FAQ

Why can Blender-Launcher-V2 be flagged by antivirus?

Blender-Launcher-V2 is packaged with PyInstaller, which bundles Python, dependencies, and your code into a Windows executable. Some AV products may flag PyInstaller-built apps as suspicious due to heuristics/ML detection and “packed executable” patterns that are also used by malware. This is often a false positive, especially for new or low-download binaries.

Blender-Launcher-V2 is open source on GitHub, so you can review the code and/or build it yourself from source.

It’s safe to whitelist the program in your antivirus software and report it as a false positive to your antivirus vendor.

Why do I see a Windows security popup the first time I run it?

Windows may show a SmartScreen / “Windows protected your PC” prompt when an app is new, not widely downloaded, or not code-signed. This warning is typically about publisher identity and reputation, not proof the app is malicious.

To reduce these prompts, apps usually need code signing and time to build reputation through legitimate downloads.

Where can I find the Blender Launcher log files?

Check the Troubleshooting page for more information about log file locations.