How to Pair Cricut Maker 3? [Windows & Mac]

how to pair Cricut Maker 3
April 25, 2025 by
Richie Remington

Cricut offers two ways to pair your machine with any of your devices: you can use a Bluetooth connection or a USB cable connection. In this step-by-step connection guide, we will learn how to pair Cricut Maker 3 effortlessly with Windows, Mac, or mobile devices.

Before you dive into the detailed guide on pairing the Cricut Maker 3 with your device, you need to set up your machine first. For that, you need to download Cricut Design Space on your device to bring your projects to life and design limitlessly.

This guide provides all the essential information needed to pair your machine, including how to set up your machine before pairing it with your device, the system requirements needed for downloading Design Space, and, of course, the full detailed process of pairing it with USB or Bluetooth.

System Requirements to Download Design Space

To pair your crafting machine, ensure your device meets the following system requirements for downloading Cricut Design Space:

  • For Windows: You will require Windows 10 or later, 2 GB of free disk space, 4 GB of RAM, and a dual-core or equivalent AMD processor.
  • For Mac: You will require macOS 12 or later, 4 GB of RAM, a CPU with a speed of 1.83 GHz or higher, 2 GB of free disk space, and a broadband connection.
  • For iOS Devices: You will require iOS 16 or later, iPadOS 16 or later, a minimum download speed of 2-3 Mbps, and a minimum upload speed of 1-2 Mbps.
  • For Android Devices: You will require Android 10.0 or higher.

Note: Design Space supports Chromebooks via the web app but does not support the desktop application on this device.

Steps to Download & Install Cricut Design Space

Follow the directions in the section below to download and install Cricut Design Space:

  1. Go to http://cricut.com/setup.
  2. On the next screen, you will be asked to enter your machine model in the search bar.
  3. Select the checkbox to agree to the terms and conditions.
  4. Once you’ve finished downloading, double-click the downloaded file to initiate the installation process.

  1. After the installation is complete, open Cricut Design Space and either sign in or create your Cricut account with your email and password.

  1. You will know the setup is complete when you are prompted to make a test cut.

Note: For iOS and Android devices, download Cricut Design Space from the App Store or Google Play Store, respectively. Steps may vary slightly by device.

Proceed with the steps below to set up your cutting machine:

  1. Ensure your machine is powered on, and then place it near the device with which you want to pair.
  2. Go to cricut.com/setup.
  3. Open your Cricut Design Space, click on your account, and navigate to Settings.
  4. Now, click the Machines option.
  5. Then, select the “Set up a cutting machine” or “New Product setup” option.
  6. Select your machine model from the options available.
  7. Now, it will show you a basic setup guide.
  8. Next, you can select either USB or Bluetooth to connect your machine.

How to Pair Cricut Maker 3 With Bluetooth on Windows/Mac?

If you face the Connect to computer via Bluetooth window, especially during the machine setup, it is likely due to your computer’s AMD Ryzen chip causing USB connection issues, according to Cricut. To resolve this issue, you will need to connect your machine via Bluetooth.

Note: Cricut strongly recommends Bluetooth while using Cricut Design Space. If you’re setting up a Maker 3 or Explore 3 on your PC with an AMD Ryzen chip. However, if you are using a USB cable as your main connection, we suggest using this USB hub with your PC.

Follow these steps to pair your machine with your computer through Bluetooth:

  1. Ensure your machine is on and place it within the range of 10-15 feet of your system.
  2. Open the Start menu and select Settings.

  1. On a Windows Settings window, select the Devices option.

  1. Make sure your Bluetooth is enabled, and then click “Add Bluetooth or other device.”

  1. Select Bluetooth and let your computer detect your machine. Choose your machine’s model name from the available list.

  1. Input 0000 as a PIN code. Now, click on the Connect button.

Your crafting machine is now connected to your Windows with the help of a Bluetooth connection!

Note: If you encounter Bluetooth device Discovery Issues on Windows 11, open the Bluetooth settings and select ‘View more devices.’ In Bluetooth device discovery, switch it to the default from Advanced.

How to Pair Cricut Maker 3 With a USB Cable on Windows/Mac?

Your machine comes with a USB cable to connect to your computer. To do so, follow the steps below:

  1. Make sure your machine is powered on.
  2. Connect one end of your USB cable to your computer and the other end to the back of your machine.
  3. Then, return to Cricut Design Space and go to New Product Setup. Now, you will see that your machine will show up as connected during setup.

Important: If your machine name does not show up as an available device to pair via Bluetooth, you can follow these steps:

  1. Connect your crafting machine to the computer using a USB cable.
  2. Then, you need to open the Start menu, type Command Prompt in the search bar, and select Open.

  1. Next, type: cd %HOMEPATH%\AppData\Local\Programs\ “Cricut Design Space” \resources\plugins\device-common\ in the Command Prompt window.

  1. In the Command Prompt, type: .\CricutDevice –fixbluetooth and press Enter.

Now, your machine name will appear in the Devices section of the Cricut Bluetooth Settings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How to Find and Update to Current Design Space?

How To find the current Design Space version and check for updates, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Cricut Design Space app.
  2. In the top-right corner, click on your profile icon or initials, then select “Settings.”
  3. Within Settings, go to “General” and then select “About Design Space.”
  4. Click “Check for updates” to see if a newer version is available.
  5. If an update is available, follow the instructions to download and install the latest version.

Why Won’t My Cricut Connect with USB?

A Cricut machine not connecting via USB can be due to various reasons, including:

  1. If your machine has a micro USB port or a standard USB port, ensure it is not damaged or loose.
  2. To ensure you have the latest Cricut drivers, start by updating Cricut Design Space. If your machine is connected through USB, you must also update the firmware.
  3. If your Cricut Design Space is outdated, it might not be compatible with the machine.
  4. Check for firmware updates for your machine. Outdated firmware can cause connection issues.
  5. Check if the Windows Firewall is blocking communication between your computer and the machine.

Where Do I Find Pairing Code for My Cricut?

You might find it printed or engraved near the serial number on your machine, according to Cricut. Suppose prompted for a PIN or pairing code, type 0000. You don’t need to worry about the code; it can be applied to every device as it is a default code for pairing machines via Bluetooth. Once you’ve entered the code, your computer should connect to your machine via Bluetooth.

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