How to move Native Instruments and Kontakt to a new computer.
Native Access can reinstall your NI applications and plugins, while existing Kontakt and Komplete libraries may be located on an external or transferred drive. The cleanest migration separates small software components from large content libraries.
Move the whole setup—not just the plugin file.
A dependable migration accounts for software, formats, versions, licenses, presets, supporting files, sample content, and the sessions that depend on them.
Reinstall apps and plugins
Use Native Access on the new computer to install current NI applications and plugin formats.
Locate existing libraries
Large Kontakt and Komplete libraries can often be reused from an existing drive and located in Native Access instead of downloaded again.
Do not move plugin binaries
NI advises against manually moving plugin files on macOS. Use Native Access and standard plugin locations.
Prepare Native Instruments before changing computers
Open Native Access on the old computer and review the installed products, applications, instruments, effects, expansions, and content libraries. Record the locations of large libraries and confirm that every product is registered to the NI account you will use on the new computer.
- Create an FX Recall scan of the old plugin library.
- Write down the paths of Kontakt, Komplete, Maschine, and expansion content.
- Back up user presets, custom Kontakt instruments, samples, and projects.
- Identify older major versions such as Kontakt 6 or Reaktor 5 that old sessions may reference separately from newer versions.
- Safely disconnect external library drives only after all audio applications are closed.
Install NI products on the new computer
Native Instruments officially supports installing products on a new computer through Native Access. Your products remain associated with your NI account, subject to their allowed installation limits.
Install Native Access
Download Native Access from Native Instruments, install it on the new computer, and sign in with the account that owns your products.
Set download and content locations
Before installing, open Native Access preferences and choose the download, application, content, and plugin locations appropriate for the new system.
Install applications and plugins
Use the Available tab to install Kontakt, Reaktor, Guitar Rig, effects, instruments, and other NI software. Let Native Access place plugin formats in their proper system folders.
Locate reusable libraries
If a supported library already exists on a connected drive, use the product menu in Native Access to locate the existing folder rather than downloading it again.
Verify in Kontakt and your DAW
Open Kontakt standalone first, check that libraries load, then rescan plugins in the DAW and test representative sessions.
Move or locate Kontakt and Komplete libraries
Libraries already on an external drive
Connect the drive to the new computer using the same folder structure. In Native Access, find the library, open its menu, choose the Locate option when available, and point Native Access to the library’s top-level folder.
Libraries stored on the old internal drive
Copy the complete library folders to a suitable drive before retiring the old computer. Do not copy only instrument files while omitting Samples, Resources, or other subfolders. Once the copy is complete, use Native Access to locate each supported library.
Relocating an installed library
For supported NI content, move the complete product folder, open Native Access, choose Repair, and use Relocate to point to the new location. Native Instruments documents this workflow for products that Native Access can manage.
Third-party Kontakt libraries
Not every third-party Kontakt library behaves the same way. Libraries registered through Native Access may require the original serial number and can often be added or located there. Unregistered libraries may be loaded through Kontakt’s Files browser or the vendor’s own installer. Follow the third-party publisher’s instructions.
Keep old sessions working
Different major NI product versions can coexist and are often treated as separate plugins. A project that used Kontakt 6 may not automatically substitute Kontakt 8. The same concern applies to older Reaktor, Guitar Rig, Battery, and other instruments.
- Install every major plugin version referenced by active projects when it remains compatible with the new operating system.
- Open and save critical projects only after confirming that the correct plugin instance loaded.
- Do not remove an older version merely because a newer version is installed.
- Freeze, bounce, or stem irreplaceable tracks before leaving an unsupported old system.
Use the plugin locations guide to verify formats and the complete migration guide for other vendors.
Common Native Access and Kontakt migration problems
Native Access shows Repair
Check Native Access preferences and verify the content location. Use Repair and then Relocate when the product was moved and Native Access no longer recognizes the old path. Choose Reinstall when the software itself is incomplete or damaged.
Kontakt says “Library not found”
Point Kontakt or Native Access to the complete library folder. When Kontakt offers a missing-content resolution window, use automatic resolution when the files are in a searchable, connected location, or browse to the correct folder manually.
The library is visible but samples are missing
The copied folder may be incomplete, the drive letter or volume name may have changed, or the project references samples stored outside the library. Reconnect the original sample location or use Kontakt’s missing-sample tools.
An older project loads the wrong Kontakt version
Install the specific major version used by the project. Newer Kontakt versions do not always replace older plugin identifiers inside DAW sessions.
Native Access does not show a product
Confirm the NI account, registered serial, product compatibility, and whether the item is managed by Native Access, a third-party vendor, iZotope, or Plugin Alliance.
Official resources
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to buy Native Instruments products again for a new computer?
No. Sign into Native Access with the NI account that owns the products and install them within the license’s allowed installation limits.
Can I use my existing Kontakt libraries without downloading them again?
Often yes. Keep the complete libraries on a connected drive and use Native Access Locate or Repair and Relocate when the product supports that workflow.
Should I copy Native Instruments plugin files manually?
No. Reinstall applications and plugin components through Native Access. Reuse or relocate large content libraries separately.
Will Kontakt 8 automatically replace Kontakt 6 in old projects?
Do not assume that it will. Major versions can be separate plugin identities, so install the version required by important sessions when it remains compatible.
Do not rebuild your plugin library from memory.
Scan your old computer with FX Recall, save a cloud-synced inventory, and track what still needs to be installed on the new machine.