If you've been editing videos on your phone and want more room to work, the desktop version of CapCut is a big step up — and it's free. This guide explains exactly how to install CapCut on Windows 10, from checking your version of Windows to clicking through the installer and opening the app for the first time.

Windows 10 is still on millions of PCs, and CapCut runs on it perfectly well. The process is short: download a single installer file, run it, approve one security prompt, and you're done. Let's walk through it slowly so nothing trips you up.

Download CapCut for Desktop Get the latest official version from capcut.com
Download for Windows Download for Mac
Quick answer
  • CapCut needs Windows 10 version 1903 or newer — most updated PCs already qualify.
  • You install it by running a free .exe installer from the official site, capcut.com.
  • Expect one User Account Control prompt; click Yes and the setup finishes in about a minute.

Check that your Windows 10 version is supported

Before you download anything, there's one requirement worth confirming. CapCut for Windows 10 needs version 1903 or later (that's the May 2019 update). Almost any PC that has installed updates in the last few years already meets this, but a quick check takes ten seconds.

  • Press Windows + R to open the Run box.
  • Type winver and press Enter.
  • A small window shows your version number — look for something like Version 21H2 or higher.

If you see a version older than 1903, run Windows Update first (Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update) and let it catch up. Once that's sorted, you're ready to download.

Not sure where to get the file? Our companion guide on how to download CapCut on a Windows PC covers the download side in plain language if you'd like to start there first.

Step 1: Download the CapCut installer from the official site

Head to the official CapCut website at capcut.com, or use the Download for Windows button near the top of this page. This is the part people get wrong most often: only download CapCut from the official domain. Search results are full of look-alike pages that bundle extra junk with the installer, and there's no reason to risk it when the real thing is free.

On the homepage, click the Download button. The site usually detects that you're on a Windows machine and hands you the right installer automatically. Your browser will save a file named something like CapCut_installer.exe — typically 100 to 200 MB, so it finishes in well under a minute on most connections.

Editing on a PC with patchy internet? You can grab a standalone setup file instead. See our walkthrough on the CapCut offline installer for Windows.

Step 2: Run the .exe installer

Once the download finishes, find the file — it's usually in your Downloads folder or sitting in your browser's download bar at the bottom of the screen.

  1. Double-click CapCut_installer.exe to launch it.
  2. The CapCut setup window opens. If you'd like to change where the app is installed, look for an install-location or settings option; otherwise the default folder is perfectly fine.
  3. Click Install to begin.

You don't need to make any complicated choices here. For most people, accepting the defaults and clicking through is exactly the right move.

Step 3: Approve the User Account Control prompt

When you run the installer, Windows 10 will almost always show a User Account Control (UAC) window asking, "Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?" This is completely normal — every legitimate installer triggers it, because installing software touches protected parts of your system.

Click Yes to continue. The setup then copies CapCut's files and fills a progress bar, which usually takes about 30 to 60 seconds.

If you see a blue SmartScreen warning instead ("Windows protected your PC"), it's not a virus alert — it just means the file is new to your system. Click More info, then Run anyway, but only do this when you downloaded the file from capcut.com.

Step 4: Launch CapCut for the first time

When the install wraps up, CapCut usually opens on its own. If it doesn't, you'll find a new CapCut shortcut on your desktop and in the Start menu — just double-click it.

On the home screen you can:

  • Click Create project (or New project) to jump straight into the editor.
  • Optionally sign in with a TikTok, Google, Facebook, or email account to sync projects and unlock some online features. This is entirely optional — you can edit and export without an account.

Drag a clip onto the timeline and you're officially editing. The first launch can take a few extra seconds while CapCut sets up its workspace, which is normal.

Pin CapCut so it's easy to find later

To skip hunting through the Start menu every time, pin CapCut where you can reach it fast. While the app is open, right-click its icon on the taskbar and choose Pin to taskbar. You can also right-click the desktop shortcut and pick Pin to Start. It's a tiny step, but it makes opening the editor a one-click habit.

Is installing on Windows 10 different from Windows 11?

Barely. The installer, the steps, and the app itself are the same on both. You'll notice only cosmetic differences: the UAC prompt and SmartScreen warning look slightly different between the two versions of Windows, and the taskbar styling isn't identical. The actual install flow — download the .exe, run it, click Yes, launch — is unchanged.

If you've upgraded a machine or you're helping someone on a newer PC, our Windows 11 download guide mirrors this one almost step for step.

If the install doesn't go smoothly

Most installs are uneventful, but two snags come up now and then. Here's how to clear each one:

  • The installer won't open or fails partway: make sure you have at least 2 to 3 GB of free disk space, briefly pause your antivirus, then run the file again.
  • SmartScreen keeps blocking it: use More info → Run anyway, and double-check the file came from capcut.com and not a third-party mirror.
  • The download itself stalls: clear the half-finished file from Downloads and start the download fresh from the official site.

Confirming your Windows 10 build is 1903 or newer (the winver check from earlier) also rules out the most common compatibility problem before it starts.