How To Upload SVG To Cricut Design Space?

Want to learn how to upload SVG to Cricut Design Space? Here's a step-by-step guide for beginners on uploading SVG files to Cricut.

How to Upload SVG to Cricut?

Since running my Etsy and DesignBundles shop since 2018, “how to upload SVG to Cricut?” is the most frequently asked question by my customers. If you are new to Cricut and their application called Design Space(an online program to interact with Cricut cutting machines) uploading an SVG file to the application may look like a daunting task.

In this tutorial, I will explain how to upload an SVG file to Cricut Design Space in an easy-to-follow step-by-step process. I broke down the tutorial into two parts. In Part-1 we will learn to identify an SVG file from your download(free or purchased) and in Part-2 we will learn to upload an SVG file to Cricut Design Space.

Make sure to pin this Cricut tutorial for your future reference.

pinnable graphic with the text - how to upload SVG files to Cricut Design Space

How to identify the SVG file from your download?

First of all, let’s make sure that we can identify the SVG file from your download. Usually, if you are buying your SVG files from online marketplaces such as Etsy or DesignBundles or downloading for free from bloggers, chances are that they come in a zipped folder.

The reason is, that designers offer designs in multiple file formats such as SVG, DXF, JPEG, PNG, and more.

As crafters use different cutting machines(Cricut, Silhouette, etc.) and every machine type works with a different file format, putting all the files in a zipped folder helps. In this scenario, we need to unzip the folder first.

In Windows, you can either use external programs such as 7zip(my favorite) or WinZip to extract the files or simply “right-click” on the zipped folder and select the “Extract All” option to extract the files to your desired location.

an image displaying Windows OS default unzip software to extract the zip folder before uploading SVG to Cricut Design Space

Once you unzip the downloaded files, it’s time to identify the SVG file. Identifying the SVG file from your unzipped folder is not complicated, it looks like a browser file (Chrome or Firefox) depending on your default browser settings.

When in doubt, you can simply “double-click” on the file(the one that looks like the browser file) and it will open in your browser showing you the design.

an image showing how an SVG file looks like on Windows OS

Another permanent solution for Windows 10 users is to enable the file extensions in your folder options. This will help you identify file formats.

To enable this option, open any folder and click on “File” -> Select “Change folder and search options”.

This will pop up a window called “Folder Options”, click on the “View” tab -> uncheck the option “Hide extensions for known file types” -> click “OK”.

Now we can see the extension of any file on your computer/laptop. For example, your downloaded folder should show the SVG file as “filename.svg”.

changing folder options on Windows OS to view filename extensions before uploading SVG file to Cricut

folder options window highlighting an option to enable for file extensions

showing design files with the file extensions highlighting SVG file that will be uploaded to Cricut Design Space

How to upload SVG files to Cricut Design Space?

Now that you know how to identify an SVG file, let’s learn how to upload the SVG file to Cricut Design Space.

Step 1 – Click on New project

Prior to 2020 Design Space could be accessed only through an internet browser but recently, Cricut has developed a downloadable program that we can install on our Windows machines. To download the application click here.

Once installed login to the Design Space and click on “New Project”.

initial cricut design space application window ready for uploading SVG files

Step 2 – Click on Upload

Once you click on “New Project” a blank canvas opens up, click on the “Upload” button, which is located in the bottom left corner of the Design Space.

Cricut Design Space new project window with upload option highlighted

Clicking on the “Upload” button will take you to the “Upload” window, here you will see two choices “Image” and “Pattern fill”. We are interested in the “Image” choice because most of your downloaded SVG files fall into this category.

Step 3 – Click on Upload Image

Cricut Design Space software window with Upload Image button

Now click on the “Upload Image” button that will take you to the “Drag & Drop files” window.

Here you can either drag and drop your SVG file or browse to your desired SVG file simply by clicking on the “Browse” button.

If you happen to use the “Browse” button, it will pop up a file browser window for you. Navigate to the file folder and select the SVG file and click “Open”.

drag and drop file window for uploading SVG files to Cricut

browsing to SVG file location and selecting the file to be uploaded

If you like the design I have used in this tutorial, you can download it for free from my mama needs wine blog post.

Step 4 – Save and Add to Project Canvas

Once you have selected the SVG file simply click on the “Save” button, it will show an upload success message on top of the Design Space application and take you back to the “Upload” window.

You can now see your uploaded SVG under “Recently uploaded images”.

cricut design space preview window with the recently uploaded SVG image

cricut design space upload window with recently uploaded SVG images

To use the SVG file in Design Space, simply select the image under “Recently uploaded images” and click on the “Insert Images” button.

selecting the recently uploaded SVG image and adding to project canvas

SVG image on a Cricut Design Space project canvas that is ready to cut

That’s it, now you know how to upload the SVG file to Cricut Design Space. You are awesome! To download free SVGs for your crafting projects, have a look at the cut files section of the blog.