Does 2021.3 overwrite the previous version?

[macmuse]

Yes, thank you. I did that, just in case I would need the other version.

[RedMagpie]

Can someone please tell me how to rename it? I can't find version 2020.12 in my files but Avid says that's what I'm running

[sw rec]

2021.3 on Windows will make you uninstall the previous version. No biggie. An extra 10 minutes.

[The Weed]

Originally Posted by RedMagpie

Can someone please tell me how to rename it? I can't find version 2020.12 in my files but Avid says that's what I'm running. Intel7 Core i7-4790 CPU @3.60 GHz, 8 GB Ram, 64 bit, Windows 7 Professional Pro Tools 12 Fireface UCX

You can only rename and keep an old version of Pro Tools and install a new version on Mac, not Windows.

On Windows, uninstall Pro Tools and the HD driver, reboot, install the new Pro Tools.

Make an image or clone before uninstalling and installing so you can get back to a known working version of Pro Tools.

You have Windows 7. Not sure 2021.3 is going to work on Windows 7.

[sw rec]

8gb of ram is exactly half of the recommended minimum. System requirements dictate 16gb minimum.

[EdgarRothermich]

Originally Posted by macmuse

Can 2021.3 be installed alongside 2020.12 or will it overwrite it? Thanks.

For the Mac, it is super simple.
An update for an app in the Applications folder will overwrite the current version of the app. If you rely on a specific app and (might) need to go back to a previous version, just copy the current app to a separate folder and add its version number to it before updating. This way you have a nice history for troubleshooting or other research purposes.

[musicman691]

Originally Posted by EdgarRothermich

For the Mac, it is super simple.
An update for an app in the Applications folder will overwrite the current version of the app. If you rely on a specific app and (might) need to go back to a previous version, just copy the current app to a separate folder and add its version number to it before updating. This way you have a nice history for troubleshooting or other research purposes.

Or just rename it and leave it in the Applications folder. That way you don't have to deal with the vagaries of moving an application out of it's normal assigned place. I have three PT versions in my Applications folder: 2019.6, 2020.12 and 2021.3

[EdgarRothermich]

Originally Posted by musicman691

Or just rename it and leave it in the Applications folder. That way you don't have to deal with the vagaries of moving an application out of it's normal assigned place. I have three PT versions in my Applications folder: 2019.6, 2020.12 and 2021.3

That works too. It is all about personal workflow.

As you can see on my screenshot, I keep quite a history of versions available for some apps and that would blow up the Applications folder.

BTW, I like the old OS9 approach where you can organize your apps in any subfolder you want to make it more manageable. Since OSX, most apps (especially the Apple apps) have to be in the Applications folder, which is now a gigantic folder where you have to scroll down half a mile to find anything. Many software manufacturers dumb their files and folders straight in the Application folder (hello AVID, I'm looking at you) to make it even messier.

I still have my subfolder in the Applications folder for "Audio" "Video" "Text", Data", Utility", etc. and move apps there if possible.