How to Install Snappy Pro

This page walks you through installing Snappy Pro in Blender, one step at a time, with a photo of every step. It takes about five minutes. Go slowly and follow the red boxes in each photo.

Before you start, you need:
  • Blender 4.3 or newer. It is free from blender.org.
  • Your activation key email from LayerLab, called "Your Snappy Pro activation key". If you can't find it, look in your spam or junk folder.

1Open your activation key email

Your key looks like SNAP-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX. You will need it twice: once to download Snappy, and once inside Blender. Click Download Snappy Pro in the email.

The Snappy Pro activation key email with the Download Snappy Pro link

2Download the Snappy Pro file

Copy your key from the email and paste it into the Activation key box (it shows as dots, which is normal). Then click Download Pro ZIP.

A file called snappy-pro-1.0.56.zip (the number may be different) goes into your Downloads folder. Do not open or unzip it. Blender installs it exactly as it is.

The Download Snappy Pro page with the key box and the Download Pro ZIP button
On a Mac using Safari? Safari can unzip the file by itself, leaving a folder instead of a .zip file. If that happens, open Safari's menu, then Settings, then General, untick Open "safe" files after downloading, and download it again.

3Open Blender

Start Blender. If this is the first time you have used it, a Quick Setup window appears. Click Continue. (If you don't see this window, skip to step 4.)

Blender's Quick Setup window with the Continue button marked

4Open Preferences

At the top left of Blender, click Edit (1), then click Preferences... at the bottom of the list (2). A new Preferences window opens.

Blender's Edit menu with Preferences marked

5Click Get Extensions

In the list down the left side of the Preferences window, click Get Extensions.

You may see a message about Online Extensions and internet access. You can ignore it: Snappy doesn't need it.

The Preferences window with Get Extensions marked in the left-hand list

6Click the small arrow, then Install from Disk

At the top right of the Preferences window there is a very small arrow pointing down (1). Click it. A short menu opens. Click Install from Disk... (2).

The small arrow at the top right of Preferences and the Install from Disk option marked

7Pick the Snappy file and install it

A file window opens. On the left, under System, click Downloads. Click the snappy-pro .zip file once so it turns blue (1). Then click the blue Install from Disk button at the bottom right (2).

Blender's file window with the snappy-pro zip selected and the Install from Disk button marked

8Check it installed, then close Preferences

Snappy Pro now shows under Installed (1). That means it worked. Close the Preferences window with the X at its top right (2).

Snappy Pro listed under Installed, with the close button marked

9Open the Snappy Pro tab

Move your mouse over the big grey area in the middle of Blender (where the cube is). Press the N key on your keyboard once. A panel slides out on the right, with tabs down its right-hand edge. Click the tab called Snappy Pro.

The sidebar open in Blender with the Snappy Pro tab marked
No panel? The mouse has to be over the middle area when you press N. Move it there and press N again. Pressing N a second time hides the panel, so press it until the panel shows.

10Enter your key

Copy your key from the email again. Click in the Activation key box and paste it in (1). It shows as stars, which is normal. Then click Activate Snappy (2). Your computer needs to be on the internet for this step.

The Snappy Pro panel with the activation key box and the Activate Snappy button marked

To paste, use Ctrl + V on Windows, or Cmd + V on a Mac.

11You're done

When the key is accepted, every Snappy tool appears in the Snappy Pro tab: Scene Setup, Material Fit, Shaper, Aligner, Cutter, Splitter and the rest. You only do steps 1 to 10 once. Next time, just open Blender, press N and click the Snappy Pro tab.

The Snappy Pro tab showing every tool after activation
What next? The Quick Start Guide shows you how to make your first fitted part and split a big model.

Stuck?

  • Using Snappy Free already? Remove it first. In Preferences, click Get Extensions, click the small arrow on the right of Snappy Free, and choose Uninstall. Then start again from step 6. Your Blender projects are not affected.
  • Lost your key? Get it again at Snappy Key Recovery using the email you bought with.
  • Your key works on two computers. To move it to a new computer, on the old one open Preferences, click Add-ons, open Snappy Pro and click Release This Computer.
  • Still stuck? Email layerlabaustralia@gmail.com with a photo of your screen, and I'll help you get it going.