Can you upgrade an old Dragon NaturallySpeaking to version 15 or 16?

Yes, if your copy is Dragon 14 or 15. Nuance's version 16.1 release notes say these versions upgrade to version 16.1 automatically, and you do not need to uninstall the old one first ¹. Version 13 and earlier cannot use that route. Nuance asks those owners to follow a manual procedure instead ². For a move from version 12 to version 15 we could not find a Nuance page that confirms any route, so ask Nuance or your seller before you pay for an upgrade.

This question covers the upgrade rules for Dragon NaturallySpeaking, which Nuance makes. For the release history and the prices, see our guide to the Dragon versions and editions.

Versions 14 and 15 upgrade to 16.1 without an uninstall

The automatic path is the easy case. The version 16.1 notes say Dragon supports automatic upgrades from versions 14, 15 and 16 without an uninstall, and that it keeps your custom words and commands ³. Nuance's earlier version 16 notes also listed version 13 for the automatic path ⁴, as the next section explains.

Moving to a different edition is a separate question. Nuance's version 16.1 notes say you can easily upgrade between different versions of the same edition ⁵. Moving from Professional or Legal to the Law Enforcement edition is different, and your user profiles are not updated automatically ⁶. Check the edition before you upgrade.

Version 16.1 does not list version 13 for automatic upgrade

Nuance's newest notes change the starting list. Version 16.1 upgrades versions 14, 15 and 16 automatically ¹. Version 13 is not in that sentence, although the earlier version 16 notes listed it. For version 13 and earlier, the 16.1 notes give a manual route ². The notes do not say why the list changed.

If you own version 13 and want the current release, plan for the manual route. Read the Before you upgrade section of the 16.1 notes, or ask the seller whether your license qualifies.

Version 12 and earlier need a manual route

Nuance's instructions for version 12 and earlier are a four-step procedure ⁷:

1. Export your custom words and commands from the old version, and note where you saved them.
2. Uninstall the old version. Nuance says your user profiles stay on the local drive after you uninstall, so they remain available.
3. Install version 16, and create a new profile when Dragon asks for one.
4. Import the saved words and commands into the new profile.

Keep the exported files until you have checked the new profile. Do not remove the old profile until you are sure the new one works.

Version 15 has its own upgrade rules, and the 12 route is unclear

Nuance's release notes for Dragon Professional Group 15.1 list version 13 and version 14 as the versions you can upgrade from ⁸. Version 12 is not on that list. Those notes cover the volume-licensed Group edition only, so they may not describe a single-user copy. We could not open a version 15 page that describes the route from version 12 to version 15, and we did not find one that describes any other route.

Price is a separate point. At its 2016 launch, Nuance offered version 15 for $150 to users upgrading from version 14 and from Dragon Professional versions 12 and higher ⁹. That is a 2016 offer, and we could not find a current upgrade price. If you only need version 15 for a specific reason, read what changed between Dragon 15 and 16 before you decide, since 16.1 is the newest release in Nuance's notes.

It depends on your serial number, your edition and your system

Three things decide whether an upgrade goes smoothly.

• The serial number of your existing copy. Nuance says that when you upgrade, the serial number of your existing installation is required ¹⁰. If you no longer have it, ask Nuance or your seller before you start. Our guide to finding your license key shows where to look.
• The edition. Stay within one edition for the simple route. Moving to another edition can change what carries over.
• Your operating system. Version 16 supports Windows 11 and Windows 10 ¹¹. Check the operating system and memory figures in our guide to the system requirements before you install.

If your version is not on the lists above, do not assume the automatic route applies to you. Ask Nuance or your seller before you buy.

What to do before you upgrade

1. Find your current version and serial number. In a running copy, open the Help icon, then select About Dragon, as the version 16 release notes describe. The serial number appears on that screen.
2. Check the operating system against the version you plan to install.
3. Export your custom words and commands before you upgrade. Nuance recommends it as a safeguard ¹².
4. Run the installer and check your words and commands in the new version before you delete anything from the old one.
5. If you own version 12 or earlier, or your version is not listed, confirm the route with Nuance or your seller before you buy. Nuance's notes describe a manual procedure for version 12, not a version 15 upgrade.

For a fresh purchase rather than an upgrade, see where you can still buy Dragon NaturallySpeaking. For the trial, read whether there is a free trial. For the general picture of the Dragon line, return to our overview of dictation software.