How to Download Qt Designer 5 and Start Developing Amazing GUIs
- podkrylok2011
- Aug 9, 2023
- 11 min read
Introduction
Qt Designer is the Qt tool for designing and building graphical user interfaces (GUIs) with Qt Widgets. You can compose and customize your windows or dialogs in a what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) manner, and test them using different styles and resolutions. Widgets and forms created with Qt Designer integrate seamlessly with your code, whether you use C++, Python, or any other supported language.
download qt designer 5
Qt Designer is part of the Qt framework, which is a cross-platform software development framework for creating applications and embedded systems. Qt provides a rich set of widgets, tools, libraries, and APIs that enable you to create high-performance, responsive, and user-friendly applications for various platforms, such as Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and more.
Why use Qt Designer? Here are some of the benefits:
It saves you time and effort by allowing you to create GUIs visually, without writing code.
It lets you experiment with different layouts, widgets, properties, and styles easily.
It helps you maintain consistency and compatibility across different platforms and devices.
It integrates well with other Qt tools, such as Qt Creator IDE, Qt Design Studio, and Qt Virtual Keyboard.
In this article, you will learn how to download Qt Designer 5, how to launch it and create a new project, how to use its main features, and how to save and export your form. By the end of this article, you will be able to create your own GUIs with Qt Designer 5.
How to install Qt Designer 5
Qt Designer 5 is included in the Qt framework package. You can download it from the official Qt website. Depending on your operating system, you can choose from different options:
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Windows
If you are using Windows, you can download the online installer or the offline installer. The online installer allows you to select which components you want to install, while the offline installer contains all the components in one package. Both installers require an account registration.
The online installer is recommended if you have a fast internet connection and want to customize your installation. To download it, go to and click on "Download Online Installer". Run the installer and follow the instructions. You will be asked to log in with your Qt account or create a new one if you don't have one. Then, you will be able to select the Qt version and components you want to install. Make sure to select Qt Designer 5 under the Tools section.
The offline installer is recommended if you have a slow or unreliable internet connection or want to install Qt on multiple machines. To download it, go to and click on "Download Offline Installer". Choose the package that matches your system architecture (32-bit or 64-bit) and download it. Run the installer and follow the instructions. You will not need to log in with your Qt account, but you will not be able to customize your installation.
macOS
If you are using macOS, you can download the online installer or the offline installer. The online installer allows you to select which components you want to install, while the offline installer contains all the components in one package. Both installers require an account registration.
The online installer is recommended if you have a fast internet connection and want to customize your installation. To download it, go to and click on "Download Online Installer". Run the installer and follow the instructions. You will be asked to log in with your Qt account or create a new one if you don't have one. Then, you will be able to select the Qt version and components you want to install. Make sure to select Qt Designer 5 under the Tools section.
The offline installer is recommended if you have a slow or unreliable internet connection or want to install Qt on multiple machines. To download it, go to and click on "Download Offline Installer". Choose the package that matches your system architecture (Intel or ARM) and download it. Run the installer and follow the instructions. You will not need to log in with your Qt account, but you will not be able to customize your installation.
Linux
If you are using Linux, you can download the online installer or the offline installer. The online installer allows you to select which components you want to install, while the offline installer contains all the components in one package. Both installers require an account registration.
The online installer is recommended if you have a fast internet connection and want to customize your installation. To download it, go to and click on "Download Online Installer". Run the installer and follow the instructions. You will be asked to log in with your Qt account or create a new one if you don't have one. Then, you will be able to select the Qt version and components you want to install. Make sure to select Qt Designer 5 under the Tools section.
The offline installer is recommended if you have a slow or unreliable internet connection or want to install Qt on multiple machines. To download it, go to and click on "Download Offline Installer". Choose the package that matches your system architecture (x86_64 or ARM) and download it. Run the installer and follow the instructions. You will not need to log in with your Qt account, but you will not be able to customize your installation.
How to launch Qt Designer 5 and create a new project
After installing Qt Designer 5, you can launch it from your start menu, applications folder, or terminal. Depending on your operating system, you may need to add the path of Qt Designer 5 to your environment variables.
To create a new project, follow these steps:
Click on File > New Form...
Select a template for your form from the dialog box. You can choose from different categories, such as Main Window, Dialog with Buttons Bottom, Widget, etc.
Click on Create.
A new form will appear in the workspace. You can resize it by dragging its edges or corners.
Save your form by clicking on File > Save As... and choosing a name and location for your .ui file.
You are now ready to design your GUI with Qt Designer 5.
How to use the main features of Qt Designer 5
Qt Designer 5 has four main windows that help you create and edit your GUI: the widget box, the object inspector, the property editor, and the signal/slot editor. You can also use the form preview window to test your GUI before saving it.
The widget box
The widget box is where you can find all the widgets that you can use in your GUI. You can drag and drop them onto your form, or double-click them to add them to the default position. You can also use the search box to find a specific widget by name or category.
Some of the most common widgets are:
Widget
Description
QPushButton
A push button that can be clicked to perform an action.
QLabel
A text label that can display plain or rich text.
QLineEdit
A single-line text editor that can accept user input.
QTextEdit
A multi-line text editor that can display and edit plain or rich text.
QComboBox
A drop-down list that allows the user to select one item from a set of options.
QCheckBox
A check box that can be checked or unchecked to indicate a binary choice.
QRadioButton
A radio button that can be selected or deselected to indicate a single choice from a group of options.
QSlider
A slider that allows the user to adjust a value within a range by dragging a handle.
QProgressBar
A progress bar that shows the completion status of a task.
QCalendarWidget
A calendar widget that displays a monthly calendar and allows the user to select a date.
You can customize the appearance and behavior of each widget by changing its properties, such as text, color, size, font, alignment, etc. You can also connect widgets with signals and slots to make them interact with each other.
The object inspector
The object inspector is where you can view and edit the object hierarchy of your form. Each widget that you add to your form is an object that has a name, a class, and a parent. The object inspector shows the parent-child relationships between the objects in a tree view. You can select, rename, delete, or reorder the objects by using the context menu or the toolbar buttons. You can also change the parent of an object by dragging and dropping it onto another object in the tree view.
The object inspector helps you organize your GUI and access the properties and signals/slots of each object. You can also use it to add layouts to your form, which are special objects that arrange the widgets in a grid, horizontal, vertical, or stacked manner. Layouts help you create responsive GUIs that adapt to different window sizes and resolutions.
The property editor
The property editor is where you can change the properties of the selected object in your form. Properties are attributes that define the appearance and behavior of an object, such as text, color, size, font, alignment, etc. The property editor shows the properties in a table view, where you can edit their values by using different editors, such as line edits, spin boxes, color dialogs, font dialogs, etc. You can also reset the properties to their default values by clicking on the revert button.
The property editor helps you customize your GUI and make it look and function as you want. You can also use it to set some advanced properties, such as tooltips, status tips, accessibility texts, etc., which provide additional information or feedback to the user.
The signal/slot editor
The signal/slot editor is where you can connect the widgets in your form with signals and slots. Signals and slots are mechanisms that allow objects to communicate with each other. A signal is emitted by an object when something happens, such as a button being clicked or a value being changed. A slot is a function that is executed when a signal is received. By connecting a signal with a slot, you can make one object respond to another object's event.
The signal/slot editor shows the connections in a table view, where you can add, edit, or delete them by using the context menu or the toolbar buttons. You can also use the Edit Signals/Slots mode to create connections visually by dragging and dropping arrows between the widgets in your form.
The signal/slot editor helps you create interactive GUIs that react to user input and perform actions accordingly. You can also use it to connect custom signals and slots that you define in your code.
The form preview
The form preview is where you can test the appearance and behavior of your form before saving it. You can launch the form preview by clicking on the Form > Preview or the Preview button in the toolbar. A new window will open, showing your form as it would look and function in a real application. You can interact with the widgets, change their values, and see how they respond to signals and slots. You can also change the style and resolution of the form preview by using the menu options.
The form preview helps you check your GUI for errors, bugs, or inconsistencies, and make adjustments as needed. You can also use it to compare different styles and resolutions, and see how your GUI adapts to them.
How to save and export the form
After designing your GUI with Qt Designer 5, you can save and export your form in different formats. The most common format is the .ui file, which is an XML file that describes the structure and properties of your form. You can also export your form as a Python file, which is a script that creates your GUI using PyQt5 or PySide2, which are Python bindings for Qt.
To save your form as a .ui file, follow these steps:
Click on File > Save or File > Save As...
Choose a name and location for your .ui file.
Click on Save.
To export your form as a Python file, follow these steps:
Click on Tools > Form Editor > Export As...
Select Python File from the dialog box.
Choose a name and location for your .py file.
Select the Python binding that you want to use: PyQt5 or PySide2.
Click on Export.
You can now use your .ui or .py file in your code, or share it with others.
Conclusion
In this article, you learned how to download Qt Designer 5, how to launch it and create a new project, how to use its main features, and how to save and export your form. You also learned some of the benefits of using Qt Designer 5 for creating GUIs with Qt Widgets. By following this tutorial, you should be able to create your own GUIs with Qt Designer 5.
Qt Designer 5 is a powerful and easy-to-use tool for designing and building graphical user interfaces with Qt Widgets. It saves you time and effort by allowing you to create GUIs visually, without writing code. It lets you experiment with different layouts, widgets, properties, and styles easily. It helps you maintain consistency and compatibility across different platforms and devices. It integrates well with other Qt tools, such as Qt Creator IDE, Qt Design Studio, and Qt Virtual Keyboard.
If you want to learn more about Qt Designer 5, you can visit the official documentation, watch some video tutorials, or read some books. You can also join the Qt community and ask questions, share ideas, or get feedback from other Qt users and developers.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Qt Designer 5:
Q: Can I use Qt Designer 5 without installing Qt?
A: No, you need to install Qt in order to use Qt Designer 5. Qt Designer 5 is part of the Qt framework package, which includes other tools and libraries that are required for creating GUIs with Qt Widgets.
Q: Can I use Qt Designer 5 with other languages than C++ or Python?
A: Yes, you can use Qt Designer 5 with other languages that support Qt bindings, such as Java, Ruby, Perl, etc. However, you may need to use additional tools or steps to convert your .ui file into a compatible format for your language.
Q: Can I use Qt Designer 5 with other frameworks than Qt Widgets?
A: No, you can only use Qt Designer 5 with Qt Widgets. If you want to use other frameworks, such as Qt Quick or QML, you need to use other tools, such as Qt Creator IDE or Qt Design Studio.
Q: How can I add custom widgets to Qt Designer 5?
A: You can add custom widgets to Qt Designer 5 by using the Promote Widget feature. This allows you to replace a standard widget with a custom widget that you have defined in your code. To do this, follow these steps:
Select a standard widget from the widget box and drag it onto your form.
Right-click on the widget and select Promote to...
Enter the name and header file of your custom widget in the dialog box.
Click on Add and then Promote.
Your standard widget will be replaced by your custom widget in the form.
You can also manage your custom widgets by clicking on Tools > Form Editor > Edit Promoted Widgets...
Q: How can I add images or icons to Qt Designer 5?
A: You can add images or icons to Qt Designer 5 by using the Resource Browser. This allows you to create and edit a resource file that contains the images or icons that you want to use in your GUI. To do this, follow these steps:
Click on Tools > Resource Browser > Edit Resources...
Click on the New button to create a new resource file.
Click on the Add button to add a new prefix for your resources.
Click on the Add Files button to add the images or icons that you want to use.
Save your resource file by clicking on File > Save.
You can now use your images or icons in your GUI by selecting them from the resource browser.
Q: How can I learn more about Qt Designer 5?
A: You can learn more about Qt Designer 5 by visiting the official documentation, watching some video tutorials, or reading some books. Here are some links that you may find useful:
: The official documentation for Qt, including Qt Designer 5.
: The manual for Qt Designer 5, with detailed explanations and examples.
: A tutorial for creating GUIs with Qt Designer 5 and PyQt5.
: A video tutorial for creating GUIs with Qt Designer 5 and C++.
: A book that covers Qt 6, including Qt Designer 5, with C++ and Qt Quick.
I hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new. If you have any questions or feedback, please leave a comment below. Thank you for reading! 44f88ac181
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