and click Done. You may be asked to move the installer to the Trash once the installation is completed. If so, you can click either Keep or Move to Trash, depending on your preference.
IBM SPSS Statistics should automatically launch. You may receive a warning: Do you want the application “spssLauncher” to accept incoming network connections. Click Allow to proceed to licensing the product for use.
On the License Status screen, click Next.
In the Product Authorization window select the option Authorized user license (I purchased a single copy of the product) and click Next.
The next screen will prompt you to enter a license code. If you do not know the code, click here to log into the DC Network and view them. Alternatively, you can locate the code by logging into the DC Network and selecting Quantitative Software (SPSS) from the Software menu on the left. If you have trouble logging into the DC Network, refer to DC Network Login Information.

After entering the code, the Internet Authorization Status window will attempt to validate the code over the internet. If successful, it will display the message: Successfully processed all codes. Once it is finished, click Next.
The Licensing Completed window is the last step to complete the SPSS installation. Simply click Finish and you're all set.

You’re now ready to begin using IBM SPSS Statistics! To open SPSS, you can search for SPSSStatistics in Spotlight or locate SPSSStatistics in the IBM folder from your Applications.

For help using SPSS, be sure to take a look at our SPSS Tutorials.