Frequently Asked Questions About Using Stata

Some questions can’t wait. That’s why we have compiled the most frequently asked questions about Stata for you, covering everything from general information, ordering and licensing to installation, usage and version management.

As an official distributor, we support you with the right licenses, expert advice and practical solutions to help you get the most out of Stata.

If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at any time.

General

Stata’s language is English, providing a truly international experience.
However, Stata’s GUI is also available in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, and Swedish. If your operating system is set to one of these languages, Stata will use it by default. If you would like to change the language manually, you can do so in Stata’s settings or by using the command set locale_ui.

All three editions offer the same full range of features. They differ only in the size of datasets they can handle and in processing speed:

Stata/BE: for medium-sized datasets (up to 2,048 variables)

Stata/SE: for large datasets (up to 32,767 variables and up to 2 billion observations)

Stata/MP: the fastest version, optimized for multicore systems (up to 120,000 variables and up to 20 billion observations), up to 40% faster than BE

Not always. However, we can obtain most titles directly from Stata at short notice. Delivery time depends on availability.

Ordering & Licensing

A student license can be ordered through our online shop: shop.dpc-software.de.

Requirement: A valid student ID number or valid doctoral candidate status is required to purchase a student license. The relevant information will be requested during the ordering process.

We require the complete billing and/or delivery address, as well as a contact person at the company, including their first name, last name, telephone number, and email address.

Our prices are based on the US dollar. Exchange rate fluctuations can therefore lead to price adjustments in euros. As an official Stata distributor, we always strive to offer you the best possible terms.
If you receive a lower-priced offer from another source, please let us know. We will be happy to check what we can do for you.

Installation & Usage

After your order, you will receive a download link and your license information by email. Follow the steps in our installation guide, which you can find on our support page.

The license code is now provided exclusively in digital form by email. Printed license letters and CD-ROMs are a thing of the past. If you have not received your license code, please contact our sales team by email or phone.

Stata runs on the platforms listed below. The software is platform-specific, but your license is not. You therefore do not need to specify your operating system when placing your order.

Windows®

  • Windows 11*, 10*
  • Windows Server 2025, 2022, 2019, 2016, 2012R2*
    * 64-bit for x86-64 von Intel® und AMD

Mac®

  • Mac with Intel processor or Apple Silicon
  • macOS 11 (Big Sur) to
  • macOS 26 (Tahoe) for Macs with Apple Silicon and
    macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) to macOS 26 (Tahoe) for Macs with Intel processors

Linux

  • 64-bit (x86-64)
  • Minimum requirements include the GNU C Library (glibc) 2.28 or higher and libcurl4
  • GTK 2.24 must be installed for xstata

Hardware

Edition

RAM

Storage Space

Stata/MP

min. 4 GB

min. 4 GB

Stata/SE

min. 2 GB

min. 4 GB

Stata/BE

min. 1 GB

min. 4 GB

Stata for Unix requires a graphics card capable of displaying thousands of colors or more (16-bit or 24-bit color depth).

No, both versions are functionally identical. The only differences are in the installation process and the license file. Detailed step-by-step instructions can be found on our support page.

Windows
In Windows Explorer, navigate to the directory where Stata is installed; by default, this is C:\Program Files (x86)\Stata15 on 64-bit Windows. In this directory, you will see a file named STATA.LIC. To rename the file, right-click on the filename and then left-click on Rename; change the name to STATA.LIC.bak. Alternatively, you can simply move the file to another directory or the Recycle Bin.
Next, start a new session of Stata by double-clicking the executable in the Stata directory or by using your Stata shortcut.
This will launch a dialog box that prompts you for your new License and Authorization Key. Press Tab to move from one line to the next; press Enter or click on OK when finished. You must enter something for all fields in the dialog before you can continue. The code and authorization are not case sensitive, but if you make a mistake typing the codes, you will be prompted to try again.
After the license has been initialized, launch Stata and type -update all- in the Stata Command window to make sure you are running the latest version of the software.

Mac
Navigate to the directory where Stata is installed, typically /Applications/Stata15. In this directory you will see a file named stata.lic. Rename the file by single left-clicking on the filename and change the name to stata.lic.bak. Alternatively, you can simply move the file to another directory or to the Trash.
Next, start a new session of Stata by double-clicking on the Stata application in the Stata directory or by using your Stata shortcut.
This will launch a dialog that prompts you for the new License and Authorization Key. Press Tab to move from one line to the next; press Enter or click OK when finished. You must enter something for all fields in the dialog before you can continue. The code and authorization are not case sensitive, but if you make a mistake typing the codes, you will be prompted to try again.
After the license has been initialized, launch Stata and type -update all- in the Stata Command window to make sure you are running the latest version of the software.

Unix/Linux
Change to the Stata installation directory, typically /usr/local/stata15, rename the license file, and rerun the license initialization program as the superuser, IE:
# cd /usr/local/stata15
# mv stata.lic stata.lic.bak
# ./stinit
This will make a backup of your existing license file and then prompt for the new license information. The code and authorization are not case sensitive, but if you make a mistake typing the codes, you will be prompted to try again.
After the license has been initialized, launch Stata and type -update all- in the Stata Command window to make sure you are running the latest version of the software.

Stata MP
Stata MP is designed for PCs and servers with processors that have multiple processor cores. By default, each processor has one processor core. Intel and AMD have been offering processors with 2, 4, and more processor cores for some time.
Example: Stata MP15: To use the full performance, you need a computer equipped with at least 12 processor cores, distributed across one or more processors. On computers with more than 12 processor cores, Stata will use only 12 processor cores. On computers with fewer than 12 processor cores, all available processor cores will be used.

Contact our support team directly by email or phone if you need assistance with technical issues, installation, troubleshooting, or license registration.

You can also use our support page with installation manuals, cheat sheets, and helpful tips.

Updates, Upgrades & Versions

Update = a free update within the same version (e.g. 19.0 → 19.5) using update all in Stata.

Upgrade = switching to a new major version (e.g. 18 → 19). This is generally subject to a fee, except with maintenance contracts, annual licenses, or campus licenses.

Yes, in many cases you can continue using your existing version. However, we recommend always upgrading to the latest version for full compatibility and support.

You can access and use data from older versions in the latest version. Reproduction is possible.

Yes. When changing editions, you will receive a new license key, which you can enter in Stata via Help → Update license. Reinstallation is not necessary.