How to use Cricut Maker 5 – Help Center

Get started with Cricut Maker 5. Learn how to create fun projects and discover how to use features like cutting, drawing, scoring, engraving, and more.

With Cricut Maker 5 and Design Space, you can easily cut, draw, score, engrave, deboss, perforate, and add beautiful foil effects to a wide variety of materials. Create amazing projects with just a few clicks! Design Space guides you through most of these steps automatically.

A few terms to know:

Tool Clamp - This is where you insert blades and specialty tools for your Cricut machine.
Pen Holder - Holds Cricut pens and markers so your machine can draw or write for you.
Smart Materials - Special materials designed for Cricut that can be loaded directly into your machine with no mat needed!
Machine Mat - The mat holds most types of materials in place while your Cricut is cutting.

Get familiar with the controls

Maker 5 controls diagram grayscale_3.jpeg

Component		What it does
1	Indicator Light	50% Brightness: Idle Slow Pulse: Activate machine Flashing color: Error; see Design Space for information.
2	Go/Pause Button	Loads your mat or material. With Load & Go, your project starts automatically after loading. Press the button again to pause or resume a project. What the button lights mean: Solid: Ready to use Flashing: Waiting on user interaction
3	Unload Button	Unloads your mat or material after a project is finished or canceled. What the button lights mean: Solid: Ready to use Flashing: Waiting on user interaction

Getting started: Make a project with Cricut Maker 5

Open or Create Your Project: Start by opening Design Space and either create a new project or open one you’ve already started.
Click “Make”: Review the mat or material preview and, when you’re ready, click Continue.
Select Your Machine: Choose Cricut Maker 5 from the machine picker.
Pick Your Material: Select the material you’ll be using. Be sure to follow any on-screen preparation tips in Design Space, and keep in mind that only materials which are compatible with the installed tool will be shown.
Get Your Tools Ready: Install the blade or tool that is shown in Design Space. Double-check your tools to make sure you’re using the same one shown in Design Space. If your project needs a pen, wait for Design Space to prompt you before inserting it.
Load Your Materials: Place and align your mat or Smart Material under the guides, then gently slide it forward until it touches the rollers on each side of the machine.
Start Your Project: When the Go/Pause button begins flashing, simply press it once. Cricut Maker 5 will load and measure your material, then get started automatically!
Follow On-Screen Prompts: Some projects will require multiple steps, so if you need to swap the tool, pen, foil sheet, or material during the project, just follow the step-by-step instructions in Design Space.
Unload and Enjoy: When your project is finished, press the Unload button and carefully remove your completed material.

You’re all set! Enjoy bringing your creations to life with Cricut Maker 5.

Important: The Pen Holder and Tool Clamp move together. Be sure to remove the pen before using another tool as instructed by Design Space.

Pausing, resuming, or canceling your project

To pause, just press the Go/Pause button. It may take a moment for the machine to finish the current motion before it fully stops.
To resume, press the Go/Pause button again.
To cancel, click the Cancel button in Design Space. Wait for the machine to stop completely, then press Unload to remove your material.

Important: Never touch the mat or material until after the machine ejects it.

Operation types

Design Space uses Operation types to determine how your machine will work with each part of your project, such as cutting, drawing, scoring, or foiling. Select the desired Operation for each object on the Canvas before selecting Make. Design Space will then guide you through each step of the project, including prompting you when it’s time to load the appropriate tool or accessory.

How to create an engraving project

Engraving carves thin lines into the surface of your blank material—it’s not like printing, so the results look best with single-line designs or writing-style fonts.

Design your project
In Design Space, create your design by adding images and text to the Canvas. Be sure to set the operation to “Engrave.”
Make it darker (if you’d like)
Want a bolder look? Duplicate the engraving layer so your machine makes extra passes. Use the Alignment tools to line up the layers perfectly, then “Attach” them together so they engrave as one.
For clear acrylic
If you’re using clear acrylic, remember to mirror your design and engrave on the back, so the smooth side will face outward when finished.
Set up your materials and tools
Select your material setting in Design Space. When prompted, install the Cricut Maker 5 Engraving Tool or the QuickSwap Housing + Engraving Tip. You can let Design Space know which tool you’re using—just select Edit Tools, then choose the correct Engraving Tool (with or without the QuickSwap housing with the gear on top).
Prepare your blank
Take off any protective film from the area you’ll be engraving. Place your blank securely onto a Strong Grip Mat, using a brayer to create a firm bond. Tape down the edges, making sure not to cover the design area.
Get ready to engrave
Move the star wheels on your machine so they won’t roll over your blank. Then, load the mat and press the Go/Pause button once to begin!

You’re ready to start engraving—just follow the prompts in Design Space and watch your design come to life!

How to create a Print Then Cut project

Create a Print Then Cut project in Design Space and select Make. For instructions on how to create a printable design, click here.
Send the project to a compatible home printer from Design Space. The design will print with cut sensor marks that the machine will scan later.
Allow ink to dry, then place the printed material on the mat in the orientation shown on screen.
Load the mat and press Go/Pause once. The machine scans the cut sensor marks and cuts around the printed images.
If Design Space asks you to calibrate, follow the on-screen instructions for Print Then Cut calibration before retrying the project.

What features are available on desktop and mobile?

You can make most Cricut Maker 5 projects, including engraving, using both Design Space for Desktop and the mobile app. However, projects using the Knife Blade or Foil Transfer are only available in Design Space for Desktop. These features aren’t supported in the mobile app.

Operation	How to prepare
Cut	Use the blade and material settings recommended in Design Space for your project. Make sure your material is firmly placed on the correct mat, or if you’re using Smart Materials, load them directly into your machine—no mat needed!
Draw/Write	Insert a compatible pen into your machine, pressing firmly until you hear it click into place. Look for this symbol to find pens that work with your Cricut Maker 5. In Design Space, choose the Draw or Writing Style operation for any images or text you want your machine to draw with the pen.
Score	Install the Cricut Maker 5 Scoring Tool or the Scoring Wheel/Double Scoring Wheel with QuickSwap Housing, depending on your project. On the “Material Selection” screen in Design Space, click “Edit Tools” to tell Design Space which scoring tool you’re using. Follow the on-screen instructions for your project and place your material on the mat with the correct side facing up. If you’re using the Double Scoring Wheel, some materials should go right-side-down—Design Space will let you know if this is needed.
Engrave	Install a compatible engraving tool—either the Engraving Tool or the Engraving Tip with QuickSwap Housing. Place your blank (up to 1/8 in [3 mm] thick) securely on the mat. When prompted, move the star wheels to the side so they won’t roll over your material. Learn how to engrave with Cricut Maker 5.
Deboss, Perforate, or Wavy Cut	Install the correct Tip with QuickSwap Housing, then simply follow the steps in Design Space to place your material and load the necessary tools.
Foil	Follow the prompts in Design Space to install the Foil Transfer Tool and apply your foil sheets. Please note: Foil Transfer projects can only be made using Design Space for Desktop. They aren’t supported in the mobile app.
Print Then Cut	Print your design using Design Space, then place the printed sheet onto a mat. Load the mat into your Cricut Maker 5, and the machine will scan the sensor marks before it begins cutting.