Upgrading to the Latest Version of Chief Architect

Reference Number: KB-01974

Last Modified: July 7, 2026

QUESTION

I have an active software subscription, an NFR license, or active Support and Software Assurance (SSA) associated with a perpetual legacy license. How do I get the latest version of Chief Architect?

ANSWER

Upgrading to the latest Chief Architect version can be done by signing in to your Chief Architect Online Account, clicking on the Digital Locker: Downloads, Product Keys & License Management link, and then selecting the GET NEW VERSION button next to your license. Once you click this button, you will be prompted with the following message:

"Product key XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX is eligible to be upgraded at no charge. Your product key will remain the same between versions in most cases. Any older program versions present on your system will NOT be modified by installing the new version. Upgrade now?"

Click UPGRADE to continue the upgrade process, or CANCEL to avoid making any changes and return to the page.

Once an upgrade is complete, the latest version of Chief Architect will appear in your account. Select the DOWNLOAD link to proceed with downloading and installing the Chief Architect version you upgraded to.

Note: If you have an active software subscription, an NFR license, or the Support & Software Assurance (SSA) associated with a perpetual legacy license is active, but you don't see the option to upgrade to the latest version, please contact us.

CONSIDERATIONS WHEN UPGRADING

Current program installation(s), library content, and other local program content will not be modified or removed upon upgrading. Each version of Chief Architect is an independent installation and will install separately from any and all previous installations.
After upgrading, please make sure to review all of the information in the Migration Guide, which is located on the Documentation page as well as within your Digital Locker.
After installing a new version on the same machine that a prior version was installed onto, a Migrate Content and Settings dialog will display allowing for settings and content to be migrated. To learn more about each of the options in this dialog, please refer to the Migration Guide for your version or continue reading below.
- Although preferences, templates, toolbars, and hotkeys can typically be migrated into a newer version, it's important to be cautious when doing so:
- You should review all the settings in the Preferences dialog to make sure that they are set to suit your drawing needs, as these settings may differ from version to version. This option is checked by default.
- Templates can be migrated, however it's not recommended to do so. Instead, it's recommended to use the new program version's installed templates when creating new plans and layouts, or use the new program version's installed templates as the basis for creating new custom templates. This option is not checked by default.
  
  If you choose to continue using template files that you used in a previous program version, it is very important that you take the time to review all the default settings in the file, making sure that they will continue to suit your needs.
  
  If you do choose to continue using a legacy template plan, it is best to also use a legacy layout template from the same program version, as well. As with a template plan, take the time to go through the layout template’s defaults and make sure they are suited for use in the new version, and that their line weight scales do not conflict with those in your template plans.
- Toolbars that have been migrated from a legacy version may be missing newly introduced tools. Additionally, obsolete toolbar buttons are occasionally removed from the program and will also be removed from migrated legacy toolbars. This option is not checked by default.
- Hotkeys can be migrated; however, the default hotkeys are occasionally modified to accommodate new features or changes in default system hotkeys. Consider revisiting your custom hotkeys to ensure they are set to your liking. This option is checked by default.
- Library content, including Core, Bonus, and Manufacturer Catalogs, as well as your User Catalog consisting of custom objects, materials, and more can be migrated from a prior version. These options are checked by default.
- If Project Management is enabled in X17, you will have the ability to migrate your existing Projects along with user-created Project Folders/Tags located within the Project Browser. These options are not checked by default.
  
  If you're not using Project Management, these options will not be listed in the dialog during migration. To learn more about Project Management, please see the Related Articles section.
  
  Note: If you choose not to migrate your projects forward, they can still be migrated at a later time by accessing the program's Preferences, selecting the Project Management panel, then clicking on the Migrate Forward Legacy Projects button. Individual projects can also be exported from a prior version and imported into your preferred version. Please see the Related Articles section to learn more.
- Folder locations for the program's Data folder, the User Library (User Catalog) folder, Library Database (Core, Bonus, and Manufacturer Catalogs) folder, and Project Management folder can also be changed, though the default locations are recommended and are checked by default.
  
  With Project Management enabled, it's important that you do NOT change or redirect the program's Project Management folder onto a cloud/network or synced location, as this will likely lead to file corruption and/or data loss.
  
  Chief Architect will be unable to provide support or assistance if you have redirected this folder to a location that is being synced or not local to the system.
If a prior version was installed on this machine, but the Migrate Content and Settings dialog did not display or was inadvertently closed, you can manually prompt this dialog to appear. To do so, open your Preferences , access the Reset Options panel, then click on Reset Migration.