Installing LightBurn
The first step to using LightBurn is downloading it and getting it installed on your computer.
See below for information on system requirements, where to download LightBurn, and how to install LightBurn on your preferred operating system. If you've already downloaded and installed LightBurn, skip ahead to Find My Laser.
Computer Requirements¶
Current versions of LightBurn run on the following operating systems:
- 64-bit Windows 10 (build 1809) or later
- macOS 11 or later
LightBurn does not require a powerful computer for most work, although more memory is helpful for designs with a lot of images. As with most things, a faster computer will make it easier to work with large images or complex graphics.
Support for older operating systems
Previous versions of LightBurn going back to version 0.6 are archived on our website.
- macOS users running versions older than 10.13 should download LightBurn 1.6.03, which supports macOS 10.11 or newer.
- Users limited to 32-bit versions of Windows should download LightBurn 1.5.06, which is the final 32-bit release of LightBurn.
- LightBurn version 1.7 is the last version compatible with Linux, versions of Windows prior to 10, and versions of macOS prior to 11. Revert to version 1.7 and see our 1.7 documentation for information and installation instructions.
Download LightBurn¶
To ensure you get the most recent version of LightBurn, download LightBurn directly from the Download / Trial page at lightburnsoftware.com. On this page, you'll find links to download the current version of LightBurn, as well as links to previous versions of the software and public beta versions.
When you've completed the download, you should see the file in your "Downloads" folder or a manually selected folder.
Installation Directions¶
Choose your operating system below for additional installation help.
Windows Installation
Windows Installation¶
Installation works the same way as most Windows software. Start the installer by double-clicking the file you downloaded from the LightBurn website. Windows may ask if you trust us first.
Click Next, then click Install to begin the installation process. When it completes, you'll see the following screen with options for installing drivers, viewing the change log, and launching LightBurn.
Installing Drivers
If you have never installed LightBurn on this computer before, you might need to install drivers. This is not necessary when updating an existing installation.
- Check Install FTDI Driver to install the driver used by DSP controllers, like Ruida and TopWisdom.
- The EZCAD2 driver is used by supported Galvo devices using EZCAD2 boards. Read more on our Galvo Driver Installation page.
Installing the driver for BSL Galvo Lasers
If you have a BSL Galvo laser, you may need to separately install a driver supplied by your machine's manufacturer, or install the stock software that came with your machine.
Start LightBurn however you usually do to begin using the software.
macOS Installation
macOS Installation¶
Installing on M1 or newer Macs
To install LightBurn on an ARM-based Mac (using an M1 chip or later), you must have Rosetta installed.
In most cases, Rosetta is automatically installed on ARM-based Macs, and manual installation is unnecessary. If Rosetta is not installed, you'll be prompted to install it when you attempt to open LightBurn.
Installation works the same way as most macOS software. After downloading the DMG file, open the file and drag LightBurn into your Applications folder.
Notarization bypass for LightBurn 1.1 and earlier
Versions before 1.2 were not notarized to be recognized by your computer as coming from a trusted developer. If you installed an older version, you'll need to follow the steps below the first time you run LightBurn:
- Open a Finder window.
- Browse to the Applications folder.
- Right-click or two-finger tap the LightBurn icon.
- Choose Open from the menu.
- When macOS asks if it should open the program, say yes to add an exception allowing your computer to run LightBurn normally. Once this is done, you will not need to repeat the process unless you reinstall LightBurn.
For more help using LightBurn, please visit our forum to talk with LightBurn staff and users, or email support.