Brother P-touch Editor Download and Setup Guide
Label design software for Brother P-touch and QL label printers
Representative photo — fsse8info CC BY-SA 2.0
P-touch Editor is Brother's label design application for its P-touch tape printers and QL die-cut label printers. It lays out labels at the loaded tape or label size, generates barcodes and QR codes, handles serialised numbering, and merges data from a spreadsheet or database for batch runs. Version 6 on Windows is a rebuilt application with a different interface from the long-running version 5, and Brother now asks for the printer serial number before letting you download it. The macOS version comes from the Mac App Store and lags the Windows feature set.
Version and licence: Free. Windows P-touch Editor 6.0 requires the printer's serial number to be entered at the download page, which trips people up. The macOS build is version 5.3.24, about 102.8 MB and needs macOS 13 or later. About 102.8 MB on macOS.
Download Brother P-touch Editor
What it does
- Label layouts matched to the loaded tape or die-cut label size
- Barcode and QR code generation with standard symbologies
- Serialised numbering for sequential label runs
- Database and spreadsheet merge for batch printing
- Cable wrap, flag and rotated layouts for network and electrical labelling
- Template library for asset tags, shelf labels and address labels
- Saves reusable templates and layouts
How to install it
Step 1
Find the serial number on the label printer, usually on the underside or inside the tape compartment.
Step 2
Open the Brother P-touch label editor software page and choose P-touch Editor for Windows, or install the macOS version from the Mac App Store.
Step 3
On Windows, enter the serial number when the download page asks for it; the download will not proceed without a valid one.
Step 4
Install the printer driver for your model from the Brother support site before or during installation.
Step 5
Run the P-touch Editor installer and accept the licence.
Step 6
Connect the printer by USB, Bluetooth or network depending on model, and switch it on.
Step 7
Open P-touch Editor, choose your printer, and confirm the tape or label size shown matches what is loaded.
Step 8
Design a label and print one as a test before running a batch.
Which printers it supports
Brother P-touch tape printers including PT-D, PT-P and PT-E series, and QL die-cut label printers including the QL-800 and QL-1100 families. The exact model list differs between the Windows and macOS versions.
When Brother P-touch Editor will not work
That is expected for P-touch Editor 6.0 on Windows. Enter the serial number printed on the label printer, usually under the machine or inside the tape compartment. Without a valid serial the download will not start.
Install the model's printer driver first, then connect over USB. For Bluetooth models, pair in the operating system before selecting the printer in the editor. Some QL models need to be set to the correct mode with a button on the machine.
Confirm the tape or label size selected in the software exactly matches the loaded media. Also check the print settings for any scale-to-fit option, and turn off automatic length adjustment if the layout is a fixed size.
The macOS build is a different, simpler application from the Windows one and does not have all of version 6's features, particularly some database merge and advanced layout functions. Use a Windows machine for complex batch work.
Use a wider tape, increase the barcode height, and print black on white or black on yellow. Keep the quiet zone either side of the barcode intact, and avoid clear tape for anything that has to be scanned.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I need a serial number to download it?
Brother gates the Windows P-touch Editor 6.0 download behind a serial number check to tie it to a real printer. Enter the number from the label printer itself.
Is the Mac version the same?
No. It is a separate, simpler application from the Mac App Store, at version 5.3.24, and it lacks some of the Windows features.
Can I use it with the P-touch CUBE?
The CUBE models are designed for the mobile Design and Print app rather than P-touch Editor, though some also work over USB with the desktop software.
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