ArtCraft Download: The Safe Way to Install Every App
Every ArtCraft download is free — the AI studio, the ArtCraft Launcher, and all 13 Crafting Apps. But the project's sudden popularity has spawned look-alike mirror sites, so where you download matters as much as what you download. This guide sticks to official channels, checksum verification, and the fixes for the install problems early users actually hit.
Official ArtCraft Download Sources (and Only These)
1. getartcraft.com/apps
The official apps directory. Every app page carries its own installers, and the page marks each app "Installers ready" with platform badges for macOS and Windows — 12 of the 13 apps (all except FilmCraft) also compile to WebAssembly and run in a browser tab.
2. The ArtCraft Launcher
One installer that installs every app and keeps them updated — the route the official site recommends. The launcher itself ships through the same official channels.
3. github.com/storytold releases
Each app's repository publishes versioned releases with a SHA256SUMS.txt file. Verify your download's hash against it before running anything — this is the ground truth if a mirror ever disagrees.
4. The browser versions
Zero install: the AI studio runs at app.getartcraft.com, and most Crafting Apps have WebAssembly builds. Ideal for a first look before any ArtCraft download touches your disk.
Mirror caution. Several unofficial "download guide" and "mirror" sites appeared within days of the launch. They may be well-meaning, but they do not publish the binaries — and you cannot verify their copies. An ArtCraft download should always trace back to getartcraft.com or the storytold GitHub organization.
Install Steps by Platform
- Windows (10 or later, 64-bit): download the MSI installer or the portable ZIP. SmartScreen may show "Windows protected your PC" because the project is new — verify the SHA-256 first, then click "More info" → "Run anyway."
- macOS (12.0 or later): download the DMG; the builds are universal for Apple Silicon and Intel. If Gatekeeper blocks the app, approve it under System Settings → Privacy & Security after verifying the checksum.
- Linux: there is no official installer. Use the WebAssembly browser versions, or compile from the public source code; Wayland users building from source should check open issues before reporting bugs (a known display-server thread exists).
- From source: every app builds with a standard Rust toolchain via
cargo run --release— the most transparent ArtCraft download is no download at all. - First run: open a copy of a real file, edit, save, and reopen it in your current software before trusting alpha-status apps with originals.
Known Install Problems and Their Fixes
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Launcher won't open | Outdated graphics driver (tracked as a launcher issue) | Update the GPU driver from the vendor first — this resolved the most-reported launcher case |
| macOS blocks the app | Gatekeeper on unsigned new software | Privacy & Security → "Open Anyway", after hash verification |
| Windows SmartScreen warning | New publisher reputation | Verify SHA-256 against GitHub's SHA256SUMS.txt, then "Run anyway" |
| Antivirus quarantine | Heuristic flags on new binaries | Restore only after the checksum matches; report false positives to your AV vendor |
| Linux display issues (self-compiled) | Wayland / packaging edge cases | Check the project's GitHub issues; try an X11 session |
Launcher logs live in the app's data folder (%LOCALAPPDATA%\ArtCraft Launcher on Windows, ~/Library/Application Support/ArtCraft Launcher on macOS) — attach them when filing issues.