Does Tinkercad Work on Mac? (Solved!)

While not a part of the 3D printing process that every 3D printing enthusiast requires to utilize, there is no denying CAD software play a vital role in 3D printing, as a considerable number of 3D models that we use for the purposes of 3D printing are created in CAD software.

As a result, CAD software being widely available, regardless of factors such as the operating system that one is using, is vital for the growth of 3D printing, as the high availability of CAD software will allow more 3D models to be created and shared within the 3D printing community.

In today’s article, our topic will be the Tinkercad, which is one such CAD software that you can utilize to create 3D models that you can print with your 3D printer, and whether it operates on macOS, which is the operating system that Mac computers such as the iMac and the MacBook use, in particular.

So, does Tinkercad work on Mac?

Since Tinkercad is a web-based application that runs directly on the browser, it will, by default, run on any computer operating system that is capable of running modern browser software, meaning that you will be able to use it on computer operating systems such as macOS, Windows, and Linux without any issues.

Next up, we will be further discussing the compatibility between Tinkercad and macOS, go through the process of opening Tinkercad on a Mac, and finally, find out whether it’s possible to utilize Tinkercad on iOS devices such as the iPhone and iPad.

Does Tinkercad Work on Mac (macOS)?

Even though Mac computers are getting more and more popular with each passing day, software support, in some cases, can become a problem, with it not being possible to find Mac-compatible versions of some of the software you use on Windows.

Unlike desktop applications that are installed on a computer, with Cura being a great example of such software in the 3D printing world, Tinkercad is a web-based application that runs directly in the browser and, as a result, does not require installation.

Because of this, it becomes possible to run Tinkercad on any device that has access to modern browser software, and as all modern operating systems can run modern browser software without issues, you can indeed run Tinkercad on your Mac computer (which runs macOS by default).

It’s also worth mentioning that Tinkercad being a web-based application brings a slight disadvantage to the table, which is the requirement of having an active internet connection to be able to use the software at any given time, as you won’t be able to install and run it like a traditional desktop application.

How to Open Tinkercad on Mac?

Fortunately, the process of opening Tinkercad on a Mac computer is as straightforward as it comes, with Tinkercad being a web application that does not even require any installation to run.

Below, you can find a step-by-step guide that will allow you to open and use Tinkercad on your Mac computer:

  1. Open your favorite browser software. As Tinkercad will run on any modern browser software, you’re free to use Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Opera, Brave, or any other browser of your choice.
  2. Type “tinkercad.com” into the address bar, and press Enter.
  3. Click the Sign Up button located on the top-right corner of the Tinkercad website.
  4. Choose the appropriate option from the list that comes up, and create your Tinkercad account. Assuming that you would like to utilize Tinkercad for personal use, you should go through the “Create a personal account” dialog and pick the option that is most convenient for you.
  5. Click the New button, and choose 3D Design from the dropdown menu.

Following the steps above will take you to the 3D design editor section of Tinkercad, where you can design your own 3D model and export it in either OBJ or STL format, which you can then import into popular slicers such as Cura and PrusaSlicer and slice the model to make it ready for 3D printing.

Does Tinkercad Work on iOS & iPadOS (iPhone & iPad)?

As iOS and iPadOS are completely different operating systems than macOS, it’s entirely possible for software that runs on your Mac computer to not run on your iPhone or your iPad if the developer has not explicitly added support for it.

It’s possible to find the official Tinkercad application on the App Store for iPad, meaning that Tinkercad does indeed work on iPadOS without any issues. Alternatively, you can also access Tinkercad by utilizing the browser software on your iPad, similar to how you would on a computer.

On the other hand, there is currently no official Tinkercad application available for iOS (iPhone), meaning that you won’t be able to utilize Tinkercad on your iPhone device for now.

While you can technically open the Tinkercad 3D design editor on your iPhone by navigating to the website as you would on a computer as well, you most likely won’t be able to make efficient use of it since Tinkercad does not fully support smaller screens, making it quite challenging, or even impossible to use some of the features.

Wrapping Up

Considering that many 3D printing enthusiasts utilize Mac computers and that CAD software is an essential part of the 3D printing process for those who require to create custom 3D models for their projects, CAD software that will operate correctly regardless of the operating system is definitely something that we need as the 3D printing community.

To quickly recap, the fact that Tinkercad is a web-based application makes it automatically compatible with all computer operating systems capable of running modern browsers, which includes all the popular computer operating systems that we are all familiar with, whether it’s macOS, Windows, or Linux.

On the other hand, when it comes to iOS and iPadOS device support (iPhones and iPads), it’s currently only possible to find a Tinkercad application designed for iPad on the App Store, meaning that you won’t be able to utilize Tinkercad on your iPhone device.

Happy printing!