How to Download and Install Qt

Qt is a powerful framework for creating cross-platform applications. Below are the instructions to download and install Qt on various platforms.

Table of Contents

  1. Download Qt
  2. Installing Qt
  3. Using Qt Online Installer
  4. Qt Versions
  5. Additional Resources

Download Qt

To download Qt, follow these steps:

  1. Visit the Qt Download Page for the latest version of Qt.
  2. You will be redirected to the Qt Online Installer page.
  3. The installer will allow you to choose the components you want to install (e.g., Qt version, platform, tools, and compilers).

You can also download Qt from the Qt Archive, which contains older versions of Qt.

Supported Platforms

Qt supports the following platforms:

  • Windows (32-bit and 64-bit)
  • macOS (Intel and ARM)
  • Linux (various distributions including Ubuntu, CentOS, Fedora)
  • Embedded Systems (Raspberry Pi, Yocto)

Installing Qt

Windows

  1. Download the installer from the Qt Download Page.
  2. Run the .exe installer.
  3. Follow the installation wizard:
    • Select the components to install (such as Qt version, compiler, etc.).
    • Sign in with your Qt account (or create one if needed).
    • Choose the directory where you want to install Qt.
  4. Once installation is complete, you can use Qt Creator or other tools to start developing.

macOS

  1. Download the .dmg installer from the Qt Download Page.
  2. Open the .dmg file and drag the Qt installer to your Applications folder.
  3. Double-click to start the installation process.
  4. Follow the steps in the installer to complete the installation.

Using Qt Online Installer

The Qt Online Installer is the recommended way to install Qt. It ensures that you have the latest Qt versions and tools installed. Here’s how to use it:

  1. Download the installer for your platform (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
  2. Launch the installer and sign in with your Qt account (or create a new account if you don’t have one. You need to use your student Email).
  3. Choose the components you want to install. You can select from:
    • QT
    • QT design studio
    • Additional tools and libraries
  4. Choose the installation directory.
  5. Wait for the installation to complete.

After the installation is done, you can start using Qt Creator or other tools for your development.

Additional Resources

For troubleshooting and additional information, refer to the Qt Documentation.

This guide is based on the official Qt installation instructions.

Quick helper: Download and install Qt and Qt Design Studio

Summary: This guide shows the common, safe steps to get Qt (Qt libraries + Qt Creator) and Qt Design Studio installed on Windows/macOS/Linux.

1) Decide license and account

  • If you want the open-source editions, use the Community/Downloads options on qt.io and accept the appropriate license (GPL/LGPL). For commercial, follow your organization’s process.
  • Create/sign-in to a Qt Account if prompted (required by online installer).

2) Download installer

  • Recommended: use the official online installer for the latest/selected Qt release.
  • Qt download page: https://www.qt.io/download (or see docs: https://doc.qt.io/qt-6/get-and-install-qt.html)
  • Pick the installer that matches your OS (Windows .exe, macOS .dmg, Linux .run).

3) Run installer and select components

  • Run installer with administrator privileges.
  • Select an installation folder (default is fine).
  • Choose Qt version(s) you need (pick an LTS or the specific version required for your course/project).
  • Select a compiler toolchain:
    • Windows: choose MSVC if you use Visual Studio (recommended for production), or pick a MinGW bundle if you prefer GCC. Make sure the selected Qt build matches your compiler (e.g., “Qt 6.x.x MSVC 2019 64-bit” vs “mingw_64”).
    • macOS/Linux: pick the appropriate prebuilt Qt for your platform or build from source if needed.
  • Under Tools, make sure Qt Creator is checked if you want the IDE.
  • Some installers include Qt Design Studio as an optional package; if not, download it separately (see next step).

4) Install Qt Design Studio

  • Qt Design Studio may be provided as a separate installer on the Qt downloads page. Download the matching version and run its installer.
  • Alternatively, newer Qt online installers sometimes include Design Studio under Tools; check the component list.

5) Finalize and optional PATH configuration

  • After install, the Qt Maintenance Tool is placed in the install folder for future updates.
  • Optionally add the Qt bin directory to your PATH so command-line tools are available:
    • Example (Windows PowerShell): setx PATH “%PATH%;C:\Qt<version><compiler>\bin”
    • Replace and with your actual installation path (e.g., 6.6.2\mingw_64\bin).

6) Verify installation

  • Open Qt Creator (start menu / Applications) and confirm it lists installed Qt kits and compilers (Tools → Options → Kits).
  • From a terminal, check:
    • qmake –version
    • or run qtcreator –version (if on PATH)
  • Launch Qt Design Studio to confirm it opens and can load/import UI assets.

7) Troubleshooting & tips

  • If you need MSVC toolchain, install matching Visual Studio Build Tools first.
  • If the online installer fails (firewall, proxy), use the offline installers available on the Qt download pages.
  • Use the Qt Maintenance Tool to add/remove modules or update Qt versions later.
  • If a specific kit is not visible in Qt Creator, ensure the corresponding compiler is installed and configured in Tools → Options → Kits → Compilers.

Notes

  • Always pick the Qt build that matches your compiler (MSVC vs MinGW).
  • For course/lab use, check which Qt version and compiler the course expects and install that one to avoid compatibility issues.
  • For further details and official instructions, consult: https://doc.qt.io/qt-6/get-and-install-qt.html