Microsoft Money on Windows 10: How to Use Money Plus Sunset Deluxe

Yes, you can still use the classic Microsoft Money desktop program on Windows 10, but only as unsupported legacy software. The version most people want is Microsoft Money Plus Sunset Deluxe, the free final release Microsoft created after ending the retail product. It works as a local personal-finance program, but its old online services are gone.

There is another important caveat in 2026: Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. A Windows 10 PC can still run, but Microsoft recommends moving to a supported Windows version unless the device is covered by an applicable Extended Security Updates program.

What is Microsoft Money Plus Sunset Deluxe?

Microsoft Money was a desktop personal-finance app for tracking checking and savings accounts, transactions, recurring bills, budgets, investments, and reports. Microsoft stopped selling Money in 2009, and its online services and assisted support ended in 2011. The Sunset release removed the activation requirement so existing users could continue opening and maintaining Money data locally.

Do not confuse Sunset Deluxe with later Microsoft or MSN finance products. Microsoft Money Plus Sunset Deluxe is the old desktop application. Microsoft also no longer hosts the original installer; a 2026 Microsoft Q&A answer confirms that the official download was removed.

1. Get and install Money Plus Sunset Deluxe safely

If you already have a known-good copy of your original Sunset Deluxe installer, use that rather than downloading another copy. If you do not, Microsoft community guidance points users to an archived copy of Microsoft's former Download Center page. Because the file is now obtained through an archive instead of Microsoft's current download service, treat it as legacy software and verify it before running it.

1. Download or copy the Sunset Deluxe installer to the PC.
2. Right-click the installer and scan it with Microsoft Defender before opening it. Microsoft documents the Scan with Microsoft Defender option in Windows Security.
3. Run the installer and follow the setup prompts. If a normal launch fails, retry with Run as administrator; compatibility mode may also help on some systems, but it is not a guarantee.
4. Launch Microsoft Money from the Start menu after setup finishes.

2. Open Money and protect your old data

Sunset Deluxe does not need online activation. Its purpose was to let people keep using Money after Microsoft's servers and online services were retired. Before opening an old finance file on a new PC, make a separate copy of that file and any backup files so you have an untouched original if conversion or corruption occurs.

Microsoft's original Sunset notes, reproduced in Microsoft Q&A, explain that Sunset comes without online quotes, online bill payment, statement downloads initiated by Money, MSN Money synchronization, or assisted support.

3. Add a bank account for manual tracking

Money can still maintain account registers locally. Because bank connections are no longer supported, expect to enter and reconcile transactions manually.

1. Open the Banking section.
2. Choose Add a new account.
3. Select the account type, such as checking, savings, credit card, or investment.
4. Enter an account name and the opening or current balance requested by the wizard.
5. Finish the wizard, then add new transactions to the register as they occur.

4. Add recurring bills

The Bills area is still useful for remembering upcoming expenses, but Sunset Deluxe cannot send a payment to your bank or biller. Treat entries as reminders and records, not as payment instructions.

1. Open Bills and choose to create a new bill.
2. Enter the payee and category.
3. Set the due date and recurrence.
4. Enter a fixed or estimated amount, then save the bill.

5. Create a budget

Open the Budget section and add your income and expense categories. Enter target amounts for categories such as housing, utilities, food, transportation, and entertainment. Money can compare the figures you enter against recorded transactions, but it cannot automatically pull fresh transactions from your bank.

What still works and what does not?

Microsoft Money Plus Sunset Deluxe is best treated as an offline archive and manual finance tracker. If your main goal is to keep years of existing Money records accessible, it can still be useful. If you need live bank synchronization, mobile access, security updates, or supported online payments, a currently maintained personal-finance app is the safer long-term choice.