Remix Desktop is a free, open-source desktop IDE for writing, compiling, deploying and debugging Solidity smart contracts. It is aimed at developers who build for Ethereum and other EVM-compatible networks and want the Remix environment as a native Windows application instead of a browser tab. The program is built with Electron and released under the MIT license.
Before you install anything, note the project status: Remix Desktop is deprecated. The maintainers say this release will be replaced by a new version in a separate GitHub repository, and the last code update is dated May 23, 2024. That makes it suitable for reviewing the software, following older tutorials or working on existing projects, but a successor should be your first choice for new work.
What Remix Desktop Is and Who It Serves
Remix Desktop packages the Remix IDE as an Electron application, so the development environment many Solidity developers know from the browser can run as a standalone program on Windows. Electron combines a Chromium window with JavaScript and TypeScript code, which explains why the project is built from those technologies.
The program fits a few specific groups. Students learning Solidity often want an IDE that compiles and deploys to a test network without much setup. Developers who prefer a dedicated window for each project may find it easier to manage than a browser full of tabs. Teams that use Remix for teaching or quick prototypes also benefit from open-source code they can read and adjust.
It is less suited to large production codebases that rely on custom test suites, scripting pipelines or continuous integration, where command-line frameworks usually give more control.
How Solidity Development Flows from Code to Contract
A Solidity project usually moves through the same stages: write, compile, test, deploy, then debug when something goes wrong. Each stage produces an artifact the next one depends on. The source file becomes bytecode and an ABI, and the ABI tells front-end code how to call the contract's functions.
Remix Desktop covers the first three stages inside one window, which shortens the loop when you are experimenting with a contract. Deployment connects the compiled output to a network address, and that address is what other applications will use later. Keeping track of which address belongs to which version is a habit worth building early.
Gas is another concept worth understanding. Every transaction consumes gas, and a contract that stores too much data or loops over large arrays can become expensive to call. Reviewing gas use while you develop is easier than discovering the cost after launch.
What Deprecation Means for Existing Projects
A deprecated release can still be installed, but it no longer receives the ongoing work that keeps a development tool aligned with language and network changes. The project's notice points to a newer build in another GitHub repository, so the direction is clear even if the old version still runs.
If you already use Remix Desktop, the practical question is whether your current workflow still produces the results you expect. Compile output, deployment settings and debugging views can change between tool versions, so test a small contract before relying on the old build for anything important. Keep your source files in version control so you can move to a successor without rewriting code.
The skills carry over. Solidity syntax, the compile-deploy-debug cycle and EVM concepts such as gas stay the same across tools, so time spent learning them is never wasted.
Key features
Native Windows build
Solidity compilation
Contract deployment
Transaction debugging
Open-source MIT license
Supported coins
The program is built around the Ethereum Virtual Machine, so Solidity contracts compiled in the app are meant for EVM-compatible networks. The project's platform list includes Windows, Linux and a web or browser-extension version, which share the same core interface.
How to install Remix Desktop on Windows
- 1
Get the installer from an official source
Go to remix-project.org or the project's GitHub Releases page and download only from the official website or those official sources. Avoid repackaged copies on file-sharing or unofficial download sites.
- 2
Verify the file
Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the downloaded file with the value published alongside the release. If a signature is provided, verify it as well. Do not run an installer whose hash does not match.
- 3
Run the setup
Double-click the installer and follow the setup wizard, keeping the default install location unless you have a reason to change it. If Windows shows a warning, check the file hash again rather than dismissing the prompt.
-
Confirm the version
Open the application and check its version number against the latest release listed on the official project page. Note the version in your project records so you can match later tutorials to the right build.
How to use Remix Desktop
Remix Desktop works best when you go through a short loop the first time: open a file, compile it, deploy it to a test environment, then call a function and check the result. Here is a simple routine for a first session.
- Open the application and create a new Solidity file, or open an existing project folder.
- Write a small contract, such as a counter with one state variable and one increment function, so each step is easy to check.
- Open the compiler panel, select a compiler version that matches the pragma line in your file, and compile.
- Read the compilation output for errors and warnings before moving on.
- Open the deploy panel, choose a test environment, deploy the contract and note the address it returns.
- Call the increment function, then use the debugger on that transaction to confirm the state changed as expected.
Keep the first contracts small. A simple example makes it much easier to tell whether a problem is in your code or in the setup.
Pros & cons
- Free to download and use, with no paid tier mentioned by the project
- MIT license, so the source code is open for review and reuse
- Compile, deploy and debug in one dedicated Windows window
- Familiar interface for anyone who has used the browser version of Remix
- Deprecated, and the project points to a successor build for future development
- Last code update is dated May 23, 2024, so newer Solidity and network changes may not be reflected
- Focused on EVM networks, so it does not cover other blockchain ecosystems
- Less flexible than command-line frameworks for large test suites and automated pipelines
Is Remix Desktop safe?
Remix Desktop is deprecated, and its last code update is dated May 23, 2024, so treat it as a tool to review or use for existing work rather than a long-term dependency. Download the installer only from the official website at remix-project.org or from the project's GitHub Releases page. Compare the SHA-256 checksum with the value published there, and verify a signature if one is provided. Keep Windows security features enabled throughout the process. Because Remix is used to deploy contracts, never enter a seed phrase or private key on a third-party site or in a pop-up asking for wallet access. Check the latest version on the official website before installing.
- Official source only. Download from remix-project.org. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Remix Desktop is the desktop form of the Remix IDE, so its closest comparison is the browser version and a general code editor. Visual Studio Code with Solidity extensions suits developers who want a full editor with their own project structure and tooling. Tenderly CLI focuses on debugging and monitoring contracts from the command line, which fits teams that already run scripts. Foundry, a toolkit with forge, cast and anvil, is the choice for test-driven workflows in the terminal. Anchor targets Solana programs, so it is a different ecosystem rather than a replacement. Remix's main advantage is that compile, deploy and debug live in one window with little setup.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- MIT
- Latest version
- 1.3.6
- Last update
- 23 May 2024
- Windows support
- Yes (official Windows version)
- Official site
- remix-project.org
- Source code
- github.com/ethereum/remix-desktop
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Remix Desktop costs nothing to download and use. It is released under the MIT license, so its source code is published on GitHub for anyone to read, modify and reuse under the license terms.
No. The project marks this release as deprecated and says it will be replaced by a new version in a separate GitHub repository. The last code update is dated May 23, 2024, so use the successor for new work.
Yes. The project provides an official Windows version, and its platform list also includes Linux and a web or extension build. Download the file from the official website or GitHub Releases, verify it, then run the installer.
Remix Desktop is used to write, compile, deploy and debug Solidity smart contracts. Developers and students use it to test contract logic before moving to larger toolchains, and it targets EVM networks.
No. Remix Desktop is built around the Ethereum Virtual Machine and Solidity, so it is not designed for non-EVM chains. Anchor is a framework for building Solana programs and uses a different language and toolchain.
It can be, if you download the installer from the official website or GitHub Releases and check its SHA-256 checksum before running it. Because the project is deprecated, weigh that status alongside the file check. Never share a seed phrase with any site that asks for one.
No. The ready-made Windows version is a packaged application and does not require Node.js, npm or other development tools. Those tools matter only if you build the project from source.
Verdict
Remix Desktop suits developers and students who already know the Remix environment and want a dedicated Windows window for Solidity compilation, deployment and debugging. It is free, MIT-licensed and easy to study. Its deprecated status is the deciding factor: for new contracts or production work, move to the successor build or to a maintained toolchain such as Foundry or a Visual Studio Code setup. Keep the current version for review, learning or existing projects you can migrate later.