Lesson 01 - Install FreeCAD

Estimated time: 10 minutes | Difficulty: Beginner | Tested with: FreeCAD 1.x placeholder

By the end of this lesson you will be able to:

Find the official FreeCAD download page.
Install FreeCAD on your computer.
Open FreeCAD for the first time.

Step 1 - Download FreeCAD

Go to the official FreeCAD website and download the version for your operating system.

Why?Always start from the official website when possible. It reduces the chance of downloading an outdated or modified installer.

Step 2 - Install FreeCAD

Run the installer or open the downloaded package. Accept the default options unless you have a specific reason to change them.

NoticeThe exact install steps may look different on Windows, macOS, and Linux. That is normal.

Step 3 - Open FreeCAD

Launch FreeCAD from your Start menu, applications folder, or desktop shortcut.

What should happen?FreeCAD should open to a start screen or main window. Do not worry about the number of buttons yet. The next lessons explain what matters first.

Summary

You installed FreeCAD and opened it for the first time. Next, we will look at the first launch screen and identify the areas you will use most often.