Answers to common questions can be found here.
If you'd like a detailed answer to a technical question, ask our fantastic community on the Forum.
This is a very simple process and one that requires you to just install the latest version of Lightworks into the same directory you installed the original version. By default Lightworks is installed here:
Windows: You can uninstall Lightworks using the Uninstall function in Control Panel->Uninstall a Program. Simply select Lightworks and click Uninstall.
Linux Debian distros: Open a Terminal window and type: sudo apt-get remove lightworks
Linux RPM distros: Open a Terminal Window and type: dnf remove lightworks (you will need to have the correct system privileges for this to work)
Mac: Drag the Lightworks.app to the Bin
Open Lightworks to the project browser
Click the 'System Settings' button
On the panel that opens, Click the dropdown arrow next to 'Language'
Click 'Customise'
On the panel that opens, click the settings icon (three vertical dots)
Select 'Revert to default wordings'
There are several things to check with regards to Lightworks not starting:
1. Make sure you are running the latest version of Lightworks (2021.2 or higher) from the Downloads page.
2.That the graphics card drivers are installed and working correctly. Please make sure that a "standard VGA" driver is NOT installed.
3. That the sound card is installed and working correctly, ie, you can hear audio coming from the system. Please make sure that speakers/headphones are connected and that the audio is enabled.
4. Intel 945/G33/G31 graphics chipsets are no longer supported. If you have one of these graphics cards, please upgrade it to resolve this issue.
5. That your DirectX is up to date. Please download the DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer from here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35
6. If you are running Windows Defender, please disable it and reinstall Lightworks.
This error means that the DirectX drivers on your system need updating. To resolve the issue download the DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer from here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35
This message is simply a warning. To remove the warning, please follow the instructions documented here: https://forum.lwks.com/threads/-.30483/post-30487
In order to start using Lightworks you will first need to have registered an account with us here: https://app.lwks.com/sign-up Once your account is registered successfully, you can use your Username/Email and Password to sign in to the Lightworks application.
You will lose your license if the hard drive is replaced. First you will need to install Lightworks on the new hard drive and activate the Free version of Lightworks. To help us assist you, please fill in the form provided here: https://lwks.com/report-a-problem telling us the name of the system Lightworks Pro has been applied to, along with any other relevant changes to the system.
This error message means the version of Lightworks you are attempting to activate is out of date. You will need to download and install the latest version of Lightworks (2021.3 or higher) from here: https://app.lwks.com/downloads You will then be able to activate Lightworks successfully. Please also make sure the internet is present and working correctly on your system and that you have disabled any Firewalls/Anti virus software before attempting activation. If you still receive the same error, please fill in the form provided here: https://lwks.com/report-a-problem
Please make sure you are running the latest release version of Lightworks (2021.2 or higher) then delete the License.dat from the location below and sign back in again.
This error message means the version of Lightworks you are attempting to activate is out of date. You will need to download and install the latest version of Lightworks (2021.3 or higher) from here: https://app.lwks.com/downloads You will then be able to activate Lightworks successfully.
Please also check the Date/Time on your system clock and make sure it is set correctly. Any alterations/inconsistencies in Date/Time may cause this error.
Not currently. We are working to add this functionality. If you are a Lightworks Pro customer and you need to activate your Lightworks Pro license, you can contact the team here: https://lwks.com/report-a-problem
This error message means the version of Lightworks you are attempting to activate is out of date. You will need to download and install the latest version of Lightworks (2021.3 or higher) from here: https://app.lwks.com/downloads You will then be able to activate Lightworks successfully. Please also make sure the internet is present and working correctly on your system and that you have disabled any Firewalls/Anti virus software before attempting activation. If you still receive the same error, please fill in the form provided here: https://lwks.com/report-a-problem
This error message means the version of Lightworks you are attempting to activate is out of date. You will need to download and install the latest version of Lightworks (2021.3 or higher) from here: https://app.lwks.com/downloads You will then be able to activate Lightworks successfully.
The list of codecs that Lightworks supports can be found here: https://lwks.com/lightworks-tech-specs Just beacuse a file is in an . AVI or .MOV container does not necessarily mean it will import into Lightworks. .AVI and .MOV files are simply containers that can contain a wide variety of codecs within them. We recommend you to download and install MediaInfo from the Tools sections of the Downloads page: https://app.lwks.com/downloads Instructions for using and posting your information regarding MediInfo can be found in this Forum Post: https://forum.lwks.com/threads/how-to-post-mediainfo.235619/#235619
The Free version of Lightworks has restricted file output limited to YouTube/Vimeo .MP4@720p. In order to access the full exporter profiles you will need to upgrade to Lightworks Pro. Please visit this page: https://lwks.com/lightworks-tech-specs/ to compare Lightworks Free with Lightworks Pro.
If you are checking back your exports in Windows Media Player, it is highly unlikely it has the codecs available to play the exported video. We would recommend downloading VLC media player from here: https://www.videolan.org/vlc/ This is a free media player that supports most codecs.
When you purchase a Lightworks Pro license you can decide whether to activate a Windows, Linux or Mac system.
When you purchase a Lightworks Pro license you can decide whether to activate a Windows, Linux or Mac system.
You will only lose the license file locally on the system. Install Lightworks and sign in with your Username and Password you will then be issued with the same license file again. If you receive an error or your Lightworks Pro license is not restored correctly, please fill in the form provided here: https://lwks.com/report-a-problem telling us the name of the system Lightworks Pro should be applied to, along with any other relevant changes to the system.
This is currently not possible with the latest version of Lightworks and the new ELS licensing service. When you purchase a Lightworks Pro (Year or Outright) license you will receive a complimentary Lightworks Pro activation that can be used on a different system. Once activated the Lightworks Pro license cannot be removed. This complimentary activation exists for this reason only.
Please install and activate the Free version of Lightworks on the new system, you can then contact the team here: https://lwks.com/report-a-problem who will be able to assist further.
Yes. The Free license will expire every seven days but can be renewed by simply signing back into the application with your Username and Password.
If you have paid for a subscription using a credit card (PayPal is not applicable) then please sign in to your account on https://app.lwks.com/login and go to "Update Billing Details".
The Lightworks Pro Outright license does not have an expiry date and can be activated at any time. Once activated, the software will no longer need an internet connection and can be used indefinitely. The Lightworks Pro Outright license will work for the current release version which includes all minor version updates. When the next version is released a license upgrade will be required.
Yes. Projects created with either version of Lightworks will be compatible.
Please visit http://forum.contourdesign.com for the latest installer version.
Only Windows and Mac OS X. Some users report success getting the driver to work on Linux, please search our Forum for potential solutions.
Please make sure you have set the Contour Control Panel to the ‘EditShare Lightworks’ profile. This will target the Lightworks program core executable (named - ntcardvt.exe) at both the Windows 32 & 64-Bit default OS installation paths of:
Ensure you have the correct installer package for your Mac OS X release version.
You will need to load the appropriate keyboard mapping file from within Lightworks.
1. Open Lightworks, enter a current project or create a new one if one does not exist.
2. On the Lightworks ‘Tools’ bar, open the ‘Editor preferences’ panel at the bottom of the panel
3. On the Preferences panel choose ’Import’
4. Browse to the appropriate xx.prefs file for the operating system you are running, select it then press ‘OK’ to apply.
- Mac: LWKS Contour Shuttle Key Mapping_OSX.prefs
- Windows: LWKS Contour Shuttle Key Mapping_Win.prefs
Yes, as long as the driver is supported and you target the ntcardvt.exe in the install directory, it will work.
Yes. Please visit the Downloads page and either click the "Windows - Beta" or "Linux - Beta" or "Mac OS X - Beta" Download. Once you agree to the Terms and Conditions your account will be upgraded and you will have access to the latest Beta versions. Please try to contribute to the Beta program. Inactive users on the Beta program will be removed.
Please see recommended system specs here: https://lwks.com/lightworks-tech-specs
Please post all Lightworks feature requests in the appropriate section of the Lightworks Forum. We welcome all feature requests and are happy to hear new ideas from users.
For Windows: C:/Users/Public/Documents/Lightworks/Logs
For Linux: /home/USER ACCOUNT/Lightworks/Logs
For Mac OS X: /Users/USER ACCOUNT/Lightworks/Logs
Windows Aero needs to be enabled, not disabled, and Vertical Sync in the NVidia control panel needs to be on.
In version 11.1 onwards we have added hardware support for Blackmagic and AJA I/O devices. If the drivers for the Blackmagic or AJA device are installed, Lightworks will by default use the device for outputting audio, it will no longer use the on board sound device in the system. You can change whether Lightworks uses the Hardware I/O or System Audio in the System Settings panel on the project browser screen.
Do not worry, your edit is still in the project you just have to search for it and open it. Open the Content Manager Tool (fourth tool from the top of the toolbox) and select the "Edits" filter and open your edit. If you have many edits and you know the name of your edit you are trying to find, click the magnifying glass icon on the content manager, type the name of your edit into the Name section and click Search (making sure "Edits" is selected under "Contents" The content manager will change view to show all the searched for edits from within your project, double click your edit to open it to a viewer or click the viewer icon on the tile.
To activate and deactivate the On-screen Console go to the Editor Preferences (Figure with Cog) on the Tool Bar (left of screen) > User Interface > Playback Controls and choose Global for the bottom Console bar or On Each Viewer for separated controls on each viewer. Choose None if you wish to remove any controls completely off the screen. Useful if you want a cleaner GUI and have the Lightworks hardware Console.
You're welcome to use the Free version of Lightworks for commercial purposes, directly on YouTube and elsewhere.
On Windows and Linux this can be done by clicking System Settings on the Project Browser screen and setting "Fullscreen window" to "No" You will then be able to resize the Lightworks application across all of your monitors.
On Mac OS X, Apple changed the way that apps behave on multi-screen setups when it released Mavericks (10.9). By default, applications aren't allowed to span monitors. You can override this behaviour by changing the 'Displays have separate spaces' setting - see here: http://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac-software/tips-using-multiple-displays-os-x-mavericks-3493420/