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QGIS

ApplicationQGIS

Dem still dey call am qgis desktop, quantum gis

QGISCreative

Desktop GIS. Na here Shapefiles and GeoPackages dey live. The process na qgis.exe. E no be Google Earth.

Wetin you need know

QGIS na desktop GIS. E no be Google Earth.

qgis.exe dey open shapefiles and GeoPackages. Earth Pro na globe. Maps na website.

Wetin e be?
Desktop GIS
Still current?
Yes, see Current status
Official download?
Use di vendor link inside dis article
Feex tok say
If the file na shapefile, I dey open QGIS, no be Google Earth Pro. qgis.exe na the desktop GIS.

Wetin be QGIS?

QGIS dey edit and analyze vector and raster layers. Earth Pro dey spin globe. .shp plus .dbf plus .shx na shapefile wey QGIS dey open. Earth no dey replace dat one.

If you never use am before

If you need to open shapefile or GeoPackage, QGIS na the free desktop GIS. Download am from qgis.org. Google Earth Pro na globe viewer, no be dis analysis tool. Google Maps na web map, no be desktop GIS.

Wetin dem dey use am for?

Shapefiles and GeoPackages

The files wey GIS people dey send for email. Google Earth KML na different, simpler path.

Projections and analysis

CRS, buffers, joins. Earth Pro no be processing toolbox.

Print layouts and maps

Cartography from layers. Maps screenshot no be QGIS layout.

Na who e dey for?

  • Students wey dey GIS class
  • People wey dem give .gpkg or shapefile
  • Anybody wey open Earth come see say e no fit edit attributes

Current status

QGIS (2002) na current desktop gis from QGIS. The vendor still dey point Windows users go https://qgis.org/download/.

How old e be?

QGIS (wey dem bin dey call Quantum GIS) don dey since 2002. Current 3.x releases na the Windows desktop app. ArcGIS na Esri commercial sibling, no be Earth.

Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers no dey all verified here.

QGIS 3.x LTR
QGIS 3.x latest

System requirements

Values dey follow wetin di publisher release publicly. Workload still dey change di real need.

Minimum

Minimum system requirements
Operating system Current supported Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, according to di vendor
RAM E reach for Windows plus dis app. Heavy projects go want more.

Resource profile

CPU demand
Dey follow wetin you open inside di app
RAM demand
Dey follow documents, tabs, or libraries

Installed processes

Dese executables belong to dis product when e dey installed.

Installed processes
qgis.exe Main Windows executable
qgis-bin.exe Binary on top some Windows builds

Startup components

QGIS no need to start with Windows.

File locations

Common QGIS locations
Typical install C:\Program Files\QGIS <version>\

File formats

SHPGPKGGEOTIFFKML

Common wahala dem

Open the layer for Earth come lose attributes

KML na down-convert. Stay inside QGIS for the GeoPackage or shapefile.

Missing .shx or .dbf beside .shp

Shapefile na several files. QGIS go fail if the sidecar files miss. Earth no go fit fix dat one.

How to get unstuck

Install from qgis.org/download

Standalone or OSGeo4W. Two of dem na official. Skip "ArcGIS QGIS crack" packs.

Set the layer CRS before you blame the install

Layers wey dey wrong projection dey look "broken" for canvas. docs.qgis.org cover CRS.

Use the Processing Toolbox, no be Earth, for buffers

Na QGIS analysis be dat. Earth Pro measurement na different tool.

Alternatives

Google Earth Pro na globe. ArcGIS Pro na commercial GIS. Maps no be desktop GIS.

Official help and downloads

Start with di vendor. Random exe sites no be support channel.

Official contacts
Download qgis.org/download/ Official installer or vendor page
Help docs.qgis.org/ Vendor support
Official site qgis.org/download/ Start here, no be random exe host

Related hardware

Big rasters dey need RAM and disk. Discrete GPU dey help the map canvas. Any current Windows PC wey QGIS list go open small shapefiles.

Technical details

Technical details

Vendor version numbers dey change. Dis article no pin down any build.

Sources and verification

Recorded source label: August 2026. Dis label no establish independent verification. How we dey do research.

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