Mavis Beacon for Windows 10: Editions, Requirements and Installation
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Install NowMavis Beacon Teaches Typing is a touch-typing tutor built around lessons, tests and typing games. Windows 10 is one of the systems named for the current edition, so on most PCs setup is an ordinary installer. This page explains which edition to use, what your PC needs, how to install it and what to try when an older copy refuses to start.
Running a 64-bit system? Read the Mavis Beacon on 64-bit Windows 10 and 11 setup guide.
Which Editions Run on Windows 10
The current release is Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 2020 from Encore Software, which went on sale in 2021. Its Steam listing names Windows 10 Pro and Home as supported, alongside Windows 11, Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 7. The listing describes skill assessments, customized lessons, skill-building games and progress tracking.
Older copies are a different matter. The Family Edition powered by UltraKey, released on Steam in 2013, lists Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8, but not Windows 10. Discs from the 1990s and 2000s were made for even older systems. Some may still install, but Windows 10 is not among the systems they list.
System Requirements for Windows 10 (64-bit)
These are the minimum requirements given for the 2020 edition on Windows:
- Processor: 64-bit, Intel Core i3 or better
- Memory: 2 GB RAM
- Storage: 1 GB of free space
- Graphics: DirectX 9.0c card with 512 MB of video memory, 24-bit color, 1500x960 resolution
- A broadband internet connection, a current web browser and Adobe Acrobat Reader
Windows 10 was sold in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions, which is why many people search for the 64-bit download. To see which one you have, open Settings, go to System, then About, and read the System type line. If it says 32-bit operating system, compare the requirements on the box or store page of the edition you own before you install.
How to Install Mavis Beacon on Windows 10
- Save the installer to your Downloads folder and wait until the download has fully finished.
- Double-click the setup file. When Windows asks whether to allow the app to make changes, check that the publisher shown matches the edition you expect, then confirm.
- Follow the setup wizard and keep the default install folder unless your system drive is short on space.
- Open the program from the Start menu or the desktop shortcut, create a profile and begin with the first lesson.
The Mavis Beacon install guide walks through the first launch and the profile setup in more detail.
Common Problems on Windows 10
- An older edition does not start. Microsoft recommends the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter. On Windows 10, open Start, then Settings, Update & Security, Troubleshoot, Additional troubleshooters, and run Program Compatibility Troubleshooter for the program.
- A very old disc will not install at all. 64-bit versions of Windows do not run 16-bit programs or 16-bit installers, so releases made for Windows 3.1 or MS-DOS generally will not work on a 64-bit PC.
- Lesson text does not fit on the screen. The 2020 edition asks for a 1500x960 display. Check Settings, System, Display and compare the resolution and scale with that figure.
- Windows 10 is no longer updated. Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. The PC keeps working, but it no longer gets security updates. If you move to a newer system, see Mavis Beacon on Windows 11, which the 2020 edition also lists.
Still using an older PC? The page on Windows 7 and 8 covers editions made for those systems.