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How to install BetterCast on Windows

BetterCast does what Duet Display, SideCar, Luna, DeskScreen, Spacedesk does, and Duet Display, SideCar, Luna, DeskScreen, Spacedesk costs Paid. This guide gets you the free one.

What you end up with

BetterCast installed like any other app on your Windows PC. It is free, and it stays free — there is no account, no trial and no subscription at the end of this.

Time
About 23 minutes
Steps
14
Cost
Free

Before you start

These are one-time installs. If you have used PowerShell before, you may have them already — the first step checks.

  1. Install Git

    Run the installer, then reopen PowerShell.

    Open installer

    You know this worked when: Git responds with a version number

  2. Install Node LTS

    Run the LTS installer, then reopen PowerShell.

    Open download

    You know this worked when: Node responds with a version number

Install BetterCast

  1. Open PowerShell

    Keep it open beside this page.

    You know this worked when: PowerShell is open

  2. Check Git and Node

    Git and the current Node LTS are required.

    Type this into PowerShell, then press Enter.

    git --version
node --version

    You know this worked when: Git and Node respond with version numbers

  3. Copy BetterCast to this PC

    Type this into PowerShell, then press Enter.

    cd ~
if [ ! -d BetterCast/.git ]; then
git clone https://github.com/StephenLovino/BetterCast.git
fi

    You know this worked when: A BetterCast folder appears

  4. Open the BetterCast folder

    Type this into PowerShell, then press Enter.

    cd BetterCast

    You know this worked when: Your terminal prompt is inside the BetterCast folder

  5. Use the reviewed version

    Type this into PowerShell, then press Enter.

    git checkout bcdc03abb77c3262ca8bd8dff86ea2abf8089c55

    You know this worked when: Git reports the reviewed commit

  6. Try BetterCast

    Keep PowerShell open.

    Type this into PowerShell, then press Enter.

    cargo run

    You know this worked when: BetterCast opens

  7. Allow Microphone

    Approve it when Windows asks.

    You know this worked when: Microphone is turned on

  8. Allow Camera

    Approve it when Windows asks.

    You know this worked when: Camera is turned on

  9. Allow Screen Recording

    Approve it when Windows asks.

    You know this worked when: Screen Recording is turned on

  10. Allow Accessibility

    Approve it when Windows asks.

    You know this worked when: Accessibility is turned on

  11. Allow Notifications

    Approve it when Windows asks.

    You know this worked when: Notifications is turned on

  12. Try it

    BetterCast should be open and ready to use.

    You know this worked when: BetterCast works

If something goes wrong

Nothing here can damage your computer, and every step can be run again safely. If a command fails, the usual cause is the step before it not having finished.

Still stuck? Tell us what happened and we will fix the guide. Include the step number and we can usually reproduce it.

Have a different setup?