This tutorial is part of our Mastering Design Space learning hub. It is part of our series focused on setup, files & troubleshooting.
Have you been reading about rollouts of new features like bigger print and cut or text warping in Cricut Design Space? These long-awaited features are finally available on Design Space, but they have been available to users of the Beta version for much longer!
New features are debuted on Design Space Beta often long before they become part of the “Live” version of DS. That will continue for every new development Ashish Arora promises us. Do you want early access to new features? Keep Reading!
Can any user switch to Cricut Design Space Beta to access new features?
Yes! Design Space Beta is open for anyone with a Cricut account. There is no application, approval or invitation required!
A quick note on the terminology in this article:
Beta version: a version of Design Space where new features are rolled out first, modified, tweaked and tested.
Live version: the default version of Design Space where features are added after they have been fully vetted in Beta.
What features are exclusively available in Design Space Beta?
As of this writing (March 2024), the Beta version (v8.24.61) and Live version (v8.23.77) of Design Space are sharing all of the same major functions. The newest Design Space features that have been under development for a few months in the Beta version have recently been released to the Live version:
- Create Sticker feature
- increased print and cut area (up to tabloid and A3 page size/max 11.7″ x 16.5″)
- automatic page resizing for print and cut
- text warp feature
Video: How to switch to Design Space Beta
Here’s how to switch your Design Space account to the Beta version (Windows & Mac)
- Open Design Space on your computer. If you don’t have this software already installed, refer to our guide: How to install Cricut Design Space
- Click the menu icon in the upper left corner (≡) ie. hamburger menu icon
- Open the Settings option
- Under the General tab > Application Experience, select Beta, then click Done
- Design Space will then close and begin installing the Beta version
- After the new version is installed, it will re-open automatically. You will see the updated Beta version in the top title bar. Check out new features available to you under Menu > What’s new
What are the advantages of switching to Design Space Beta?
The biggest advantage to switching to Design Space Beta is that you will get to use new features often months ahead of people using the Live version.
For example, Cricut users had been begging the company to make the Print and Cut area larger for years. When Cricut finally added the feature, Beta users had access to it months before general users.
What are the cons of switching to Design Space Beta?
As a Beta user, you will by nature be using software that is going through the testing stage. So you might encounter more bugs than you’re used to. If patience is a virtue, this might be cool with you. Do you rely on Design Space working right consistently because you’ve got customer orders on deadline? You might want to think twice about switching to the Beta version.
Beta users will also encounter more frequent software updates than default Live users. This is because as bugs are detected in Beta, the Design Space software team will be releasing software updates to fix them.
In our setup, Kerri is a Beta user on a Windows PC. She has not experienced any noticeable problems or down time with Design Space.
Can you switch back to the live version of Design Space?
If you want to try Beta and for whatever reason, you don’t like it, or it doesn’t work for you, you can always switch back to the Live version. Simply follow the steps above. In the Settings page, switch the Application Experience from Beta to Live. The new version of the software will download and install itself.
Will my projects and images be in Design Space Beta?
Yes! If you switch to the Beta software, you will still have access to all of your uploaded images and projects.
Your bookmarked images and projects will not be affected either. Your profile, followers and list of people you are following will stay the same as well.
Are you feeling adventurous and want to see what new features Cricut has in store for Design Space? Make the switch to Beta to see how you like it!
Do you need to be an Access subscriber to use Design Space Beta?
No! The Beta version of Design Space is available to non-subscribers. As long as you have a Cricut ID you can log in and use the Beta version just like you would use the Live version as a non-subscriber. You will not be able to use most images or projects without paying a fee, and there are some Design Space tools that are available to Access subscribers only.