HELMCNC

Installing on Windows

Two minutes, plus two Windows prompts the first time. Here's exactly what you'll see and what to click.

Why Windows asks twice. HelmCNC is a new independent product, so Windows doesn't recognise the publisher yet and shows two one-time safety prompts. They're expected — not a sign anything is wrong. This page walks you through both, and shows how to verify your download is genuine if you'd like to check.

Install it

  1. Download the installer. HelmCNC-Setup-1.0.1.exe — about 2 MB.
    Download HelmCNC
  2. Tell your browser to keep the file. Because the app is new, Chrome and Edge hold the download back at first and show it as blocked — you have to allow it once. The file isn't saved until you do this.
    ⚠ HelmCNC-Setup-1.0.1.exe
    This file isn't commonly downloaded     ⋯

    Illustration of the browser's download row — the ⋯ (or ᐯ) button is the one to click.

    In Chrome: click the Downloads button at the top-right (a small ᐯ arrow), find HelmCNC in the list, click the ⋯ next to it, then Keep. If it asks again, choose Keep anyway.

    In Edge: open the Downloads flyout at the top-right, point at the HelmCNC row, click ⋯ → Keep, then Show more → Keep anyway if it double-checks.

  3. Open it. Double-click HelmCNC-Setup-1.0.1.exe in your Downloads.
  4. Windows protected your PC. A blue window appears (below). Click the small More info link, then the Run anyway button that appears. This is the step most people miss — the button is hidden until you click More info.
    Windows

    Windows protected your PC

    Microsoft Defender SmartScreen prevented an unrecognised app from starting. Running this app might put your PC at risk.

    More info

    Run anywayDon't run

    Illustration. Click More info first — Run anyway only appears afterward.

  5. Allow it to install. A User Account Control prompt asks permission to make changes. The publisher shows as Unknown for now (that changes once the app is code-signed). Click Yes.
    User Account Control

    Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?

    HelmCNC Setup

    Verified publisher: Unknown

    File origin: Downloaded from the Internet

    YesNo

    Illustration of the Windows UAC prompt.

  6. Walk the wizard. Six short pages — Welcome, License, Destination, Components, Install, Finish. The defaults are right for almost everyone; just keep clicking Next, then Install.
  7. First launch imports your machine. If this PC already runs KMotionCNC, HelmCNC offers to import your existing setup — axis map, velocities, work offsets, tool table, M-codes — so you don't retype anything.

Prefer to verify the download first?

Every release is published with a SHA-256 fingerprint. To confirm your download is byte-for-byte the file we published, open PowerShell in your Downloads folder and run:

Get-FileHash .\HelmCNC-Setup-1.0.1.exe -Algorithm SHA256

It should print, for version 1.0.1 current:

B674EBA5D35DB0D92AF2D865F16DA8D5D7088BDB3945D01DD56CFD5EFD875F0B

A match means the file is exactly what left our hands and hasn't been altered in transit. (Each release lists its own hash here — this one is for 1.0.1.)

Is it safe? Straight answer.

Yes. The warnings are about recognition, not safety — Windows flags any installer from a publisher it hasn't built up a history with yet, signed or not. HelmCNC installs only into its own folder, keeps your machine data untouched on upgrades, and runs offline apart from one-time licence activation. As more people install each release cleanly, the warnings fade on their own.

Still unsure? Email support@helmcnc.com — a builder answers, not a ticket bot — or run the free 14-day trial on a spare PC first.

© 2026 HelmCNC · Preiss Workshop · Independent product, not affiliated with Dynomotion.

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