From the release of MicroStation 2024 onwards, Side-by-Side installation will be supported for Major Releases. Minor Release updates will upgrade a Major Release and a Major release and Minor Release will not be able to sit Side by Side. Users will have the ability to run multiple major releases MicroStation on the same machine. Installation of MicroStation 2024 and onwards will by default occur alongside any previous installations. Removing previous versions of MicroStation will require a manual uninstall. Please read The application version naming FAQ for more information on major and minor releases.

Set the default Delivered Configuration directory during Installation

During the installation of MicroStation 2024, you must define the same directory path as the Delivered Configuration directory of MicroStation 2023. The default Delivered Configuration directory path is "C:\ProgramData\Bentley\MicroStation 2024\". Change this directory path to "C:\ProgramData\Bentley\MicroStation 2023\" as shown in the following images:

Note: While installing MicroStation 2023, if you installed the Delivered Configuration to the custom directory (Other than "MicroStation 2023" directory) then you must select the same custom directory while installing MicroStation 2024.

Set Custom Configuration directory during Installation

During the installation of MicroStation 2024, if you wish to share your existing Custom Configuration, then you must set the same directory path of the Custom Configuration directory of MicroStation 2023. MicroStation 2023 Custom Configuration directory is "D:\Bentley\WS\Configuration". You should browse the same directory during MicroStation 2024 installation.

Note: MicroStation Configurations are not version dependent. Bentley tries to minimize any disruptions to Configurations, however in some Open products there may be instances where some configuration changes take place. Please refer to the release documents of those products.

Copy and Paste the "prefs" folder after Installation

If you wish to use Preferences and User Configuration from the previous version, then after installation, launch MicroStation 2024 and close the session to set the default preferences at "C:\Users\<user.name>\AppData\Local\Bentley\MicroStation\24.0.0" directory.

Now copy the "prefs" directory from "C:\Users\<user.name>\AppData\Local\Bentley\MicroStation\23.0.0" and paste at "C:\Users\<user.name>\AppData\Local\Bentley\MicroStation\24.0.0" to replace the existing "prefs" directory.

MicroStation 2024 should work seamlessly with the existing configurations. This configuration will be shared between MicroStation 2023 and MicroStation 2024 versions.

Note: You must follow step 3, every time if there is any change in preference settings in MicroStation 2023 which you wish to use in MicroStation 2024.