# Install multiple versions of Tableau (Windows): Tableau Quick Tip

> This is content from just-tim, the data-and-analytics channel by Tim Ngwena (formerly 'Tableau Tim'). Tim has 12+ years of hands-on BI experience and covers Tableau most of all, plus Power BI, Looker, Hex, SQL and data modelling, the analytics industry, and the craft of doing the job — always tool-agnostic and honest about the trade-offs.

- **Author:** Tim Ngwena (just-tim, https://just-tim.com/about)
- **Published:** 2016-06-11
- **Format:** Video · 3 min watch · transcript available
- **Topics:** Tool strategy, Productivity
- **Tools:** Tableau
- **Canonical:** https://just-tim.com/posts/install-multiple-versions-of-tableau-windows-tableau-quick-tip
- **Watch:** https://youtu.be/ZRYfdpIiya0

I show you how to run multiple versions of Tableau on Windows while keeping one version as your default. By reinstalling and choosing the repair option for your preferred version, you ensure that double-clicking a workbook opens it in the right version rather than accidentally upgrading it.

## Key takeaways

- Saving a workbook in a newer Tableau version upgrades it and can lock you out of editing it in an older version, which matters if your Tableau Server hasn't been upgraded in line.
- You can download any previous version of Tableau by searching for 'alternate download site Tableau' and keeping the installer files on your machine.
- Running the installer for your preferred version and choosing 'repair' (not uninstall) re-edits the registry to make that version the default.
- A new desktop shortcut confirms the repair process has finished and that version is now the default.
- You can still open non-default versions manually to test betas, but take care not to save your workbook in an older version.

Watch the full video, read the transcript and use chapter deep-links on the page: https://just-tim.com/posts/install-multiple-versions-of-tableau-windows-tableau-quick-tip

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just-tim — Data and analytics, with a point of view. · https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7HYxRWmaNlJux-X7rNLZyw · https://twitter.com/TableauTim · https://www.linkedin.com/in/timngwena