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Installation

Kdenlive is released about every three month. See the Kdenlive news page to get the latest information and release notes. And check out What’s New for the most recent feature additions.

You can install Kdenlive in two different ways:

  • Using an installer

  • As a self-contained executable (Windows: standalone ; Linux: appimage).

On macOS you can only use the installer version.

Visit the download page of the Kdenlive web site to get the latest release for your operating system.

You will find all previous Kdenlive versions in the attic.

Minimum System Requirements​

Operating system:

  • 64-bit Windows 10 (1809 or later)[[2]] or newer

  • Apple macOS 13 (Ventura)[[1]] or newer and on Silicon M-Series

  • 64-bit Linux

Please see the details below

CPU: x86 Intel or AMD; at least one 2 GHz core for SD video, 4 cores for HD video, and 8 cores for 4K video. Please see the details below.

GPU: OpenGL 2.0 that works correctly and is compatible. On Windows, you can also use a card with good, compatible DirectX 9 or 11 drivers.

RAM: At least 4 GB for SD video, 8 GB for HD video, and 16 GB for 4K video.

Tip If your computer is at the lower end of CPU and RAM requirements, you should use the Preview Resolution, Proxy and Timeline Preview Rendering features to help reduce preview lag.

Note Video editing is in general relying heavily on CPU power. While Kdenlive has render profiles with GPU support, timeline playback uses the CPU. Therefore, the more powerful your CPU the better the playback performance of Kdenlive. More and better GPU support is on the near-term roadmap.

Kdenlive on Linux​

Kdenlive can be installed on non-KDE Desktops without any issues.

Packages: AppImage or Flatpak are the official packages Kdenlive maintains.

Note As of Kdenlive release 24.02, PPA is no longer supported. Only AppImage and Flatpak releases are officially supported.

If you use the Flatpak version, it installs properly in your desktop environment. No further action required.

If you want to use the AppImage, download the AppImage and move it to a directory of your choice and make it executable. Normally you can do this using the file manager of your desktop environment (like Dolphin in KDE Plasma). Right-click the AppImage and select Properties and then Make executable. Alternatively, you can use the Linux shell command chmod 777 <appimage_name> in a terminal. Now you can simply double-click the AppImage file to start Kdenlive or type the AppImage name in a terminal.

Kdenlive on Windows​

Kdenlive runs only on 64bit version of Windows. Kdenlive runs on Windows 10 (1809 or later) and newer. We cannot guarantee that Kdenlive runs on server or embedded Windows version.

Last version for Windows 7 (Kdenlive 23.08.5) can be downloaded from the attic.

Kdenlive is available as an install and as a standalone version.

  • Install version: Needs administrator rights and gets installed on your local machine. It is also listed as a program.

  • It is available for all users on your computer.

  • The Kdenlive files are always located in the same folder.

  • Standalone version: Does not need administrator rights and isn’t installed. It is not listed as a program. Is only accessible for the user who has downloaded the file.

  • If you work with a normal user on your computer, you can use Kdenlive.

  • You can copy the Kdenlive folder on any external drive and run it on a different computer without installing it. However, your personal settings and downloads within Kdenlive are stored on the computer you work on.

Double click the downloaded file.

Kdenlive self-extracting archive

Point to the folder you like to store the Kdenlive folder

Kdenlive bin folder

To start Kdenlive navigate to the bin folder and double-click kdenlive.exe. You can also create a shortcut to your Desktop for easy access. Right-click on kdenlive.exe and select Send to … and then Desktop (create shortcut).

Kdenlive in a Windows Domain​

If you want to use Kdenlive with domain users using Windows Active Directory and/or Group Policies (GPOs), make sure all users have read/write access to the following folders:

%AppData%\kdenlive

%LocalAppData%\kdenlive

%LocalAppData%\kdenliverc

%LocalAppData%\kdenlive-layoutsrc

%LocalAppData%\kxmlgui5\kdenlivekdenliveui.rc

%AppData%\kdenlive\.backup

%LocalAppData%\knewstuff3

Also make sure no GPO is blocking the access to these folders.

Kdenlive on macOS​

Kdenlive runs with Intel-based Macs on macOS 12 (Monterey)[[1]] or newer and on Silicon M-Series (available on the download page).

Last version for macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) (Kdenlive 23.08.5) can be downloaded from the attic.

Last version for macOS 11 (Big Sur) (Kdenlive 24.08.1) can be downloaded from the attic.

Installation Procedure​

Choose the option Open with DiskImageMounter (Default).

When the dmg file is downloaded, the DiskImageMounter will open. Drag the Kdenlive Logo into the Applications Folder.

The files get copied.

MacOS will try to check the files for malware.

The message “kdenlive” cannot be opened, because Apple cannot search for malware in it will appear. Here you have to click Show in Finder.

The Finder opens. Now right click on Kdenlive and choose Open.

The message that Apple can’t search for malware will appear again. Just click on Open and Kdenlive will open up.

Automatically Check for Updates​

Kdenlive automatically checks at startup for updates based on the app version (no network connection needed)

You can disable this function in Menu ‣ Settings ‣ Configure Kdenlive ‣ Environment by un-checking Check for updates.

[1] ([1],[2])

Due to QT6 compatibility the build system was switched to C++17 in January 2022 so minimum macOS requirement is macOS 10.15 (Catalina).

With update to Qt6 in February 2024 the minimum macOS requirement is macOS 11 (Big Sur).

With update to QT6.09 the minimum requirement is macOS 12 (Monterey).

With update to QT6.10 the minimum requirement is macOS 13 (Ventura).

[[2]]

With update to Qt6 in February 2024 the minimum requirement is Windows 10 (1809 or later). *[RGB]: Red, Green, Blue *[VFX]: Visual Effects *[feathering]: Smoothing or blurring the edges of a feature *[LFO]: Low-Frequency Oscillation *[dB]: decibel *[LUFS]: Loudness Units Full Scale *[AI]: Artificial Intelligence *[LLM]: Large Language Model *[HSV]: Hue, Saturation, Value *[SOP/Sat]: S(lope), O(ffset), P(ower) / SATuration *[CDL]: Color Decision List *[HSL]: Hue, Saturation, Lightness - Using HSL color space is useful for subtle color changes *[px]: pixel *[hh:mm:ss:ff]: hours:minutes:seconds:frames *[Hz]: Hertz *[CIE]: Commission internationale de l'éclairage, French for International Commission on Illumination *[DCI]: Digital Cinema Initiative *[nadir]: direction pointing directly below a particular location *[OS]: Operating System