Lightworks is a freemium non-linear editing system (NLE) for editing and mastering digital video. It was an early developer of computer-based non-linear editing systems, and has been in development since 1998. The development of an open-source version was announced on April 11, 2010. However, no source code of the program has been released. In July 2020, a Lightworks product manager confirmed that they "still hope to announce something in the future" about Lightworks' open source development.
The free version comes with a limited number of features:
The free version cannot export to DVD or Blu-ray, but can export to a hard drive (since Lightworks 14).
Lightworks was created in 1989, by Paul Bamborough, Nick Pollock and Neil Harris. In 1995 it was sold to Tektronix. In 1999 it was sold on to the newly formed Lightworks Inc., then owned by Fairlight Japan, and then purchased by Gee Broadcast in May 2004.
What is Lightworks?
Lightworks is a proprietary video editor program for Windows from LWKS Software Ltd.. It ranks 11th by popularity among video editors in this catalogue. The first release dates back to 1989. Besides Windows, it is available for macOS and Linux.
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 64-bit as EXE (NSIS). The main installer is 101.9 MB. The installer supports unattended (silent) installation.
Updates and version history
The current version is 2025.2.56356, released on January 12, 2026. 8 versions are listed since July 17, 2025, each with links to its own installer files.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 19,391 times. Wikipedia has an article about it in 10 of our languages. Similar programs include Shotcut, OpenShot Video Editor and Kdenlive.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Documented silent install
- Also runs on macOS and Linux
- Mature project (since 1989)
Cons
- Proprietary licence: check the terms and price
- No native ARM64 build
In short: Lightworks is a video editor tool for 64-bit PCs. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is Lightworks safe to download?
- The file is served by cdn.lwks.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
59F1C4CDB246B845C9B85A9DCD2A89C38B3E14CB43665248EED2C199DBA9138D· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 8 versions ›| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025.2.56356Latest | January 12, 2026 | 101.9 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2025.2.56344 | November 27, 2025 | 101.9 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2025.1.152194 | July 24, 2025 | 114.0 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2025.1.151752 | July 17, 2025 | 113.4 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2022.3.136244 | July 17, 2025 | 95.2 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2022.2.135077 | July 17, 2025 | 92.6 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2021.3 | July 17, 2025 | 77.5 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2021.2 | July 17, 2025 | 76.9 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id LWKS.Lightworks -echoco install lightworks -yLightworks-2025.2-56356.exe /Smsiexec /x {E94DD4E4-7746-472C-AA7B-1242FED0CFC8} /qn /norestartRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Also for other systems
brew install --cask lightworksInformation
- Publisher
- LWKS Software Ltd.
- Category
- Video editors
- Licence
- Proprietary
- Price
- See the publisher’s site
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- EXE (NSIS)
- Other platforms
- macOS, Linux
- Version
- 2025.2.56356
- Released
- January 12, 2026
- First release
- 1989
- Added to the catalogue
- July 17, 2025
- Versions listed
- 8
- Chocolatey downloads
- 19,391
- Website
- lwks.com
- winget ID
- LWKS.Lightworks
- Chocolatey package
- lightworks
- MSI product code
- {E94DD4E4-7746-472c-AA7B-1242FED0CFC8}
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to Lightworks
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Frequently asked questions
Is Lightworks free?
Lightworks is proprietary (closed-source) software (licence: Proprietary). Whether it costs money depends on the edition: check the publisher’s site for prices and free tiers.
Is Lightworks safe to download?
The download comes from cdn.lwks.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install Lightworks with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can Lightworks be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does Lightworks run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of Lightworks?
The versions page lists all 8 versions with links to their official installer files, back to July 17, 2025.
What are alternatives to Lightworks?
Shotcut, OpenShot Video Editor, Kdenlive, Subtitle Edit and Aegisub. The alternatives page compares them.
