How to Pair Cricut Explore Air 2? (Windows & Mac)

Cricut provides two ways to connect your crafting machine to your device. Choose either a wireless Bluetooth connection or a USB cable connection. In this blog, we will learn “how to pair Cricut Explore Air 2“ effortlessly with Windows or Mac.

Before we dive into the detailed guide on pairing the Cricut Explore Air 2 machine with your device, you need to set up your machine to ensure compatibility with the pairing process. To do so, you have to download the Cricut Design Space Software recommended by Cricut users, which brings life to your projects.

This blog provides all the necessary information to help you pair your machine effectively. It covers how to set up your crafting machine, how to get the Cricut Design Space Software, the system requirements needed for downloading Cricut Design Space, and a full guide for pairing it.

How to Setup Cricut Explore Air 2?

To set up your machine, you first need to download Cricut Design Space, and for that, you need to meet certain system requirements, which are as follows:

Step 1: Minimum System Requirements

• For Windows: You will require Windows 10 or later, 2 GB of free disk space, 4 GB of RAM, and a dual-core or equivalent AMD processor.
• For Mac: You will require macOS 12 or later, 4 GB of RAM, a CPU with a speed of 1.83 GHz or higher, 2 GB of free disk space, and a broadband connection.

Note: Chromebooks are not compatible with the Cricut Design Space app.

Step 2: Download and Install Cricut Design Space

1. Follow the instructions given below to download Design Space:
2. Navigate to https://cricut.com/setup/.
3. Next, select your ‘Cricut machine model‘ from the options provided.
4. Select the checkbox that displays “I agree to Cricut Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.”

5. Once you’ve finished downloading, double-click the downloaded file to initiate the installation process.

6. After the installation is complete, open Cricut Design Space and either Sign In or create your Cricut ID with your email and password.

7. When you are prompted to make a test cut, you will know the setup is complete.

Note: Instructions may vary based on your operating system. For iOS and Android, you have to download Design Space from the App Store or Google Play Store, respectively.

Step 3: Prepare Your Cricut Explore Air 2

To set up your Cricut cutting machine, you can follow these steps:

1. Make sure your machine is powered on.
2. Then, place it near the device with which you want to pair.
3. After that, go to cricut.com/setup.
4. Open the Cricut Design Space app, click on your account, and then navigate to the Settings section.
5. Now, click the Machines option.
6. Select the “Set up a cutting machine” or “New Product setup” option.

7. Select your Cricut Machine name from the options available.
8. It will show you a basic setup guide.
9. You can select either USB or Bluetooth to connect your machine.

How to Pair Cricut Explore Air 2 With Bluetooth on Windows/Mac?

If your screen displays the “Connect to computer via Bluetooth” screen, especially during the setup of the machine, it is likely due to an issue with your computer’s AMD Ryzen chip, which can cause USB connection problems, according to Cricut. To resolve this issue, you will need to connect your device via Bluetooth.

Note: Cricut strongly recommends using a Bluetooth connection when setting up an Explore 3 or Maker 3 machine on your PC with an AMD Ryzen chip in Cricut Design Space. However, if you use USB as your primary connection, we recommend using this USB hub with your Windows device.

Follow these steps to pair your machine with your computer through Bluetooth:

Note: Ensure your machine is powered on and positioned within 10 to 15 feet of your computer.

1. Open the Start menu and select Settings.

2. On the next screen, select the Devices option.

3. Make sure your Bluetooth is enabled.
4. Then, click “Add Bluetooth or other device.”

5. Choose Bluetooth and wait for your computer to locate your machine. Choose your machine from the list.
6. If your computer prompts for a PIN, enter 0000 to connect.

Your Explore Air 2 is now paired with your Windows computer via Bluetooth!

Note: If you face Bluetooth device Discovery Issues on Windows 11, open your Bluetooth settings and select ‘View more devices.’ Then, in Bluetooth device discovery, switch it to the default from Advanced.

How to Pair Cricut Explore Air 2 With USB on Windows/Mac?

A USB cable is already included with your machine essentials. To pair your machine via USB cable, follow these steps:

1. Ensure your machine is powered on.
2. After that, connect one end of your USB port to your computer and the other end to the back of the machine.
3. Now, return to your Design Space and New Product Setup. Now, you will see that your machine will appear as connected during setup.

What do you do if your machine name does not show up as an available device?

If your machine name does not show up as an available device while pairing via Bluetooth, you can follow these steps:

1. First, connect your Explore Air 2 to the computer using a USB cable.
2. Then, open the Start menu and type “CMD” or “Command Prompt” in the search field.
3. On the following screen, select Open.
4. Next, type: cd %HOMEPATH%\AppData\Local\Programs\ “Cricut Design Space” \resources\plugins\device-common\ in the Command Prompt window.

5. Now, type: .\CricutDevice –fixbluetooth

That’s it. Your machine name will appear in the Devices section of the Bluetooth settings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why Is My Design Space Not Working on My Chromebook?

Cricut Design Space is designed for desktop environments, such as Windows and macOS, which differ from the Chrome OS used on Chromebooks. You can use the Cricut Design Space app for Android on Chromebooks that support Android apps; however, this version has limitations compared to the desktop version, including the absence of print and cut features, as well as limited access to the Cricut community. If you require the full functionality of the software, you will likely need to use a device running Windows or macOS.

How Do I Download free designs on Cricut?

To find and download free designs, do the following steps:

1. First, launch Cricut Design Space on your computer or mobile device.
2. On the left side of the screen (desktop) or in the bottom app, click on “Images.”
3. Under highlighted categories, choose “Free” to browse the available free images.
4. To view all free images, navigate to the All Images section and apply the “Free” filter.

Can you use Design Space without paying?

Yes, Cricut Design Space is free to use, even without a Cricut Access plan, which allows access to basic features, fonts, and images. While Cricut Access provides additional features and content, you can still design, create, and cut projects using Cricut Design Space even without a Cricut subscription.