Windows Troubleshooting

Prefer the Windows installer. Run it and follow the prompts.

A zip build is still available: right-click → Extract All, then run HueForge from the extracted folder. Don't launch it from inside the zip, and don't move only HueForge.exe to the desktop — keep it with its DLLs (create a shortcut instead).

To update: download the latest Windows build from your order Download Files page / account portal, then re-run the installer (or replace the zip folder carefully).

After 0.8.0:

What	Default path
Config / filaments	%AppData%\Roaming\HueForge
Logs	%AppData%\Roaming\HueForge\Logs

Projects are saved where you choose — not inside the app folder.

This is the most common Windows issue. It is almost always an outdated Intel graphics driver. Windows Update is usually not enough — you need the driver from Intel.

1. Find your processor

1. Press the Windows key, type About your PC, and open it (or go to Settings → System → About)
2. Write down the Processor line (example: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-8250U)
3. The 4-digit model number tells Intel generation (8250U → 8th gen). You'll use that on Intel's site.

You can also see this on the first screen of dxdiag (Windows key → type dxdiag → Enter).

2. Find your GPU

1. Press the Windows key, type Device Manager, and open it
2. Expand Display adapters
3. Note every adapter listed:
   • Intel HD / UHD / Iris = integrated Intel graphics (most common for this failure)
   • NVIDIA or AMD = discrete GPU
   • Microsoft Basic Display Adapter = Windows does not have a real GPU driver — install one before HueForge will run

If you see Intel and NVIDIA/AMD, HueForge may be launching on the wrong GPU. After updating Intel drivers, force the discrete GPU: Settings → System → Display → Graphics → Add desktop app → browse to HueForge → High performance.

Very old Intel HD 3000 + NVIDIA laptops sometimes need the Intel adapter disabled in Device Manager so NVIDIA can run.

3. Install the matching Intel graphics driver

1. Open Intel's Graphics downloads search:
   Intel Graphics downloads
2. Search with your processor name or generation (from step 1)
3. Download the Graphics driver Intel lists for that CPU
4. Install it, then reboot
5. Try HueForge again

If Intel has no driver for that CPU, the iGPU is likely too old for HueForge (see Compatibility).

4. If it still won't start

Email steve@thehueforge.com with your processor, Display adapters list, and a dxdiag.txt (Windows key → type dxdiag → Enter → Save All Information…).

• msvc140.dll / VC runtime: install the Microsoft Redistributable from the HueForge install folder (or from Microsoft).
• Qt6OpenGL.dll: you probably moved the .exe out of its folder — put it back or use a shortcut.
• Qt6OpenGLWidgets.dll / can't find DLLs: you ran HueForge from inside the zip — Extract All first.
• Installer users: these zip-only issues are less common; still update GPU drivers if startup fails.

1. HueForge version + Windows version
2. What you were doing, or note startup crash
3. File → Export Log File if the app opens
4. Crash reports from %AppData%\Roaming\HueForge\Logs
5. Startup crashes: also dxdiag.txt — almost always video drivers

Get dxdiag.txt: Win key → type dxdiag → Enter → Save All Information…

Email steve@thehueforge.com.

Update GPU drivers from the vendor, reload the image, then send a log if it still fails.

Older AMD Compatibility existed in 0.8.1 only — not in 0.9.x.

Set File → Settings → Model → Render Backend → Vulkan, click Save and Apply, then restart HueForge when prompted. Use sparingly; many SpotFixes can fail to persist between sessions (0.9.4.2 should improve this). Cannot be used with HugeForge currently.

Drag and drop the plugin zip onto HueForge. If needed, clear %AppData%\Roaming\HueForge\Plugins and reinstall.

Email steve@thehueforge.com. Store/download/license → Store FAQ.