Download Gaussian 16 Windows !!exclusive!! May 2026

Here are concise, actionable steps and resources for downloading and installing Gaussian 16 on Windows, plus alternatives and licensing notes.

2. Institutional Access (University or Company)

Most researchers do not purchase individually. Instead, their university holds a site license.

Steps:

• Check if your department’s IT or HPC center has a Gaussian license.
• Request access through your supervisor or IT administrator.
• Log into your institution’s software portal (often a private FTP or download manager).
• Locate the “Windows” version of Gaussian 16.
• Download using provided credentials.

Important: Never share the installer or license file outside your institution. Violating the license agreement can revoke access for your entire department. download gaussian 16 windows

1. Purchase Directly from Gaussian, Inc.

The most straightforward method for individual researchers.

Steps:

• Visit the official Gaussian website: gaussian.com
• Navigate to “Order” or “Pricing.”
• Select “Gaussian 16 for Windows” (64-bit).
• Fill out the license agreement (academic or commercial).
• Pay via institutional PO or credit card.
• After payment verification, you receive a personalized download link and license file.

What you get:

• A compressed installer (e.g., G16_Win64_RevC.01.zip).
• An encrypted license file (gaussian.lic or similar).
• Documentation (PDF manuals).
• GaussView 6 (optional, additional cost).

Test

g16 < test/water.com > water.log

Installing Gaussian 16

1. Run the installer: Execute the downloaded installer (e.g., g16_c01_win64.exe).
2. Follow the installation prompts: The installer will guide you through the installation process. Choose the installation location and agree to the terms of the license agreement.
3. Configure the installation: You may be prompted to configure the installation, including setting the scratch directory and choosing the type of installation (e.g., "Typical" or "Custom").

1. Use Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2)

Many advanced users install the Linux version of Gaussian 16 inside WSL2 on Windows. This bypasses Windows overhead and improves I/O. Performance difference: 10–30% faster on the same hardware.

Steps to get Gaussian 16 on Windows (recommended: WSL)

1. Obtain license:

   • Contact Gaussian, Inc. or your institution’s software administrator to purchase or request access to a site license and receive download credentials and license key.

2. Choose installation environment:

   • Preferred: Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2) with Ubuntu (better integration and performance).
   • Alternative: Full Linux VM (VirtualBox, VMware) or a dedicated Linux machine.

3. Prepare Windows + WSL2:

   • Enable WSL and install Ubuntu from Microsoft Store.
   • Update Ubuntu:

     sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
     

   • Install required packages: build-essential, gfortran, libopenblas-dev, liblapack-dev, libx11-dev, etc.

4. Download Gaussian 16:

   • Use download link/credentials provided by Gaussian, Inc.; transfer the tarball (.tar.gz) into your WSL home directory or the VM.

5. Install:

   • Extract and follow Gaussian’s README/INSTALL instructions. Typical steps:

     tar -xzf g16.tar.gz
     cd g16
     ./bsd/install
     

   • During install you’ll be prompted for license key details and installation paths.

6. Configure environment:

   • Source Gaussian environment in your shell (usually in ~/.bashrc):

     source /path/to/g16/bsd/g16.profile
     

   • Set GAUSS_SCRDIR for scratch files:

     export GAUSS_SCRDIR=/mnt/c/gaussian_scratch
     mkdir -p $GAUSS_SCRDIR
     

7. Test installation:

   • Run included test jobs or a simple Gaussian input to verify.