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Installation

Install Crater on Windows, macOS or Linux and keep it up to date.

On this page

Crater takes a couple of minutes to install. Get the right file from the Downloads page first.

Windows#

  1. Run the installer. Double-click the installer in your Downloads folder. It’s named after the version, like Crater-Setup-0.7.2.exe.
  2. Get past SmartScreen. Crater isn’t code-signed yet, so Windows may show “Windows protected your PC”. Click More info, then Run anyway.
  3. Allow the installer to make changes. Crater installs for every user on the computer, so Windows asks for permission. Click Yes.
  4. Follow the wizard. Crater installs to C:\Program Files\Crater. Leave Create a desktop shortcut ticked if you want one.
  5. Launch Crater from the last page of the wizard, the Start menu or the desktop shortcut.

The installer also sets up the Microsoft Visual C++ runtime if your computer doesn’t already have it.

Using the portable zip#

  1. Unzip the portable zip (like Crater-0.7.2-win64.zip) to any folder, for example on a USB drive.
  2. Run crater.exe from that folder.
  3. If Windows reports a missing VCRUNTIME140.dll or MSVCP140.dll, run vc_redist.x64.exe from the same folder once, then start Crater again.

macOS#

  1. Open the disk image you downloaded (like Crater-0.7.2-macos.dmg).
  2. Drag crater onto the Applications shortcut in the window that appears.
  3. Eject the disk image.
  4. Open Crater from Applications.

Opening Crater the first time#

Crater isn’t signed with an Apple Developer ID yet, so macOS blocks it on the first launch. You only need to do this once.

macOS 15 Sequoia and later

  1. Try to open Crater. When macOS says it can’t be opened, click Done.
  2. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security.
  3. Scroll down to the message about Crater and click Open Anyway.
  4. Confirm with your password or Touch ID, then click Open.

macOS 14 Sonoma

  1. In Finder, open Applications.
  2. Hold Control and click crater, then choose Open.
  3. Click Open in the warning dialog.

Linux#

Crater for Linux is an AppImage: the whole app in one file, with nothing to install.

  1. Download the AppImage (like Crater-0.7.4-x86_64.AppImage). Your browser saves it to your Downloads folder.
  2. Mark it as executable. In Files, right-click the file and choose Properties, then turn on Executable as Program. In a terminal, chmod +x Crater-*.AppImage does the same.
  3. Double-click the file to open Crater.

Keep the file wherever suits you, like your home folder. To open Crater later, double-click it again.

Checking your download#

Every release includes a SHA256SUMS.txt file with the SHA-256 checksum of each download. The built-in updater checks it for you. To check a file you downloaded yourself:

Windows (PowerShell)

Get-FileHash .\Crater-Setup-0.7.5.exe -Algorithm SHA256

macOS (Terminal)

shasum -a 256 Crater-0.7.5-macos.dmg

Linux (Terminal)

sha256sum Crater-0.7.5-x86_64.AppImage

The value it prints should match the line for that file in SHA256SUMS.txt.

The first launch#

The first time Crater starts, it sets up its Bible library. This takes a few seconds and happens once. Then the console appears. Continue with First Launch to choose your projection screen.

Updating Crater#

Crater checks for a new version once a day, shortly after it opens. When one is available, a small dot appears on the Settings gear in the top bar.

  1. Open Settings > Updates. You’ll see what’s new in the release.
  2. Click Download. Crater checks the download against the release’s published SHA-256 checksum and deletes it if it doesn’t match.
  3. Install it:
    • Windows: click Install and restart, then Close and install. Windows asks for permission to run the installer, and Crater reopens by itself when it’s done. The projection screen goes dark while this happens, so don’t update in the middle of a service.
    • macOS: click Open the disk image and drag Crater onto Applications, replacing the copy already there.
    • Linux: download the new AppImage from the Downloads page, mark it as executable, and use it in place of the old file.

You can also click Check now at any time, or turn off Check for updates automatically. Nothing downloads or installs without you clicking.

Your songs, themes, schedules, media and settings are kept when you update.

Uninstalling#

  • Windows: use Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Crater > Uninstall, or Uninstall Crater in the Start menu.
  • macOS: drag Crater from Applications to the Trash.
  • Linux: delete the AppImage file.

Uninstalling leaves your data behind so that a reinstall picks up where you left off. To remove it as well, delete the data folder listed under Where Crater keeps your data.