What do you do when, after scrolling through Cricut Access for hours to find the perfect designs, you realise you can’t actually download the design to your computer? Frustrating, right? Whether you’re looking to back up your designs or send them to a friend, this is one of the most commonly asked questions about using Cricut Access and Design Space. This post will explain why you can’t save these designs and how you can keep track of the designs you need. So if you’ve been wondering why won’t Cricut Design Space download my projects, this guide will clear it all up.
Can You Download Projects from Cricut Design Space?
Cricut doesn’t let you export images or designs as an SVG or PNG directly from Design Space. That’s why many ask, “Why won’t Cricut Design Space download my projects?” Projects and images in Cricut Design Space cannot be downloaded to your device even when paying for the Cricut Access subscription. This means you can’t store or send the digital file to anyone as a digital file such as an SVG. Because Design Space uses the cloud, all your projects are saved in-app on your account. Although this may seem frustrating, there is the benefit if you often switch devices to use your cutter, as all your designs will be automatically transferred over for you.
Why Doesn’t Cricut Let You Export SVGs?
Cricut doesn’t allow you to export designs as SVG on purpose for a couple of reasons. The first being for copyright protection. Cricut Access hosts designs from hundreds of designers, and by not being able to download the files, it allows the designers to be paid the right amount of money for their work while also giving peace of mind that their work cannot be shared.
By keeping all designs in-app instead of externally on devices, Cricut promotes the use of their Cricut Access subscription, which gives users thousands of designs at a very low cost. Some crafters may feel more in control of their work when they have the cutting file on their device. If you’re one of these crafters, it’s best to purchase your designs from the designers themselves like us (Dottie Digitals) or head over to sites like Etsy or Creative Fabrica.
The Best Way to Work with Your SVGs
Since downloading SVGs from Cricut isn’t possible, you have two ways in which you can use cutting files with Cricut.
You can upload your own SVGs—these can be files you have created yourself on programs like Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape. Or they can be files you have purchased from sites like ours or Etsy.
The other option is to subscribe to Cricut Access and use the designs they have already uploaded. The only downside is you must stay subscribed to use the files.
It’s completely up to you which method you prefer to work with. If you are using a lot of different files, Cricut Access could be worth signing up for. However, not all designs are on there, so finding a balance between the two may work for you. There’s no correct way of working—it just depends on what you are wanting to cut and how much you cut to see what is the best value for you.
Shop our full range of Cricut compatible files here.