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lightcraft/docs/user/getting-started/install.md
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Jeremy 5dea67e348 docs(installer): say that an upgrade reuses the recorded folder even if it was deleted
The restore actions use the recorded folder without checking that it still
exists, so an upgrade creates it again rather than using the default folder.
2026-10-27 21:13:30 +00:00

3.6 KiB

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Install LightCraft Download LightCraft for Windows 11, macOS or Linux, install it, and open your photo library. 10 0.7.1

Download the file for your system from the latest release and install it. In the file names, <version> stands for the version number, for example 0.7.1. The LightCraft page on getartcraft.com also links the download.

Windows 11

  1. Open the latest release.
  2. Download lightcraft-<version>-windows-x64.msi. It fits most PCs (Intel and AMD, 64-bit).
  3. Run the file. The first page asks who to install LightCraft for. Only for me is the default: it needs no administrator permission and installs to %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\ArtCraft\LightCraft. Everyone on this computer asks for an administrator and installs to C:\Program Files\ArtCraft\LightCraft (Program Files (x86) for the 32-bit build). Upgrades stay in the folder you chose.
  4. At the end, choose the option to start LightCraft.

For a Snapdragon or other Arm PC, download lightcraft-<version>-windows-arm64.msi instead. For a 32-bit Windows, download lightcraft-<version>-windows-x86.msi.

Upgrading from an installer older than 0.6.0 also keeps LightCraft in the folder it was installed in. An upgrade uses the folder that the earlier install recorded and does not check that it still exists, so if you deleted that folder, the upgrade creates it again.

To run it without installing, download lightcraft-<version>-windows-x64-portable.zip. Portable builds for arm64 and x86 are on the release page too.

macOS

  1. Download lightcraft-<version>-macos-universal.dmg. It works on Apple silicon and Intel Macs, and is signed and notarized.
  2. Open the file and install LightCraft.

Linux

The release has these files for x86_64 and aarch64 (Arm). Replace x86_64 with aarch64 on Arm.

File Notes
lightcraft-<version>-linux-x86_64.AppImage Runs anywhere.
lightcraft-<version>-linux-x86_64.flatpak Sandboxed. Install with flatpak install --user <file>.
lightcraft-<version>-linux-x86_64.deb For Debian and Ubuntu.
lightcraft-<version>-linux-x86_64.rpm For Fedora, RHEL and openSUSE.
lightcraft-<version>-linux-x86_64.tar.gz Unpack anywhere.

RISC-V and FreeBSD builds are on the release page too. On a Wayland desktop, LightCraft runs through XWayland when it is available, because only X11 gives it file drag-and-drop.

Install with ArtCraft Launcher

ArtCraft Launcher lists LightCraft and can install and update it for you. On Windows it installs the release .msi.

In a web browser

The release also has lightcraft-web-<version>.zip, a static site that runs LightCraft in a modern browser. Host it on any static web server.

First run

  1. Start LightCraft. It opens your library at ~/Pictures/LightCraft Library. A new library starts with demo photos.
  2. To bring in your own photos, see Import photos.

Still stuck?

Ask in Discord or open an issue in the issue tracker.