Multiple LightBurn Instances

Open Additional LightBurn Windows

Each LightBurn window can open a single project and communicate with a single device at a given time. To jump quickly between projects or run jobs on multiple lasers simultaneously, open a new window by going to File → New Window.

All windows will share the same settings and preferences. Be careful if you're changing your preferences in LightBurn – the last window closed will save changes to the preferences file, overwriting any changes you may have made in other open windows.

If you need fully independent LightBurn instances, with separate settings and preferences, we have directions for running multiple independent instances below.

Running Multiple Independent Instances of LightBurn

Info

These directions will only work on Windows. The steps required to adjust this behavior and replicate it on macOS and Linux will not be the same.

Danger

This guide is for advanced users comfortable making changes to their operating system. Follow these directions carefully and at your own risk.

To run multiple fully independent instances of LightBurn on the same computer, you will need to create separate profiles. This workflow is not suggested, but is documented for the users who do need it.

Steps

Open LightBurn and export your current preferences by going to File → Preferences → Export Prefs.
Save the .lbprefs file and note its location.
Close all LightBurn Windows.
Open File Explorer and navigate to the Windows Start Menu links storage location. The easiest way is to enter the file path below into the File Explorer address bar.
```
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\LightBurn\
```
Copy the LightBurn shortcut and paste it twice. Rename each file – this guide uses LightBurn_A and LightBurn_B. Grant administrator privileges in the User Account Control window by selecting Ok and then Continue to save each change.
Right click on the first shortcut file and select Properties.
Select the Shortcut tab and replace the text in the Target field to match.

Info

Replace LightBurn_A with whatever name you want your first profile to use. Do not include a space between the file name and the && characters as formatting and syntax matters.
```
C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /c "SET LB_SETTINGSFOLDER=%USERPROFILE%\LightBurn_A&& START /D ^"C:\Program Files\LightBurn\^" LightBurn.exe"
```
Click Apply followed by OK and grant admin permissions again to save the changes.
Repeat step 6 through step 8 for the second shortcut, this time using this target link:

Info

Replace LightBurn_B with whatever name you want your first profile to use. Do not include a space between the file name and the && characters as formatting and syntax matters.
```
C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /c "SET LB_SETTINGSFOLDER=%USERPROFILE%\LightBurn_B&& START /D ^"C:\Program Files\LightBurn\^" LightBurn.exe"
```
Two new LightBurn shortcuts are now located in the Windows Start menu. Reentering your license key will not be required.
Open the Windows Start Menu and click on the first newly created LightBurn shortcut – LightBurn_A in our example – to launch the first independent instance of LightBurn.
Click OK to close the first run Help & Notes window.
Click on Import Preferences in the bottom left corner of the Devices window.
Select and load the preference file you saved in step 1 to load all devices in the preferences file.
Select and remove any devices you do not want associated with this LightBurn instance and click OK.
Open the second application link – LightBurn_B in our example – and repeat step 11 through step 14 to load the original preference file into the second independent instance of LightBurn.

Summary

Two new preferences directories can now be found in your Windows user profiles folder at %USERPROFILE%\LightBurn_A and %USERPROFILE%\LightBurn_B. The %USERPROFILE% shortcut will resolve to the full file system path on for your user directory.

Starting LightBurn with the new shortcuts will launch independent LightBurn instances that are completely independent of one another. They will not overwrite the other's preferences file and any changes you make to the device on each will persist, and will include completely independent recent file lists, rotate/shear options, and more. Each LightBurn instance will be completely independent.

Danger

While LightBurn allows for simultaneous use of multiple devices without conflicts, cameras and lasers cannot be used by multiple instances of LightBurn concurrently. For example, a DSP controller set up as "Ruida A" will not be able to be accessed in the A and B configurations simultaneously.

Origin

This guide originated as a post on our forum by one of our developers. For reference, that guide can be found here.

For more help using LightBurn, please visit our forum to talk with LightBurn staff and users, or email support.