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Getting started

Install Blender on Windows and Mac

3D-Agent (3d-agent.com ) works with Blender 4.2 or later. This page shows how to install Blender from blender.org on Windows and on a Mac, one screen at a time.

Which Blender version should I install?

The Steam version of Blender works too. The Microsoft Store version isn’t supported.

How do I install Blender?

Open the section for your system.

Install Blender on Windows

  1. Download Blender

    • Go to blender.org/download  and click Download Blender. On Windows, the page offers the Windows installer, a .msi file.
    The blender.org download page with the Download Blender button highlighted, above the Windows installer, its size and versionThe blender.org download page with the Download Blender button highlighted, above the Windows installer, its size and version
    • The Thanks page opens and the download starts on its own. You don’t have to donate to download Blender. If the download doesn’t start, click download manually on that page.
    The blender.org Thanks page: your download will start automatically, with a download manually link and an optional donation formThe blender.org Thanks page: your download will start automatically, with a download manually link and an optional donation form

    If your browser reports Couldn't download - Network issue, open its downloads list and click Resume, or start the download again.

  2. Run the installer

    • Open the downloaded file, blender-<version>-windows-x64.msi, from your browser’s downloads or from your Downloads folder.
    File Explorer showing the Blender Windows installer file in the Downloads folderFile Explorer showing the Blender Windows installer file in the Downloads folder
    • On Welcome to the Blender Setup Wizard, click Next.
    • On Destination Folder, click Next to install in C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\. 3D-Agent looks for Blender in this folder.
    The Welcome to the Blender Setup Wizard screen, with the Next buttonThe Welcome to the Blender Setup Wizard screen, with the Next button
    The Destination Folder screen of Blender Setup, installing to C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\The Destination Folder screen of Blender Setup, installing to C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\
    • On Ready to install Blender, click Install.
    • When User Account Control asks to let the installer make changes to your device, click Yes.
    The Ready to install Blender screen of Blender Setup, with the Install buttonThe Ready to install Blender screen of Blender Setup, with the Install button
    The Installing Blender screen of Blender Setup, with its progress barThe Installing Blender screen of Blender Setup, with its progress bar
    • Wait while Setup copies the files. It takes less than a minute.
    • On Completed the Blender Setup Wizard, click Finish. Learn how to support Blender is optional; clear it to skip it.
    The Completed the Blender Setup Wizard screen, with the Learn how to support Blender checkbox and the Finish buttonThe Completed the Blender Setup Wizard screen, with the Learn how to support Blender checkbox and the Finish button

    If you install Blender in another folder, set its path in 3D-Agent. See Use a Blender in another folder.

  3. Open Blender for the first time

    • Open the Start menu, type Blender, and click Blender. Setup also adds a Blender shortcut to your desktop.
    Windows Start menu search for Blender, with the Blender app as the best matchWindows Start menu search for Blender, with the Blender app as the best match
    • On Quick Setup, choose your language, theme and keymap, then click Continue. The defaults work with 3D-Agent.
    • On the splash screen, under New File, click General to start with an empty scene.
    Blender's Quick Setup screen with Language, Theme, Keymap, Mouse Select and Spacebar Action, and the Continue buttonBlender's Quick Setup screen with Language, Theme, Keymap, Mouse Select and Spacebar Action, and the Continue button
    Blender's splash screen with the New File list, including General, and the Getting Started linksBlender's splash screen with the New File list, including General, and the Getting Started links

    Blender opens with its default scene: a cube, a camera and a light.

    Blender on Windows with its default scene, a cube, a camera and a light, in the Layout workspaceBlender on Windows with its default scene, a cube, a camera and a light, in the Layout workspace
Install Blender on a Mac

  1. Download Blender

    The blender.org download page in Safari with the Download Blender button highlighted, above macOS, Apple Silicon, its size and versionThe blender.org download page in Safari with the Download Blender button highlighted, above macOS, Apple Silicon, its size and version
    • The Thanks page opens and the download starts on its own. If Safari asks Do you want to allow downloads on "blender.org"?, click Allow.
    Safari asking Do you want to allow downloads on blender.org, with the Cancel and Allow buttonsSafari asking Do you want to allow downloads on blender.org, with the Cancel and Allow buttons
    • When the download finishes, open the disk image from Safari’s Downloads list or from your Downloads folder: blender-<version>-macos-arm64.dmg on an Apple Silicon Mac, blender-<version>-macos-x64.dmg on an Intel Mac.
    Safari's Downloads list showing the Blender macOS disk imageSafari's Downloads list showing the Blender macOS disk image

  2. Copy Blender to Applications

    • In the Blender window that opens, drag the Blender icon onto the Applications folder. 3D-Agent looks for Blender in Applications.
    The Blender disk image window: drag the Blender icon onto the Applications folderThe Blender disk image window: drag the Blender icon onto the Applications folder
    • Wait while Finder copies Blender, then eject the Blender disk image in the Finder sidebar.

    If Applications already has a Blender, Finder asks whether to replace it. To keep both, rename the old one first, for example to Blender 4.5.app. Unless you set a Blender path in 3D-Agent or another Blender is already running, 3D-Agent uses the newest one in Applications. See Which Blender it uses.

  3. Open Blender for the first time

    • Open Blender from Applications.
    • macOS asks "Blender" is an app downloaded from the Internet. Are you sure you want to open it? Click Open. macOS asks this only the first time.
    The macOS prompt: Blender is an app downloaded from the Internet. Are you sure you want to open it? with the Cancel and Open buttonsThe macOS prompt: Blender is an app downloaded from the Internet. Are you sure you want to open it? with the Cancel and Open buttons
    • On Quick Setup, choose your language, theme and keymap, then click Continue. The defaults work with 3D-Agent.
    • On the splash screen, under New File, click General to start with an empty scene.
    Blender's Quick Setup screen on macOS, with the Continue buttonBlender's Quick Setup screen on macOS, with the Continue button
    Blender's splash screen on macOS with the New File list, including GeneralBlender's splash screen on macOS with the New File list, including General

    Blender opens with its default scene: a cube, a camera and a light.

    Blender on macOS with its default scene, a cube, a camera and a light, in the Layout workspaceBlender on macOS with its default scene, a cube, a camera and a light, in the Layout workspace

Connect Blender to 3D-Agent

Keep Blender open and start 3D-Agent. The app finds Blender, installs its agent_3d extension, and connects. You don’t install anything in Blender yourself. See Connect to Blender.

Next steps

Install 3D-Agent

Download the 3D-Agent app and check the system requirements.

Connect to Blender

See how 3D-Agent finds Blender and connects to it.

Blender won't connect

Find your banner message and fix the connection.

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