SPSS - Download, Installation, and Activation

software

Summary

The steps below detail how faculty, students, and staff can install SPSS on their Mac and Windows devices.

If you have technical or use issues with SPSS beyond installing and activating the software, contact IBM Support directly for assistance by performing the following:

Navigate to: https://www.ibm.com/mysupport/s/?language=en_US.
Select: Open a Case.

If you don't already have an IBM account, you must create one.

Enter KU's IBM Customer Number (ICN): 9152774 when prompted and submit your support request to IBM.

Reference Items

IBM Support Request Page

SPSS support site for any use or technical issues with the software.
KU's IBM Customer Number (ICN): 9152774.

KU Software Store

Software download location for personal devices.

SPSS 31 – Mac Devices

Faculty, students, and staff can install SPSS on their Mac device.

Faculty and Staff

Faculty and staff versions of SPSS are installed on KU managed devices through the Self Service app and include licensing and activation all-in-one. Faculty or staff members who would like to install SPSS on a device that KU does not manage should follow the steps outlined in the "Students - 1. Installation" and "Students - 2. Activation" sections below.

To open the installation location for SPSS, start by clicking the Applications icon in your dock.

In the search bar of the Applications window type: self service, then click: Self Service in the list of results to open it.

In the Self Service window, scroll down to SPSS Statistics 31.0 and click: Install.

Once SPSS is installed, return to the Applications window, click the search bar, type: SPSS, then click IBM SPS Statistics in the list of results to open it.

SPSS is activated and is ready for use.

Students - 1. Installation

Follow the steps below to install SPSS on your personal device. When installation is complete, follow the steps within the "Students - 2. Activation" section below to activate your install and begin using the software.

Navigate to the KU Software Store: https://kusoftware.ku.edu, click: Login with KU Online ID, then enter your single sign-on information if prompted.

If you are a KUMC faculty or staff member or KU alumni, enter your email and password on the right, then click: Login.
If you are a KUMC faculty or staff member or KU alumni and have forgotten your password or need account assistance, click: Forgot Password?. If you need further assistance, contact the IT Help Desk.

Click: IBM SPSS & Amos 2025.

Click: Add to Cart.

Click: Finish & Download.

The My Software page will open and your order history will be listed, including your recent purchase of IBM SPSS & Amos 2025. Select: SPSSSC_31_MacOS.pkg to download the software installer.

When the download completes, open the download location on your Mac, which is commonly the Downloads folder. Beneath where the file SPSSSC_31_MacOS.pkg is listed, click: Open file.

An Install IBM SPSS Statistics app window will open. Click: Continue.

Read the Important Information, then click: Continue.

Read the Software License Agreement, then click: Continue.

Click: Agree to continue the installation.

Click: Install to begin the installation.

Enter the username and password for the computer's administrator account when prompted and click: Install Software.

If this Mac is your device, this will be your username and password.

Once the installation completes, click: Close.

You will be prompted to delete the installer file, click: Move to Trash.

Optional: If you want to keep the installer for potential use in the future, click: Keep instead.

Your system will open the Application folder in the background; double-click SPSS Statistics to launch the program and continue to the "Students - 2. Activation" section below to activate your software for use.

Students - 2. Activation

Once SPSS is installed, the software will need to be activated the first time it is launched. After activation, SPSS will be ready for use.

Navigate to: https://kusoftware.ku.edu, click: My Software, then click: AMOS & SPSS 2025 License Keys.

Locate the SPSS 31 entry, and copy its license code text to your clipboard by highlighting it and pressing command ⌘ and c on your keyboard.

Open SPSS and within the License not valid window click: Launch License Wizard.

Select the Authorized user license radio button, then click: Next.

Click the box labeled Enter code and paste the license code from step 2 above by pressing command ⌘ and v on your keyboard, click: Add, then click: Next.

An authorization status window will appear. Once all codes are successfully processed in green, click: Next.

Once licensing is complete, click: Finish.

SPSS is now activated and ready for use.

The activation wizard window will close. If the SPSS window closed during activation, reopen SPSS to launch the program and click yes or allow on any pop up windows that appear at first launch.

SPSS 31 – Windows Devices

Faculty, students, and staff can install SPSS on their Windows device.

Faculty and Staff

Faculty and staff versions of SPSS are installed on KU managed devices with the Software Center app and include licensing and activation all-in-one. Faculty or staff members who would like to install SPSS on a device that KU does not manage can follow the steps outlined in the "Students - 1. Installation" and "Students - 2. Activation" sections below.

Open Software Center by clicking the search bar at the bottom of the screen, typing Software Center, then clicking its entry in the list of results.

When Software Center opens, within Applications, click: IBM SPSS Statistics 31.

Click: Install.

Installation progress will be listed to the right of the Install button.

Once SPSS is installed, click the search bar, type: SPSS, then click its entry in the list of results.

SPSS is activated and ready for use.

Students - 1. Installation

Navigate to the KU Software Store: https://kusoftware.ku.edu, click: Login with KU Online ID, then enter your single sign-on information if prompted.

If you are a KUMC faculty or staff member or KU alumni, enter your email and password on the right, then click: Login.
If you are a KUMC faculty or staff member or KU alumni and have forgotten your password or need account assistance, click: Forgot Password?. If you need further assistance, contact the IT Help Desk.

Click: IBM SPSS & Amos 2025.

Click: Add to Cart.

Click: Finish & Download.

The My Software page will open and your order history will be listed, including your recent purchase of IBM SPSS & Amos 2025. Select: IBM SPSS Statistics 31.msi to download the software installer.

Open the file location where the download was saved, commonly the Downloads folder, and double-click: IBM SPSS Statistics.msi.

The InstallShield Wizard will open, click: Next.

Select the I accept radio button, then click: Next.

Accept the default destination folder location by clicking: Next.

Click: Install.

Click: Yes if prompted on any User Account Control windows, then click: Next to start the installation.

When the installation completes, click: Finish.

If the Start IBM SPSS Statistics now checkbox remains checked, SPSS will open immediately.

Continue to the "Students - 2. Activation" section below to finish activating your install and begin using SPSS.

Students - 2. Activation

Once SPSS is installed, the software will need to be activated the first time it is launched. After activation, SPSS will be ready for use.

Navigate to: https://kusoftware.ku.edu, click: My Software, then click: AMOS & SPSS 2025 License Keys.

Locate the SPSS 31 entry, and copy its license code text to your clipboard by highlighting it and pressing ctrl and c on your keyboard.

Open SPSS and within the Activate window click: Launch License Wizard.

Click: Yes if prompted on any User Account Control windows.

Select the Authorized User License radio button, then click: Next.

Paste the license code copied in step 2 above, click: Add, then click: Next.

An authorization status window will appear. Once all codes are successfully processed in green, click: Next.

Once licensing is complete, click: Finish.

SPSS is now activated and ready to use.

The activation wizard window will close. If the SPSS window closed during activation, reopen SPSS to launch the program and click yes or allow on any pop up windows that appear at first launch.

SPSS 30 – Mac Devices

Faculty, students, and staff can install SPSS on their Mac device.

1. Installation

Log in to the KU Software Store at https://kusoftware.ku.edu.
Click My Software in the upper right to view your purchased software.

Select SPSS 30.0.0.0_Mac.pkg. This will initiate the download for the SPSS 30 installer file of the same name with your online ID prepended, e.g. j123h456-SPSSSC_30.0.0.0_Mac.pkg Leave this page open in your browser, as you will need to come back to it to get the license key at the end of the setup process.
Open the folder where the file has been saved. Depending on your browser and computer settings, you may have been prompted on where you want to save it, or it may be located in your Downloads folder. (The latter is the most common place to find downloaded files.)
Double-click the file to start the installation process.
Click Continue on the IBM SPSS Statistics installation wizard and the read me.
Click Continue when you are ready to proceed past Important Information.
Click Continue on the Software License Agreement.
Click Agree to confirm your agreement to the license terms and proceed with the installation.
Click Install to begin the installation process.
Wait while the installation continues; it may take several minutes. If it asks for permission to access the Downloads folder, click OK.
Click Close once the installation wizard shows that it has completed.
When prompted to delete the installer file, you can choose to delete it y clicking Move to Trash or keep it by clicking Keep; you shouldn't need it again in the future.

Your system will open the Application folder in the background; double-click SPSS Statistics to launch the program.

2. Activation

You'll be prompted to activate the software the first time you launch SPSS 30 after installation. If you are not already signed into the KU Software Store at https://kusoftware.ku.edu and open My Software, please do so before continuing.

Click the SPSS 2024 License Keys link.
Select the key beside SPSS 30 and copy the text by pressing Cmd (⌘) + C on your keyboard, or right-clicking with your mouse and selecting Copy.
Launch SPSS 30, if you haven't already launched it as part of the installation process detailed in the respective panel above.
Click Launch License Wizard when the Activate IBM SPSS Statistics window opens.
Leave Authorized user license selected, and click Next.
Click the box labeled Enter Code and paste the license code from step 2, either by pressing Cmd (⌘) + V on your keyboard or right-clicking in the box with your mouse and selecting Paste.
Click Add. This will add the code to the larger box below. Click Next.
You will see the authorization in progress, followed by a notice that the authorization has succeeded.
Click Next. You will see the details of the license you entered, including when it will expire.
Click Finish.

SPSS 30 – Windows Devices

Faculty, students, and staff can install SPSS on their Windows device.

1. Installation

Log in to the KU Software Store at https://kusoftware.ku.edu.
Click: My Software in the upper right to view your purchased software.
Select: SPSS 30- Windows.msi. This will initiate the download for the SPSS 30 installer file of the same name with your online ID prepended, e.g. j123h456-IBM SPSS Statistics 30.msi. Leave this page open in your browser, as you will need to come back to it to get the license key at the end of the setup process.
Open the folder where the file has been saved. Depending on your browser and computer settings, you may have been prompted on where you want to save it, or it may be located in your Downloads folder. (The latter is the most common place to find downloaded files.)
Double-click the file to start the installation process.
Click: Next on the IBM SPSS Statistics installation wizard.
Select the I accept the terms in the license agreement radio button. Click: Next when you are ready to proceed
Click: Next.
Click: Install to begin the installation process. Your computer will prompt you to allow the app to make changes to your device, click: Yes to proceed.
Wait while the installation continues as it may take several minutes.
- If User Account Control asks to allow app to make changes to your device, click: Yes.
Leave Start IBM SPSS Statistics now selected and click: Finish once the installation wizard shows that it has completed. This will launch the SPSS software with a splash icon in the middle of the screen.
See the "Activation" section below for steps on how to activate your license once SPSS launches.

2. Activation

The first time you launch SPSS 30 after installation you will be prompted to activate it. Ensure you are signed into the KU Software Store at https://kusoftware.ku.edu, then open My Software.

Click the SPSS 2024 License Keys link.
Locate the SPSS 30 entry and copy its license code by pressing Ctrl + C on your keyboard, or right-clicking with your mouse and selecting Copy.
Launch SPSS 30, if you haven't already launched it as part of the installation process detailed in the respective panel above.
Click Launch License Wizard when the Activate IBM SPSS Statistics window opens.
You may be prompted by your computer to allow the app to make changes to your device — click Yes to proceed.
Leave Authorized user license selected, and click Next.
Click the box labeled Enter Code and paste the license code from step 2, either by pressing Ctrl + V on your keyboard or right-clicking in the box with your mouse and selecting Paste.
Click Add. This will add the code to the larger box below.
Click Next.
You will see the authorization in progress, followed by a notice that the authorization has succeeded. Click Next.
You will see the details of the license you entered, including when it will expire. Click Finish.
After a moment, you may be prompted by Windows Defender that IBM SPSS Statistics requests permissions to communicate on specific types of networks. Select the networks you want the application to communicate on (such as Private and Domain, as shown below) and click Allow.

To launch SPSS 30, open the Start Menu and scroll down to the I section of your applications list. Click the folder named IBM SPSS Statistics to see the application.

Troubleshooting - Activating SPSS By Email

If you lose internet connection while activating SPSS in the "Students - 2. Activation" sections above, you will receive an error that one or more codes have failed. If you are unable to reconnect to the internet from your device and still need to activate the software, you can activate SPSS via email.

After authorization fails, you will be presented with the error shown below. Click: Next.

Click: Copy to copy the email authorization text.

Click: Finish to close the window.

Create a new email on your device, enter the following information as shown below, then click: Send.

If you don't have internet access on your device, you can paste the email body text into a text file, copy the text file onto a USB drive, and move it to a different device with internet access.

In the To field, type: spssls@us.ibm.com.
In the Subject line, type "License Authorization".

Be sure to include the quotation marks in the subject line.

Paste the email authorization text you copied in step 2 above into the body of the email.

Ensure the body text it is exactly the same as the text provided in the authorization window from step 2 above.

You will receive an email response from IBM's automated system. Open the email and copy the license string to the left of the #.

Response times can vary from a few minutes to several hours.
If you haven't received a reply after 24 hours, send the email again, ensuring that you don't have any typos or differences from the copied text.

Restart the Authorization Wizard by reopening SPSS and continue until you reach the Enter Codes window.
Add both the license key from the "Students - 2. Activation" section above and the license string copied from the email in step 5 above with no spaces, click: Add, then click: Next.

The output as show below will display. Click: Next.

If the license key and license string you entered in step 7 above are correct, the errors can be ignored.

Skip the License Authorization via Email window by clicking: Finish.

Click: Restart on the pop up window to restart SPSS and apply the license.

If licensing was successfully applied, SPSS will launch normally. If you continue to have issues, contact IBM support per the steps within the "Summary" section above.

Article Changelog

3.4/2026

Updated article to include SPSS 31 and remove SPSS 29. Updated article to outline faculty/staff installation steps and student installation and activation steps. SPSS software is scoped within Self Service to all Mac workstations and within Software Center to all Windows workstations.

1/24/2026

Article updated to basic visual standard.

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SPSS - Download, Installation, and Activation

Summary

Reference Items

SPSS 31 – Mac Devices

Faculty and Staff

Students - 1. Installation

Students - 2. Activation

SPSS 31 – Windows Devices

Faculty and Staff

Students - 1. Installation

Students - 2. Activation

SPSS 30 – Mac Devices

1. Installation

2. Activation

SPSS 30 – Windows Devices

1. Installation

2. Activation

Troubleshooting - Activating SPSS By Email

Article Changelog

Deleting...

Updating...

SPSS - Download, Installation, and Activation

Summary

Reference Items

SPSS 31 – Mac Devices

Faculty and Staff​​​​​

Students - 1. Installation

Students - 2. Activation

SPSS 31 – Windows Devices

Faculty and Staff

Students - 1. Installation

Students - 2. Activation

SPSS 30 – Mac Devices

1. Installation

2. Activation

SPSS 30 – Windows Devices

1. Installation

2. Activation

Troubleshooting - Activating SPSS By Email

Article Changelog

Deleting...

Faculty and Staff