Installing on Windows

Check the Downloading Blender page to find the minimum requirements and the different versions that are available for Blender (if you have not done so yet).

Download the zip-file or Windows Installer File.

Install from Windows Installer File

The Windows installer will let you choose an installation folder, and will create an entry in the start menu as well as associate blend-files with Blender. It requires administrator rights.

Install from Zip

When choosing the zip-file, you have to manually extract Blender to the desired folder, where you can double-click the executable to run Blender.

No start menu item will be created and no blend-file association will be registered, but there is also no need for administrator rights. You can register the file association manually by clicking Make Default on the System tab of the Preferences. Alternatively, you can run blender -r from the Command Line.

Tip

How to Make a Portable Installation

To keep all configuration files and installed add-ons in the executable folder, create a folder named config in the LOCAL directory of the unzipped folder.

Install from Microsoft Store

Blender can be installed from the Microsoft Store by searching for Blender in the Microsoft Store and installing it.

Blender can now be launched from the Windows Start menu.

Updating on Windows

On Windows there are various ways of updating Blender. This section covers the most common approaches.

Updating from Windows Installer File

When an update for Blender is released, it can be downloaded directly from the Blender website. The Windows installer can then be run to install the updated version of Blender. To remove a previously installed version of Blender, use Windows settings or control panel to uninstall the desired version.

Updating from Zip

When an update for Blender is released, it can be downloaded directly from the Blender website and extracted to the desired folder, where you can double-click the executable to run Blender. For more information on creating a portable version of Blender, see the section Install from Zip.

Note, you do not have to overwrite your existing Blender installation. It’s perfectly possible to have multiple versions installed side by side.

Updating from the Microsoft Store

When an update for Blender is available on the Microsoft Store, it will be downloaded and installed automatically.