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PrusaSlicer

ApplicationPrusa Research

Also called prusa slicer, slic3r pe

Prusa ResearchCreative

Slicer for FDM printers. Fork of Slic3r. The process is prusa-slicer.exe. It is not Cura.

What you need to know

PrusaSlicer is a Slic3r fork. It is not Cura.

prusa-slicer.exe writes G-code with Prusa-style presets. Cura is UltiMaker. Bambu Studio is a different fork aimed at Bambu printers.

What is it?
FDM slicer
Still current?
Yes, see Current status
Official download?
Use the vendor link in this article
Feex says
If a Cura .3mf with Cura extras fails here, I reslice in PrusaSlicer. I do not call prusa-slicer.exe UltiMaker-Cura.exe.

What is PrusaSlicer?

PrusaSlicer is a Slic3r fork with Prusa profiles and a print/filament/printer stack. Cura uses a different profile format. SuperSlicer is yet another Slic3r-family fork.

If you have never used it

If you have a Prusa printer (or another FDM machine with a Prusa profile), this is the slicer that turns STL or 3MF into G-code. Download it from prusa3d.com. UltiMaker Cura is a different slicer. Bambu Studio is another fork family.

What is it used for?

Slice models to G-code

STL, 3MF, STEP on current builds. Cura project files will not open as native PrusaSlicer projects.

Prusa printer profiles

MK, XL, MINI, and community printers. Bambu machines prefer Bambu Studio.

Print, filament, and printer presets

Three-preset model from the Slic3r family. Cura's intent profiles are a different UI.

Who is it for?

  • Prusa printer owners
  • People who prefer Slic3r-style presets
  • Users comparing a Cura profile they cannot import

Current status

PrusaSlicer (2016) is a current fdm slicer from Prusa Research. The vendor still points Windows users at https://www.prusa3d.com/page/prusaslicer_424/.

How old is it?

Slic3r was the 2010s open slicer. Prusa forked it as Slic3r PE, then PrusaSlicer (2016 onward). Cura is Ultimaker's line, not this fork.

Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.

PrusaSlicer 2.x
Slic3r PE (old name)

System requirements

Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.

Minimum

Minimum system requirements
Operating system A current supported Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, per the vendor
RAM Enough for Windows plus this app. Heavy projects want more.

Resource profile

CPU demand
Follows what you open inside the app
RAM demand
Follows documents, tabs, or libraries

Installed processes

These executables belong to this product when it is installed.

Installed processes
prusa-slicer.exe Main Windows executable

Startup components

PrusaSlicer does not need to start with Windows.

File locations

Common PrusaSlicer locations
Typical install C:\Program Files\Prusa3D\PrusaSlicer\

File formats

STL3MFGCODESTEP

Common problems

Opened a Cura-only project

Re-export the mesh and slice again. PrusaSlicer is not Cura.

Used Bambu printer profiles here by habit

Bambu Studio owns that hardware path. Community profiles exist, but the sibling app is the supported one.

Getting unstuck

Install from prusa3d.com/page/prusaslicer_424

help.prusa3d.com has printer setup. Skip random "Slic3r Pro" builds.

Add the printer from Prusa's config wizard

That is how official profiles land. Cura Marketplace plugins will not appear.

Export G-code, then use the printer's upload path

PrusaLink, SD, or USB. The slicer is not the printer firmware.

Alternatives

Cura is the common Ultimaker slicer. Bambu Studio targets Bambu printers. SuperSlicer is another Slic3r-family fork.

Official help and downloads

Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.

Official contacts
Download www.prusa3d.com/page/prusaslicer_424/ Official installer or vendor page
Help help.prusa3d.com/ Vendor support
Official site www.prusa3d.com/page/prusaslicer_424/ Start here, not a random exe host

Related hardware

Slicing large meshes wants RAM. The printer is separate hardware. This app does not flash a GPU driver.

Technical details

Technical details

Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.

Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.

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