Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing: What the Program Is and How to Start

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Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing is a touch-typing tutor that has been around since late 1987, when The Software Toolworks first released it. The program takes you through lessons, drills, tests and games, and over the years it has appeared in many editions for home computers, Windows PCs and Macs.

This page is part of a fan site about the program. It explains where the software came from, which editions you are likely to come across, what a typical edition includes and how to get set up on your own computer.

Where the Program Came From

The original software was written by Norm Worthington, Walt Bilofsky and Mike Duffy at The Software Toolworks. Les Crane, a former talk-show host and an early partner in the company, helped create the character whose name is on the box.

Mavis Beacon herself is fictional. The face on the first packaging belonged to Renee L'Esperance, a Haitian-born model photographed for the box art, who had no part in making the software. According to Mental Floss, about six million copies had been sold by 1998.

Early releases ran on MS-DOS, Apple II, Commodore 64, Apple IIGS, Atari ST, Amiga and Macintosh computers, and the program was also made for Palm OS. Later versions moved to Windows and macOS.

Editions of Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing

The product name has stayed the same while the edition labels have changed. These are some of the editions you may see on boxes, discs and store listings:

  • Numbered releases such as Version 5, Version 10 and Deluxe Version 11.
  • Deluxe 25th Anniversary, published by Encore and Broderbund around 2010 and described as offering skill assessments, personalized lessons and skill-building games.
  • Platinum 25th Anniversary Edition, a special anniversary release published by Encore Software.
  • Ultimate Mac Edition (2011) from Software MacKiev, which added two-player network games, iTunes integration, typing practice with song lyrics and classic novels to type from.
  • Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 2020, released by Encore in 2021 for Windows and Mac.

For more on one widely owned release, see the Mavis Beacon Platinum 25th Anniversary Edition guide. To see how the program measures progress, read how speed and accuracy work in a Mavis Beacon typing test.

If you own an older copy on disc, check the box for the edition name and the system requirements. Many older editions were built for operating systems that are now long out of date.

What the Program Includes

The details differ from one edition to the next, but the core of the typing tutor has stayed much the same:

  • Lessons and typing drills built around practice passages.
  • Tests to check your progress, with certificates for completed lessons and tests.
  • Games, such as a racing game in which typing words moves your car forward.
  • Skill assessments and personalized lessons in newer editions.

Early versions supported both the standard QWERTY layout and the Dvorak Simplified Keyboard, so the program has long been used by people learning either layout.

How to Get Started

Choose the guide for your device

Setup steps depend on your computer. There are separate pages for Mavis Beacon on Windows 11, Mavis Beacon for Windows 10, older Windows 7 and 8 PCs, Mac computers and laptops. If you would rather not install anything, see the page on practicing online.

Install and run your first lesson

  • Download the installer and save it somewhere easy to find, such as your Downloads folder.
  • Run the setup file and follow the steps on screen.
  • Open the program from the desktop shortcut, the Start menu or, on a Mac, the Applications folder.
  • Begin with the first lessons before moving on to tests and games.

For a full walkthrough with fixes for common problems, read the Mavis Beacon install guide.

Getting More from Your Practice

A typing tutor works best when practice is regular. A few habits help whichever edition you use:

  • Practice in short sessions on most days rather than one long session a week.
  • Aim for accuracy first. Speed tends to follow once your fingers know where the keys are.
  • Keep your eyes on the screen instead of the keyboard, even when it feels slower at first.
  • Use the games as a break from drills, then return to the lessons.

Looking for a shorter name or a different spelling of the program? See Mavis Beacon: Spellings, Names and Related Searches.

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