PrusaSlicer Download and Setup Guide
Prusa's open-source slicer, the ancestor of several others
Representative photo — fsse8info CC BY-SA 2.0
PrusaSlicer is the slicer Prusa Research develops and ships with its printers, and it is the codebase from which Bambu Studio and, indirectly, OrcaSlicer descend. It converts models into G-code with a great deal of control over layer height, perimeters, infill, supports and speed, and it includes profiles for Prusa machines and a large number of third-party printers. It is genuinely open source, well documented and widely used even by people who do not own a Prusa printer.
Version and licence: Free and open source. Version 2.9.6 as of June 2026, at about 92 MB on Windows and 136 MB on macOS. Releases are published on both the Prusa site and GitHub. Bambu Studio and OrcaSlicer are both descended from this codebase, which is why they look similar. About 92 MB on Windows, 136 MB on macOS.
Download PrusaSlicer
What it does
- Detailed control over perimeters, infill, supports and speeds
- Profiles for Prusa printers and many third-party machines
- Paint-on supports and seam painting
- Multi-material printing with the MMU units
- Variable layer height for smoother curved surfaces
- G-code preview with per-feature colouring
- Expert mode exposing every setting, with simple and advanced modes for beginners
How to install it
Step 1
Download PrusaSlicer from the Prusa site, or from the GitHub releases page for Linux and older versions.
Step 2
Install it and approve it in System Settings, Privacy and Security on macOS if needed.
Step 3
Run the configuration wizard on first launch and select your printer and nozzle diameter.
Step 4
Choose the filament profiles for the materials you actually use, and add custom ones later.
Step 5
Start in Simple mode if you are new, and switch to Advanced or Expert as you need more control.
Step 6
Import a model, arrange it on the plate and slice.
Step 7
Inspect the preview, checking the seam position, supports and the first layer before exporting.
Step 8
Export the G-code to an SD card, or send it to a networked printer through PrusaLink or Prusa Connect.
Which printers it supports
Prusa printers including the MK4 and MK4S, MINI and MINI+, XL and the CORE One, plus a wide range of third-party FDM printers through bundled and community profiles. It also supports Prusa's resin printers with the SL1 profiles.
When PrusaSlicer will not work
Run the configuration wizard again and look under the other vendors section, which contains many third-party machines. If yours is absent, start from a similar machine and set the bed size, nozzle diameter and G-code flavour manually.
Set the seam position to Rear or Aligned, or use seam painting to move it to a hidden edge. Random seams look worse on simple shapes than aligned ones.
Increase the support Z distance by one layer height, reduce the support interface density, and consider organic supports, which are easier to snap off on many models.
Switch to Simple mode in the top right, which hides most settings. Change layer height, infill and supports only until you understand what the rest do.
Prusa printers use PrusaLink locally or Prusa Connect remotely. Enter the printer's address and API key in the physical printer settings within the slicer, and confirm the printer's own network setup first.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Prusa printer to use it?
No. It has profiles for many third-party machines and is widely used with other printers.
Is OrcaSlicer better?
They are different rather than better or worse. OrcaSlicer descends from this lineage and adds calibration tools and broader printer support, while PrusaSlicer is more conservative and very well documented.
Where do I get older versions?
The GitHub releases page carries every previous build.
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