I am making the MapForge software publicly available so that you can download the software and try it out for yourself, in order to evaluate it. Before purchasing a license or any content Add-Ons, be sure to take the program for a spin to see if it is what you want/expect it to be, and to ensure it runs well on your particular computer.
All MapForge v1.x releases will be free updates for both licensed and unlicensed users.
IMPORTANT! If you are new to MapForge, please be sure to read the “Technical Tips” section below. The suggestions there will help you avoid most common problems and help ensure the app works as intended.
Official Release:
Click here to download MapForge v1.3.6 for Windows (Zip, 969.6 MB)
Click here to download MapForge v1.3.2 for Mac OS X (DMG, 784 MB, for pre-Catalina OS)
Click here to get the WINE version of MapForge if your Mac is running Catalina OS or higher.
Patches (these are only for Mac users needing to update their MapForge installation to v1.3.6):
v1.3.3 Patch: Click here to download a patch to update an existing installation of MapForge v1.2.4 through v1.3.2 to MapForge v1.3.3 (78 MB).
v1.3.4 Patch: Click here to download a patch to update an existing installation of MapForge v1.2.4 through v1.3.3 to MapForge v1.3.4 (44.1 MB).
v1.3.5 Patch: Click here to download a patch to update an existing installation of MapForge v1.2.4 through v1.3.4 to MapForge v1.3.4 (47.7 MB).
v1.3.6 Patch: Click here to download a patch to update an existing installation of MapForge v1.3.5 to MapForge v1.3.6 (283.9 MB).
v1.3.7 Patch: Click here to download a patch to update an existing installation of MapForge v1.3.6 to MapForge v1.3.7 (270.9 MB).
Instructions for installing a patch: Download the patch file, unzip the downloaded file, then move the file/s that it contains into your MapForge directory, overwriting any existing files. Make sure that MapForge isn’t running when you apply the patch.
Beta Releases:
There are no beta releases available at this time. v1.3.8 is expected to be released in Q1 2025.
Note: If you haven’t yet been acquainted with the Build Tool and the use of Textures, I strongly suggest you watch the video posted in this Kickstarter Update.
The software comes with two free content Add-Ons included (pre-installed), so that newcomers have some assets to play around with immediately. But there’s much more free content available, so be sure to download the free Add-Ons you want from the MapForge Store.
If you had already downloaded and installed Add-Ons into a previous release of MapForge, just drag over the Add-On files to your new installation’s “Add-Ons” folder.
Technical Tips
All users: If you see a message asking that you please install ShockWave, don’t. Shockwave is not required. Most likely, you have not heeded one or more of the instructions provided below. MapForge is entirely self-contained, meaning you don’t need to install any additional software or frameworks. If you see a message to that effect, ignore it; the problem lies elsewhere (contact me for troubleshooting assistance once you’ve tried all the suggestions below).
Windows users: If you opted for the Zip version, it’s recommended that you unzip the downloaded file using the built-in Windows unzipping utility, rather than a third-party tool, and to not attempt to launch MapForge from within the uncompressed Zip file. Don’t install MapForge in your Programs directory, as the app needs to write files to disk and Windows doesn’t like that happening in the Programs folder. Don’t try to launch MapForge from your Downloads folder, for the same reason, and you’ll likely just see a blue screen and nothing more. If you want to launch MapForge from your desktop, don’t simply move the executable there. The executable needs to reside in the same folder it comes in, so that it can access the Support Files, Xtras, etc. Instead, drag an Alias/shortcut of the MapForge app to your desktop. Select “Properties” on the “MapForge.exe” file and set the program to always run as an administrator. Do this before ever launching the app, or it can mess up file permissions, which would cause problems for you later on. If you use Windows Defender or the like, be sure to allow MapForge access to the internet, particularly if the app appears to lock up during launch. If MapForge won’t launch on your PC without locking up or quitting, see the section called “Windows-specific Incompatibility Discovered” in this Kickstarter Update. If MapForge is performing sluggishly (users have mentioned a lag of several seconds between when you make an edit and the edit occurs), it’s probable that you have an nVidia video card with nVidia Experience, and it is using a Gamer driver. Switch to using the Studio driver, instead, and the sluggishness should disappear.
64-bit Windows users: MapForge is a 32-bit app, so users with a Windows 64-bit OS are advised to set the 32-bit compatibility mode (instructions for that can be found here). Win 8 or Win XP SP3 mode are recommended, and Vista mode should never be used (it will ask for Shockwave, which is not needed). Select a mode that allows the drag-and-drop feature to work properly. Only after settling on a compatibility mode should you request your license and Add-On registration codes, because changing modes will invalidate prior codes (because your Challenge Code will change). When updating to a newer version of MapForge, be sure to continue using the same compatibility mode as before, otherwise your Challenge Code will change, rendering your license inactive and your paid Add-Ons will no longer be registered.
Mac OS Sierra or High Sierra users: Depending on your computer’s security settings, it’s possible that Mac OS’s Gatekeeper feature will not allow the program to launch unless you first follow the “special measures” mentioned here (if you launch MapForge and it immediately starts asking you for files it can’t locate, it’s a sign that you may not have properly followed those one-time instructions.). In “System Preferences > Security & Privacy”, you should set it to “Allow software from identified developers”. The DMG file is code-signed.
I advise everyone to read the included “ReadMe” document, since by doing so you’ll discover lots of stuff you can do that you wouldn’t otherwise know about.
Important Tip: Some users have reported errors or even crashes during launch when too many Add-Ons are loaded/active at once. Make sure to never add more than 5 new Add-Ons to the app at one time. If you experience out-of-memory errors, try disabling some Add-Ons. You disable an Add-On by moving it to the “Disabled Add-Ons” folder prior to launching MapForge. See the last part of this Kickstarter Update for more information.
Feedback Requested
Please provide feedback to let me know what you like, what you don’t, to suggest improvements, report bugs or to request features. Email me at support (at) mapforge-software.com.
