Silhouette Studio Crash or Freeze After Successful Startup

Silhouette Studio may encounter issues with crashing or freezing after it has been opened due to a number of potential reasons. The main reasons this may occur are as follows:


  • Your computer does not meet the minimum requirements to run the application
  • The graphics card is not capable of handling the application
  • The file in use is very large (ie. you have a large number of duplicated copies of an image in your file)


Please review the information in the sections below to troubleshoot and resolve concerns about the software crashing or freezing during operation.

NOTE: Click here for issues with the software crashing during startup

Check Minimum Specification Requirements


Your computer must meet or exceed the following minimum requirements in order to run Silhouette Studio:


  • Operating System: PC (Windows 8.1 and higher) OR Mac (OS X 10.10 and higher)
    NOTE: Chromebook is not currently supported
  • Internet connection: Required for a) software updates, b) access to the Silhouette Design Store c) software upgrade activation
  • RAM: 4 GB of RAM
  • Processor: 2 GHz (or faster) processor speed
  • Memory: 2 GB hard disk space 
  • USB Port: USB 2.0 Port (or higher)

To locate and verify compatibility for your computer, please do the following:

PC

  1. Press [Windows]+Pause button on the keyboard simultaneously
    NOTE: the [Windows] key is between [Ctrl] and [Alt]
  2. The system information will be listed

Mac

  1. Select the apple symbol at the top left corner
  2. Select About this Mac
  3. The system information will be listed

If your computer does not meet the minimum requirements, you will need to use a different computer to run Silhouette Studio.

Reinstall Silhouette Studio


After confirming your computer meets the minimum specification requirements, reinstall the latest software version:

  1. Go to the Silhouette Studio software download page
  2. Click on the 'Download' button
  3. Once downloaded, run the installation program and follow the on-screen prompts to install the software update

Update Graphics Card (PC only)


Some computers (even if they may be newer) may have concerns running Silhouette Studio if an older or incompatible graphics card driver is in use. 

The graphics card driver for your computer is the component that displays images on your screen. Since Silhouette Studio uses a special programming language to display images and cutting information, this may require some users to update the graphics card driver. An older driver can cause concerns with the program crashing upon start-up, display issues, or the program running slowly.

To update the graphics card driver:

  1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard
  2. Type in devmgmt.msc and click OK
  3. In the Device Manager, click on 'Display Adaptors'
  4. Click on the adaptor in the list
  5. When the adaptor window is displayed, click on the Driver tab
  6. Click on Update Driver

If your computer's graphics driver type is already known, you can alternately go directly to the vendor's website:

Follow the prompts listed to update. Once updated, restart the computer.

Reinstall Silhouette Studio


After confirming your computer meets the minimum specification requirements, reinstall the latest software version:

  1. Go to the Silhouette Studio software download page
  2. Click on the 'Download' button
  3. Once downloaded, run the installation program and follow the on-screen prompts to install the software update

Turn Off Antialiasing


Adjust the display of the program to turn off any graphics optimization as follows:

  1. Open Silhouette Studio
  2. Go to Edit > Preferences > Display
  3. Set Antialiasing to a lower sample setting or to 'Off'
  4. Click Apply
  5. Close and re-open Silhouette Studio
  6. Repeat the above steps selecting a different setting at step 5 if needed

Confirm the File in Use


If the issue only occurs when using a specific file, then the file may either have corruption or include a very large amount of data that the program cannot handle properly.


If you are able to temporarily open the file to make adjustments:


  1. Right-click and Ungroup the design
  2. Select all the parts of individual elements of the design (i.e. all of one tag with all the inner parts that are intended to be a group of the overall image)
  3. Right-click and Convert to Path 
    NOTE: This action will take the image from being a bunch of grouped parts that the program has to process individually into one object that can be processed more quickly
  4. Repeat this process for all of the elements in the document
    NOTE: This process may be slow, but the end result should be a much more usable file that is more responsive


If you are unable to open the file, you can send a copy of the file to support@silhouetteamerica.com to test. While we may not be able to correct the file, we can confirm whether or not it is able to be opened.


Silhouette Studio Crashes After Using Design Tool

If Silhouette Studio is freezing/crashing after using a specific software design tool, then that the operation is too complex, and the processor and/or graphics card on your computer is experiencing issues with executing the command. 

Simplifying the Design


Do the following to simplify the design in use:

  1. Open Silhouette Studio
  2. Open the file or design in question
  3. Right-click on the design
  4. Select to Release Compound Path
  5. Click off of the image
  6. Try to use the design tool operation again

'Trace and Detach' Issues

If you are using the Trace and Detach option, be advised that this should only be used when attempting to detach a basic raster image from a simple, white background. 


If the background of your imported image is complex, we would suggest using the Trace option instead to create the necessary desired cut lines. 


Silhouette Studio Freezes When Using Fill Pattern

If you are using an imported design (from a location other than the Silhouette Design Store) and using it as a fill pattern, the software freezing likely indicates that the fill pattern files are too large.

Resampling the Original Design


To resolve this concern:

  1. Open Silhouette Studio
    NOTE: Make sure you are running the latest version
  2. Go to the Library
  3. Right-click on the pattern in question in your Library
  4. Select Delete Item
  5. Right-click on the library's Recycle Bin
  6. Select 'Empty Recycle Bin'
  7. Download following zip file: https://dl.silhcdn.com/6fa66d0def76c9af
  8. Unzip the file and run the 'Resample Images' program
  9. Re-sample the original designs to a lower pixel rate by dragging and dropping files to have them converted automatically 

This process will re-sample the original images to make them smaller and friendlier for the Silhouette Studio program. We would recommend to re-sample into a JPG at a rate of 500px.

  1. Import the converted image back into the Library


Silhouette Studio Crash During Startup

Silhouette Studio may encounter issues with crashing during an attempt to start due to a number of reasons.


Please review the information in the sections below to troubleshoot and resolve concerns with software crashing.

NOTE: Click here instead for issues with the software crashing after startup

Check Minimum Specification Requirements


Your computer needs to meet or exceed the following minimum requirements in order to run Silhouette Studio:


  • Operating System: PC (Windows 8.1 and higher) OR Mac (OS X 10.10 and higher)
    NOTE: Chromebook is not currently supported
  • Internet connection: Required for a) software updates, b) access to the Silhouette Design Store c) software upgrade activation
  • RAM: 4 GB of RAM
  • Processor: 2 GHz or faster processor speed
  • Memory: 2 GB hard disk space 
  • USB Port: USB 2.0 Port or higher


To locate and verify compatibility for your computer, please do the following:


Windows

  1. Press [Windows]+Pause button on the keyboard simultaneously
  2. NOTE: the [Windows] key is between [Ctrl] and [Alt]
  3. The system information will be listed


Mac

  1. Select the apple symbol at the top left corner
  2. Select About this Mac
  3. The system information will be listed


If your computer does not meet the minimum requirements, you will need to use a different computer to run Silhouette Studio.

Reinstall Silhouette Studio


After confirming your computer meets the minimum specification requirements, reinstall the latest software version:


Windows 

  1. Go to the Silhouette Studio software download page 
  2. Click on the 'Download' button 
  3. Once downloaded, run the installation program and follow the on-screen prompts to install the software update


Mac 

  1. Send all instances of Silhouette Studio to your trash
    NOTE: This is to prevent the wrong instance from potentially loading 
  2. Create a new user on your Mac 
  3. Install the Silhouette Studio program under the new user from https://www.silhouetteamerica.com/software/ss
  4. If it launches, close the software and go back to the prior user and attempt to launch Silhouette Studio again 
  5. If Silhouette Studio is able to connect, you can remove the new user that was created 

If these steps do not resolve the concern, proceed with the steps found below.

Check Permissions (Windows Only)


Make sure Silhouette Studio is properly permitted to run as follows: 

  1. Right-click on the Silhouette Studio program shortcut
  2. Select 'Run as administrator' 

If this is successful, make the following change:

  1. Select the Properties option
  2. Select the Security tab
  3. Select the Advanced button
  4. Select the 'Change Permissions' button and provide authorization
  5. Check the box entitled "Replace all child object permission entries with inheritable permission entries from this object"
  6. Select Yes on the Windows Security pop-up
  7. Select Okay

Check for Software 'Preferences' Corruption


When Silhouette Studio is opened, it goes through a process to initialize all the settings before fully opening and displaying the workspace area.


Occasionally, the software can encounter errors during the startup phase, including the following: 

  • The software continually displays "Loading Icons" on startup but never starts 
  • The software stalls or crashes when attempting to open at the 'Initializing' stage of the startup


Silhouette Studio can also encounter issues after the software is opened with the following:

  • Persistent or Interrupting "Generating Cut Job" message displayed while the software is running
  • Inability to save new Preferences
  • Inability to create and save new custom cut settings
  • Error message: "An error has occurred. Silhouette Studio has encountered an error and must quit. Any unsaved changes will be lost."


These errors generally indicate an issue with settings stored in the software, such as user-generated cut settings (custom materials and updated settings for existing materials), and preference options you have updated in the Preferences settings.


If you encounter the above behavior, we recommend clearing your Preferences folder as follows:


⚠ WARNING: This procedure will result in the removal of user-generated cut settings (custom materials and updated settings for existing materials) as well as any preference options you may have selected under the Preferences settings. If possible, you may want to take note of any custom settings or preferences so you can re-create or re-select them after this procedure is completed.


Windows

  1. Close Silhouette Studio
  2. Press [Windows]+R on your keyboard simultaneously
  3. In Run window type %appdata%
  4. Press Enter
  5. Delete the Folder com.aspexsoftware.Silhouette_Studio
  6. Empty the Recycle Bin
  7. Re-open Silhouette Studio

Mac

  1. Close Silhouette Studio
  2. Open the Finder
  3. Press [Cmd]+[Shift]+G
  4. Type in ~/Library/Preferences
  5. Press Return
  6. Delete the Folder com.aspexsoftware.Silhouette_Studio
  7. Empty the Trash
  8. Re-open Silhouette Studio

Check for Library Corruption


If there is corruption in the library folder, this can prevent the proper launch of the software. 


You can reset your Library system folder as follows:


Windows

  1. Press the Windows key (lower left, between [Ctrl] and [Alt]) and the R key on your keyboard simultaneously
  2. Type %programdata% into the Run box
  3. Press Enter
  4. Locate the folder com.aspexsoftware.Silhouette_Studio.8 
  5. Right-click and select Rename
  6. Rename the folder to com.aspexsoftware.Silhouette_Studio.8.OLD
  7. Attempt to open Silhouette Studio

Mac

  1. Open the Finder
  2. Press [Cmd]+[Shift]+G
  3. Type in /Library/Application Support
  4. Press Return
  5. Locate the folder com.aspexsoftware.Silhouette_Studio.8 
  6. Rename the folder to com.aspexsoftware.Silhouette_Studio.8.OLD
  7. Attempt to open Silhouette Studio


NOTE: This action does not delete your Library folder. It only renames it so that the software bypasses it and creates a new blank library instead. This will allow seeing if there was library corruption. If it does not resolve the issue, you can reverse the steps above by deleting the newly created 'com.aspexsoftware.Silhouette_Studio.8' folder and renaming the older folder back to its original name.